HÀ NỘI — In recent years, it has become common for architects to use sustainable and green solutions in their projects.

Larry Ng, director of Design Group and Urban Architecture under the Ministry of National Development, shared his knowledge and experience in helping to plan Singapore as a smart city during an international conference held in Hà Nội on June 8.

“We are promoting cycling and connecting parks with residential areas,” he said.

“Singapore is a small country, and we save energy and space by building vertical gardens on tall buildings.”

“Việt Nam faces many challenges during its development of smart urban areas, however, I believe that some of the solutions I’m sharing today can help Vietnamese planners,” he added.

Organised by AkzoNobel, a Dutch multi-national paint and coatings company, the Smart City - Sustainable City conference attracted the participation of building owners, architects, and contractors.

A similar conference will take place in HCM City on June 21.

Trần Quốc Thái, deputy director of the Urban Development Department under the Ministry of Construction welcomed AkzoNobel’s initiative in orienting products towards the development of smart and sustainable cities in Việt Nam.

“Ministry of Construction is proposing a project about smart urban development in Việt Nam by 2025, with a vision to 2030. This is an important project for the country which will require the active participation of all ministries, sectors and localities.”

According to forecasts, by 2050, 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This will put tremendous pressure on certain countries’ infrastructure and facilities. “The world is in the strongest stage of infrastructure and living space development, creating a lot of demand for architects and builders to catch up and meet the real trends and living needs of the community,” Pamela Phua, general director of AkzoNobel Vietnam said.

“This is the premise for the birth and development of smart cities, which helps the residential communities to develop in a sustainable manner.”

“Coatings play an important role in the development of smart cities,” she added.

Advances in the technology of coating products help to partly solve some challenges which cities are facing, and bring sustainable values to smart cities in the future. — VNS