Rehda Youth’s green Tokyo rendezvous

Tokyo was the chosen destination of the Rehda Youth International Green Tour this year. Organised by the youth branch of the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia, the tour is intended to acquaint developers with the possibilities of sustainable architecture and building practices that benefit the public in the long term.

The first-ever Rehda Youth International Green Tour was Bangkok, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Singapore. The Japanese, with their experience of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War, have a more heightened sense of responsibility towards the environment than most, as reflected in how they approach private and public building projects.

Among developments visited this year were Cocoon Tower, Panasonic Shiodome, Roponggi Hills Mori Tower, Fujisawa Smart Sustainable Town and Marunouchi business district, which proved instructive for their features.Cocoon Tower, for example, is a 50-storey educational facility located in the heart of Shinjuku created to revitalise the area and create a gateway between Shinjuku station and the central business district. Its superstructure was built in just 30 months.

Rehda Youth comprises the second generation of notable Malaysian developers, among whom are Sam Tan of KEN Holdings, Carrie Fong of Hedgeford Sdn Bhd, Teo Chui Ping of Bandar Utama Development, Chong Tony of IJM Properties Sdn Bhd, Chan Kin Meng of Beneton Properties Sdn Bhd, Valerie Ong of KIP Land Sdn Bhd, Ng Choon Keith of Kota Kelang Development Sdn Bhd, Wong Wen Chet of L H Land Development Sdn Bhd, De Lee Ville of New Bob Group, Tan Yu Jian of Mega 3 Housings Sdn Bhd and Michael Fu of Tungling Development Sdn Bhd.

The three-day tour saw some 40 participants comprising developers, architects and other industry professionals. Co-organising chairwoman Valerie Ong says Rehda Youth is planning to organise one more International Green Tour before the end of the year, due to overwhelming demand from members.

"The destination has yet to be finalised, but it will be interesting," Ong promises.

Read the full story in the July 13 issue of City&Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia business weekly. Subscribe here for your personal copy.