An Interview with Peter Head, Arup Director for Dongtan

Written By Daniel on February 14, 2008 at 4:00 am | In industry, environment, society, architecture, design, technology, China

Every year for the next 20 years, it is estimated that up to 10 million people will move from China’s countryside to urban areas. This unprecedented migration is placing huge demands on existing cities. To accommodate the new urban population, the Chinese government overnment plans to build 50 new cities by 2020. China’s leaders recognise the environmental consequences of such growth and are attempting to place an emphasis on economic development based on social harmony, environmental protection and energy conservation.

The Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC), one of China’s largest property developers, have contracted UK-headquartered global design, engineering and business consultancy, Arup, to design Dongtan, an eco-city on Chongming Island close to Shanghai. When successful, eco-cities can deliver significant, tangible and measurable environmental, social and economic gains versus the business-as usual-case for urban development. They demonstrate greater energy efficiency, better land usage, reduced resource consumption and reduced emissions.

CScout China had a quick chat with Peter Head, Arup director overseeing the Dongtan project, to find out more about China’s latest push toward sustainable construction.

Hi Peter - thanks for talking to us. First, can you tell us a little about the Dongtan project?

“Dongtan will be a city of three villages that meet to form a city centre. The first demonstrator phase of Dongtan aims to be completed by 2010, in time for the World Expo in Shanghai, and will accommodate a population of up to 10,000. Later phases of development could see the city grow to hold a population of around 80,000 by 2020 and up to 400,000 by 2050.

The project will increase bio-diversity on Chongming Island, and will create a city that runs entirely on renewable energy for its buildings, its infrastructure and its transport needs. Dongtan will recover, recycle and reuse 90% of all waste in the city, with the eventual aim of becoming a zero waste city.

The planning of Dongtan incorporates many traditional Chinese design features and combines with a sustainable approach to modern living, but not at the expense of creating a city that is recognisable as a “Chinese” city.”

2.) What other sustainability-focused projects is Arup involved with in China right now?

“We are working on a number of other sustainable cities including Tangye and Wanzhuang. In Beijing we are the designers of the National Aquatics Centre and are also working on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange which has sustainability as a core objective.”

3.) How do the costs of constructing an “eco-city” compare with that of constructing a conventional city of the same size?

“We are currently not able to disclose information regarding the specific construction costs for Dongtan, however the construction costs of eco cities are not anticipated to be significantly different to those of constructing a business-as-usual city.”

4.) Can you briefly tell me about some of the innovative technology that will be used in the Dongtan project?

“Compared to a ‘business as usual’ development model, the Dongtan eco-city will aim to have a

­ - 60% smaller ecological footprint
­ - 66% reduction in energy demand
­ - 40% energy from bio-energy
­ - 100% renewable energy for in-use buildings & on-site transport
- Waste to landfill down by 83%
­ - Almost no carbon emissions

Energy supply will be via a local grid and with electricity and heat supplied from a number of sources including a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, wind power, biogas extracted from municipal waste and solar energy. Where possible, labour and materials will be sourced locally to reduce transport and embodied energy costs associated with construction. Public transport with reduced air and noise pollution will enable buildings to be naturally ventilated, and in turn reduce the demand on energy. Buildings with green roofs will improve insulation and water filtration and provide potential storage for irrigation or waste disposal. There will be hydrogen filling stations supplying lightweight fuel cell cars, and traditional motorbikes will be replaced by electric scooters and bicycles.”

5.) Critics of the Dongtan project claim that the eco-housing developed at Dongtan will be unaffordable by most Chinese people - aren’t you worried Dongtan will become a green resort for wealthy Chinese rather than an environmentally and socially sustainable environment that can benefit everybody?

“This is not the aim of Arup or our client, SIIC. In order to be sustainable socially and economically, the city will need to be populated by a wide range of demographics. We don’t yet know how the residents will be selected as this is under the jurisdiction of the Shanghai and Chongming Island Governments; however, 30% of accommodation in the city will be affordable housing.”

6.) Will Dongtan become a model for future eco-cities in China?

“As a sustainable development model Dongtan is directly relevant to cities, both new and old, around the world. Our intention is to create a sustainable, resource-efficient and culturally rich environment, a blueprint for urban development across China.” Arup, SIIC, HSBC Bank and Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) have just formed a consortium to develop a funding model for Chinese eco-cities, and have helped found the Dongtan Institute for Sustainability at Shanghai’s Tongji University.”

Images courtesy of Arup