Building Investment (Nov - Dec 2016)

News & Events
PAM round table discussion and housing
and urbanity symposium
Roundtable discussion to gather industry views and symposium to explore
housing and urbanity issues and challenges.
ADOPTED BY 167 countries, the ‘New
Urban Agenda’ is the ensuing document
from the UN Habitat III cities conference
held in Quito, Ecuador in October of this
year. It is the guiding document for leaders
of member countries, civil authorities,
city planners and developers, building
professionals and other stakeholders on
planning, management and living in
cities in the increasing trend towards
urbanisation. For the next twenty years, it
lays the groundwork for re-visiting policies
and approaches and sets a new global
standard to achieve sustainable urban
development, always with the environment
in mind; it is a roadmap for building cities
as engines driving economic growth and
prosperity, as centres of cultural and social
wellness.
Appropriately, it is also PAM’s theme
for its 2016 edition in the continuing series,
initiated in 2013, of annual roundtable
discussion and symposium on housing and
urbanity (H+U). The two-day programme
kicked off with a Roundtable Discussion,
open to the public at large, the media,
the academia and building professionals,
followed by a day-long symposium.
Roundtable Discussion
Aimed at assimilating collective views, and
data, as industry feedback to the Housing
Ministry and relevant groups, sample
opinions shared by a panel of practising
architects, moderated by Ar Wan Sofiah
Wan Ishak, included:
Q1: More proactive roles for practising
architects alongside other stakeholders?
Authorities to make space for
architects to be involved as
visionaries AND social activists
Encourage architectural practices
to be research-based
Re-visit profession, re-learn skills,
work through and with community,
(hitherto, profession is perceived as
being ‘exclusive’)
Expand knowledge in the profession,
FROM LEFT: Mr Khairul Anuar Mhd Juri, Ms Lee Jia Ping, Mr Eko Prawoto, Mr Muhammad Khairi
Sulaiman and Mr Mohd Hazwan Hamidi in Questions and Answers Session.
to cope with today’s complex world,
to include, e.g. sociology and
anthropology
Q2: Other incentives, within Sustainable
Development Goals and Urban Agenda,
for expanding financial assistance on
affordable housing?
Incentives must start from
planning and design stage, through
to maintenance and operations to
reduce energy consumption, e.g.,
shared solar panels
Reduce construction cost through
technology, notwithstanding IBS
builders still going conventional
Co-operative housing with shared
utilities, as a solution?
Consumers to prioritize spending
Innovation in design/building
without use for air-conditioning?
Q3: Potential for public participation in
sustainable development?
Engage and interact with designers/
planners/authorities through
residents’ associations, public
forums, media, internet to voice
their concerns/needs
Adopt ‘green’ living lifestyle, i.e.,
reduce, reuse and recycle
‘Awareness’ community projects in
collaboration with authorities
H+U Symposium
The New Urban Agenda also provides
guidance for achieving Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) set out at the
UN Sustainable Development Summit in
New York when, on 25th September 2015,
193 countries of the UN General Assembly
adopted the 2030 Development Agenda
titled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.’
Agenda 2030 aims ‘to end poverty, hunger
and inequality, take action on climate
change and the environment, improve
access to health and education, build strong
institutions and partnerships, and more.’
Of the 17 SDGs 2030, PAM H+U
Symposium 2016 explored housing and
urbanity issues in line with three selected
goals, namely:
Goal 7: Affordable & Clean Energy
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation &
Infrastructure
Goal 13: Climate Action
Feedback from presenters and
participants are compiled for submission
to the Housing Ministry and other relevant
stakeholders.
26 Building & Investment | www.b-i.biz