Projects

CIC Zero Carbon Park

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, China

As the first civilian-use zero-carbon structure in China, Zero Carbon Park is a showcase of state-of-the-art green building design and technology. Acting as a model for the construction industry, internationally, regionally and locally, Zero Carbon Park is a vehicle to raise community awareness of what sustainable living can look like in Hong Kong.

The project was initiated to address the imminent need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities, but was specifically designed for the Hong Kong urban context: high-density, hot, humid, and sub-tropical. Open to the public, Zero Carbon Park is also a visitor education centre, housing a green office for the Construction Industry Council, a demonstration home showcasing low-carbon living technologies, a multi-function room, Hong Kong’s first urban native woodland, and other outdoor landscaped and event spaces. First and foremost,  Zero Carbon Park sets a world-class example for low-carbon, highly energy-efficient buildings.

Zero Carbon Park has a myriad of sustainable features. It generates on-site renewable energy from photovoltaic panels and a tri-generation system using biofuel made of waste cooking oil. Not only does Zero Carbon Park aim to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, it was designed to be energy-positive over the course of its life-cycle.

Surplus energy produced is exported back to the electricity gride, offsetting the embodied carbon of its construction processes and major structural materials.

Its passive design features include optimised building orientation, window placement, skylight installation, insulation and building materials – these produce a 20% energy savings compared to similar building. Its energy-efficient active systems reduce energy consumption by a further 25% - these include underfloor air supply, chilled beams and high-volume-low-speed fans that cool the building for occupants and visitors without the use of air conditioners.

Zero Carbon Park also increases the neighbourhood’s ecological value, with more than 200 different varieties of flowers and trees present in the onsite urban woodland – acting as a living, breathing piece of infrastructure and providing a glimpse of what a net-zero carbon future city might look like.

Awards
  • WorldGBC Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards – Winner (Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance)
  • ARCASIA Awards for Architecture – Honorable Mention (Sustainability)
  • Energy Globe Award of Hong Kong – National Winner
  • WAN Awards International Sector Awards Excellence in Design – Highly Commended (Sustainable Building Award)
  • Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets – Highly Commended (Community & Culture Project Award (Built))
  • Chivas 18 Architecture and Design Award – Public and Community Building: Hong Kong
  • Quality Building Award – Grand Award (Hong Kong Non-Residential [New Building] Category)
  • WAN Awards International Sector Awards Excellence in Design 2013 – Shortlisted (Sustainable Building of the Year)
  • FuturArc Green Leadership Award – Winner of Institutional Architecture
  • MIPIM Asia Award – Bronze Award (Best Innovative Green Building)
  • Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – International Project of the Year
  • Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence – Certificate of Merit of Green Innovation Awards
  • U Green Awards – The Best of Eco-life Award – Favorite Green Building
  • The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Hong Kong Property Awards – Grand Award Winner of the Innovation Award of the Year
  • The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Innovation Award for the Engineering Industry –Champion of Construction Category
  • Perspective Awards – Excellence (Architecture (Professional) Green or Sustainable Build)
  • Autodesk Hong Kong BIM Awards – Lead The Way
  • Green Building Award – Grand Award (New Building Category [Building under Construction] – Hong Kong)
  • 2011 / 2012
  • 14,800 sq. m.
  • 3,300 sq. m.
  • Construction Industry Council
  • BEAM Plus – Platinum Rating