A must-visit for designers, architects, developers, and decision makers looking to design a
sustainable future is this year’s Sustainable Design China Summit being held at the Beijing
Exhibition Centre from 21-23 September 2023.
The Summit will focus on innovative, nature-positive solutions and material uses for the built environment, as well as focusing on circular regenerative strategies, and groundbreaking net zero design concepts that also perform well to guarantee real, sustainable innovation.
In addition to the Sustainable Design China Summit, the event will also feature a must-visit mix of exhibitors showcasing sustainable products and materials, technology and other innovation solutions plus specially curated installations and features. Thanks to a change of venue, the event organisers are this year able to expand the exhibition area and are expecting to welcome over 10,000 exhibition visitors who will be participating in thought-leading talks and workshops.
The Summit will feature six key themes over the three days:
Day One (21 September) – The day will open with the theme of ‘Designing a Sustainable Future’ including an opening session by Orianna Fielding, Chief Sustainability Advisor, Sustainable Design China Summit, plus a session on ‘Sponge Cities’ featuring Allan Zhang, CEO, Shui On Xintiandi Limited and another on the theme of ‘Nature Positive Design Biodiversity’ where Mario Cucinella, Founder and Creative Director, Mario Cucinella Architects will be speaking.
Afternoon sessions for on Day One will focus on ‘Circular Design Matters’ and include discussions on the ‘Circular Economy Boosts Carbon Peaking Carbon Neutrality’ featuring Zhu Dajian, Distinguished Professor of School of Economics & Management, Director of the Institute of Governance for Sustainable Development, and Vice Chairman of University Academic Committee at Tongji University.
Materials Designer and Curator Chris Lefteri, who also has a material installation at the Sustainable Design China Summit featuring100 different design materials will speak about ‘Sustainable Materials’ on the first afternoon of the Summit. A panel discussion entitled: ‘How to Create Sustainable Design Products that Engage and Connect with Consumers’ will also take place in the afternoon with panellists including Alex Sun, Vice President, Envision Digital/GM, Carbon Management Business/Chief Sustainability Officer, and Zhao Xin, Vice President, Yili.
Additionally, a session on ‘The Impact of Sustainable Business Models on Design’ will be moderated by Dr. Lu Jianzhong, board member of Global Reporting Initiative GRI with panellists including David Zhang, the China CEO, Oatly.
Day Two (22 September) – Day Two will begin with sessions looking at the theme of ‘On the Path to Net Zero’ including an examination of ‘How Scientific and Technological Innovation Promotes Zero Carbon Cities Planning and Design’ by Dr Zhang Yalong, Executive Director, SISD (Science-Innovation Institute of Sustainable Development, Shenzhen).
John Haffner, Deputy Director-Sustainability of Hang Lung Properties will discuss ‘Carbon Negative Construction’ and there will be a panel discussion on ‘How to Balance Economic and Ecological Benefits in Zeroenergy Building’, moderated by Haizhu Zhou, President of Urban and Rural Planning Institute of China Construction and Research Institute with panellists Raymond Yau, General Manager – Technical Services and Sustainable Development at Swire Properties, Jesper Jos Olsson, Group CEO and Founding Partner, White Peak and MK Leung, Director of Sustainable Design, Ronald Lu & Partners.
The theme of ‘Towards a Greener Future’, held in conjunction with the BRE will include a welcome speech from Gary Zhao, General Manager, BRE China. Chong Meng, Director of the Green Buildings Research Centre at the China Society for Urban Studies will deliver a talk on ‘International Exchange and Integration of Advanced Concepts of Green and Sustainable Buildings’, and Angus Li, Senior Associate Director of Savills Property Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd and Henry Yang, Managing Director, Haskoll will be discussing ‘Green Building Case Studies’.
Day Three (23 September) – The theme ‘Holistic Hospitality’ will be examined through sessions on ‘Hyper Local Design’ with Tina Tang, The Tang Hotel and EOSO hotel founder and designer Aoyama Shuhei. There will also be a session on ‘Zero Waste Hospitality’ and Mars Tang, Engineering Director, Hilton will speak on ‘Holistic Wellness Strategies’ plus there will be a panel session on ‘How Hotels are Blending Design and Technology for a Greener Tomorrow’, moderated by Lucky Chan, President, Celebrity City Hotel Group with panellists including Cody J Allen, the China Managing Director, Stey.
Finally, the theme of the ‘Empathic Workplace’ will be explored through sessions on ‘Creating the Positive Workplace Experience by Design’ with contributions from Qing Ye, Chairman, Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co Ltd. A session on ‘Flexibility and Wellbeing in the Workplace’ will feature Patricia Viel, CEO & Partner, ACPV Architects and Antonio Citterio. Speakers at ‘The Agile Workplace’ session will include Freck Qin, Principal and Studio Director, Gensler.
“Having a structure in place to enable the making of continuous improvements towards your corporate sustainability goals by setting positive environmental targets and measuring and reducing carbon emissions, should form the cornerstones of every company’s core values and business strategy,” says Orianna Fielding, Chief Sustainability Advisor, Sustainable Design China Summit. “Sustainable strategies require ongoing commitment from all of us, both individuals and businesses to continually strive for better, carbon positive solutions in everything we do and all we consume. Sustainable Design China Summit brings together thought leaders, innovators, and pioneers of sustainability in the world of architecture and design to make this happen.”
“We are proud of what we achieved in the inaugural edition of the Summit and will look to build on that success, providing a unique platform for senior decision makers to take part in discussions, network and make new connections in the world of sustainable design,” comments Zhuo Tan, Show Director, Sustainable Design China Summit.
Sustainable Design China Summit
