Humans have perfected the art of taking a beautiful place and stamping a building on it. Luckily developers and environmentalists are becoming increasingly clever when it comes to designing in harmony with nature.
Friends or foes?
Humans have perfected the art of taking a beautiful place and stamping a building on it. Luckily developers and environmentalists are becoming increasingly clever when it comes to designing in harmony with nature. “My opinion is that when I am given a sensitive, pristine site, untouched by the human hand, the only way development can go is downhill, no matter how clever I am.
I believe that only Mother Nature creates paradise on earth,” says Bill Bensley, architect and landscaper. “Our answer lies in minimal intervention, meaning that we should learn how to develop an environmentally sensitive site that minimises man’s impact.” He’s not the only one in Mother Nature’s corner. His upcoming project Shinta Mani – a private nature reserve in Cambodia, in conjunction with Kohler and The Bill Gates Foundation, appeals to guests who want to see their holiday dollars fund green properties with clear consciences.
At EarthCheck, a scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, Andre Russ and his team work with hospitality properties to put systems in place and monitor construction and operations. “Leading properties consider site ecological values and attributes and are designed to work in synergy with them,” he says. He cites Alila Uluwatu as a case in point. Here, the designer and contractor designed the property around select trees and indigenous plants, meaning minimal landscape maintenance .
They have added a water conservation system of rainwater and grey water, to water plants and for cleaning. Alila uses EarthCheck’s regulations to keep operations truly environmental and three of its Bali resorts have Design and Build accreditations, while Alila Jabal Akhdar was built and is operated to LEED standards. Another game changer is Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. A brand long associated with pioneering environmental concept, a team of management and hosts throughout departments and locations drive sustainable ideas and efforts.
In addition, Banyan Tree’s concept necessarily includes the use of indigenous materials, an emphasis on environmental practices and the support of local communities. But, can a property actually improve an environment? “Yes,” says Russ. “Careful consideration needs to be given to planning and design stages to ensure that projects are in symbiosis with the environment, ecological functions and values. For example, Laguna Lang Co went from being an abandoned contaminated mine site to a valuable ecological habitat.”
Another Phuket property, Banyan Tree’s first resort launched in 1994, also turned a wasteland on Phuket into an environmental success. There are numerous properties improving the land, marine and local community environments, bringing money to deserving destinations. Alila Manggis restores and preserves indigenous coral reefs, teaming up with Zen Dive Bali to clean up and protect artificial reefs in the Candidasa area.
And at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain, 0.5 percent of revenues, and 50 percent of water sales and in-villa soft toys go to the Sustainability Fund, which drives local environmental and social projects. The great news is that these properties are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pushing green efforts forward, from planning and construction to operating, preservation and conservation stages.
“Leading properties consider site ecological values and attributes designed to work in synergy wtih them” ~ Andre Russ
