GBCE’s Green Design Brief: a holistic blueprint for human centered, cost effective sustainable project concepts

Armelle Le Bihan

GBCE PTE.LTD.

About this ebook

We, humans, have been hit by one of the biggest disruptions of our times which has put the world on hold and is shedding light on the way we live among ourselves and with the rest of living creatures. The world is redefining the way we will work, play and live and people are looking to placing health, safety, wellbeing and quality of life at the top of their priorities. At the same time, our planet’s health itself has never been put to such extreme stress. We’ve lost more than 50% of our biodiversity, hit this year again a temperature record and are counting more cities with unhealthy levels of PM2,5 by the minute.

We are at a crossroad where we need to decide and act upon the future we want.

Emerging countries in Asia have a unique opportunity to leapfrog to the green, smart and healthy cities of the future by starting to build them now while their major population centers are still growing fast. It is in our buildings, backbones to our societies and our human activities, that we can regenerate our living environment and build our resiliency to future challenges.

This design brief was made to give building industry stakeholders guidelines for the design and retrofit of green, smart and healthy buildings in the Asia Pacific region. It is meant for project managers to learn about best practices and use practical guidelines to get started on the implementation of green features for projects across all industries such as hospitality, office, healthcare, retail, residential, industrial, cultural, educational projects.

As engineers and consultants, our objective is to share our expertise of sustainable building design to help bring up high performance buildings that promote people’s wellbeing while preserving the planet. Here you will find market insights, a business case for green buildings focused on Southeast Asian countries, introduction to green building design concepts, presentation and comparison of several environmental standards and certifications, guidelines for integrating green features to your project, and a showcase of 10 green and smart innovations to implement in your next development or facility.

We hope that you will find in these pages the means to take off your next development project and to push it further towards the sustainable, resilient, healthy and smart places that people expect.

What can you expect to achieve with The Green Design Brief©?

- Improve the value of your asset for your investors

- Appeal to the community, demonstrate corporate responsibility and improve your branding

- Mitigate risk of obsolescence and non compliance to regulation

- Reduce costs across the board from design, construction to operational and maintenance costs

- Gain a competitive advantage/Differentiate yourself from the competition by implementing impactful green features into your project

- Reach green building standards, demonstrate high quality credentials and stand at the forefront of international best practices

- Benefit from higher sales, rental premiums and greater occupancy

- Ensure indoor environmental quality and healthy environments for your customers

Book Outline

PART 1: See how buildings are a fundamental solution for climate adaptation and mitigation/ decarbonizing our economy and key to the liveability of our cities in the region.

PART 2: Capture the evidence supporting the business case for smart green and healthy buildings.

Recognize the many value propositions of sustainable buildings from lower operating costs, improved occupants health and productivity, increased asset value, increased return on investment.

PART 3: Understand how climatic conditions play a role in designing responsible, performant and fit for purpose projects.

PART 4: Grasp the underlying principles, process behind people centered, bioclimatic concepts.

bioclimatic architecture, designing with nature, integrative process, multidisciplinary team

PART 5: Understand how certifications compare and what they mean for your next project

With all the green building certifications out there, it can be hard to find your way around. Have you ever wondered how different are certifications, what are their areas of focus, how suitable they are for your project and ultimately which certification you should go for? We’ve compiled a synthesized description of 4 most commonly used certifications in Thailand, their process, performance rating system and how they compare so you can better set a direction for your project.

PART 6: Measure the performance of your project with key design metrics for comfort, health, energy efficiency and water conservation.

Design metrics, health, comfort, energy, water

We have developed a set of pillars which cover all fundamentals of integrated sustainability and will bring meaningful and impactful results to your project.

PART 7: Apply technical recommendations early into your design concepts to ensure your project’s sustainability results.

Technical guidelines 

Things to look after at the onset of a project that will ensure your project’s on the right track to reach high performance standards.

PART 8: Explore/Discover efficient, green features that will support your building’s sustainability performance to implement in your next project.

About the author

Armelle Le Bihan, a visionary in sustainable building design, is the Founder and CEO of Green Building Consulting & Engineering (GBCE). Her work has earned her recent spots on Tatler Asia's Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow 2023 list and on the Future 100 List by Koktail Magazine, a testimony of her influence in sustainability in the region. With a background in environmental engineering and a passion for green building practices, Armelle has led her team in delivering innovative solutions that harmonize economic growth with environmental stewardship

Her leadership has not only set new standards within the industry but has also inspired businesses and communities to adopt more sustainable practices. Armelle's approach is distinguished by her commitment to integrating sustainability throughout a building's lifecycle, employing strategies that significantly reduce environmental impact while enhancing human well-being. Her work with GBCE exemplifies how sustainable buildings can be a cornerstone of a greener, more resilient future.

Armelle's reputation is further enhanced by her inclusion in Asia's Top Sustainability Superwomen 2021 Award and recognition by Tatler Asia. Her delivery of sustainability resonates widely, and her company's culture emphasizes environmental values.

Her originality, expertise, and commitment to environmental stewardship make her an exemplary figure in the business world earning her and her company multiple awards in Asia and Europe including GGEF's Eco Star of Asia, RICS Young Achiever, BNOW Eco Entrepreneur of the Year and joined the Eco-Business A-List. Armelle Le Bihan is not just shaping the future of sustainable buildings but is also inspiring a generation of women and professionals to undertake science and technology paths and lead with innovation and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, embodying the change we wish to see in the world.