Asia « World Landscape Architecture – landscape architecture webzine

City planning to stop brain drain

Changchun, Jilin China is planning a 12.5 sq km(4.82 sq m) Hi-Tech development Zone to stop the brain drain of its keen entrepreneurs and skilled workers to Shanghai and Beijing. Chanchun is currently planning to build the Changchun Northeast Innovation Center as apart of the Zone to support and encourage its 27 higher learning institutions, 100 technological research institutes and over 40 laboratories.

The Hi-Tech Zone development is scheduled to finish planning and design by the end of 2009. The first phase of the development should be completed by September 2011, the 2nd phase operational in September 2013 and final stage completed in March 2015.

The Hi-Tech Zone will include R&D and production of photoelectronics, LED’s, semiconductor lasers and medical equipment. The zone will also include R&D in biological, medical, high polymer and rare earth chemistry, nano materials and special construction materials.

SOURCE: Xinhua – City tasks innovation center with ending brain drain

Taipei to hold Internation Flora Expo in 2010

Taipei, Taiwan will hold a International Gardening and Horticulture Expo from the Nov. 6, 2010 to April 25, 2011. The expo will showcase the indigenous vegetation and be a unique fusion of horticulture and technology. The Expo site is 91.8 hectacres with 14 pavillions and four areas featuring different themes. With a budget for the Expo is The NT$3.53 billion it is expected to help Taiwan’s horticulture sector boost its production value by 23 percent.

SOURCE: Taiwan News Online – Taipei hopes to impress with 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo -

Foster + Partners win masterpan for Incheon Free Economic Zone

Foster + Partners, together with PHA and Mobility in Chain, has won an international competition to design the masterplan for the expansion of the Incheon Free Economic Zone, an extensive mixed-use scheme encompassing the islands of KangHwa and OnJin-gun, to the north west of Seoul. Conceived as a self-sufficient, sustainable development, the 300 square-kilometre masterplan will extend organically from a central transportation spine, creating a centre for green industry and serving a population that is expected to grow from 35,000 to 320,000 residents and commuters.

SOURCE: Foster + Partners

IMAGE CREDIT & SOURCE: Foster + Partners

Glenn Murcutt speaks out about Newcastle University

Glenn Murcutt, the Pritzker prize-winning architect has spoken out about the new and revised architecture and landscape architecture at Newcastle University. Murcutt, particlarly points out that he is amazed at the cutting down of trees and the change in plant material used on the site. He goes on to online that the design process should have been different and consultation with the original architects and masterplanners.

SOURCE: Youtube

Melbourne suburbs feeling the squeeze

Melbourne’s established suburbs will require 316,000 new dwellings over the next 20 years in a forecast released by the Government of Victoria. In order to determine a more accurate assessment the government has ordered 31 municialities to make “capacity assessments”.

For more information read the article at The Age – Suburbs to squeeze in more houses