Compact high-rise residential and office towers define Hong Kong's construction industry.
Hong Kong's densely populated urban landscape is one of its most identifiable features. Over 7.54 million people live in Hong Kong, which has a landmass about the size of Penang island. This corresponds to a population density that is among the highest in the world, at over 6,800 persons per square kilometre.
Hong Kong's construction industry has mastered the art of building upwards to accommodate such a large population in a constrained area, designing in high-density and sloping terrain as well as constrained spaces.
As such, compact high-rise residential and office towers define Hong Kong's construction industry. It is interesting to see how the nation has become a regional leader thanks to its innovative use of building materials, design-and-build methods and reclamation techniques.
Malaysia can learn a lot from this emphasis on vertical development. By 2030, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) expects Malaysia’s population to boom to 36.6 million. High-rise projects with careful planning can maximise land use and produce a more sustainable urban environment as long as urban areas continue to draw people.
Since Hong Kong can be used as a launching pad to access the huge Chinese mainland market as well as the larger Asia-Pacific region, the city attracts a lot of foreign construction companies. From 2022 to 2027, the Hong Kong construction market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%, reaching RM177bil in total revenues from RM144bil in 2022.
Sustainability initiatives
In terms of green building and design, investments in the advancement of green buildings are part of the policies that the Hong Kong government launched to become carbon neutral by 2050. There are more than 42,000 private buildings and more than 8,000 government buildings. These structures produce 60% of the city's carbon emissions and consume 90% of the electricity used in the city. Over 700,000 per megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity are saved annually thanks to the government's introduction of BEAM Plus, a stringent set of green certification standards designed to promote strong sustainable building performance and save energy.
Malaysia’s green initiatives are rising in its construction. The Merdeka 118 tower, currently the tallest skyscraper in Malaysia is the first building in the nation to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification under the LEED v2009 Core and Shell rating system. Besides LEED, Malaysia also recognises plenty more certifications, such as MyHIJAU and the international GreenRE. All in all, Malaysia is honestly on par with Hong Kong’s construction industry.
Hong Kong’s challenges
Starbiz7 connected with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Hong Kong to gather their opinions on the city’s construction. According to the international architecture firm, while Hong Kong’s steep, mountainous topography has long been a challenge for its dense growing urban population, the city has taken great leaps to manage the issues. The slopey terrain combined with the dangers of heavy rainfall pose a big threat, especially during rainy seasons from April to September. May and June are likely to see exceptionally heavy and persistent rain, which could seriously disrupt traffic and occasionally result in significant floods and landslips that cause casualties. As such, comprehensive drainage as well as extensive tree planting have helped stabilise the slopes surrounding the city.
Additionally, SOM brought up another interesting idea implemented within the coastal city. Each tree in Hong Kong is labeled with a QR code and is closely monitored. Digital implants have also been introduced into the slopes to track movement and water content to mitigate erosion. This could be useful for Malaysia due to the sudden uptick in falling trees recently headlining news. A few municipalities have set up task forces to monitor and maintain trees around their jurisdictions. The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has even developed a tree inventory application to assess the health of trees in the city to ensure public safety.
It can be advantageous for both Malaysian and Hong Kong's construction industries to collaborate and share knowledge, despite the obstacles that may arise. Accelerating Malaysia's industry transformation can be achieved through professional exchange programs, joint ventures on projects and workshops on innovative construction techniques.
Malaysia's construction industry can advance toward a future of efficiency, sustainability and global competitiveness by embracing the lessons learned from Hong Kong's experience with technological innovation in space efficiency. In addition to boosting the economy of the country, this change will guarantee that the urban environment becomes more sustainable and livable for the coming generations.
Stay ahead of the crowd and enjoy fresh insights on real estate, property development, and lifestyle trends when you subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
