Benoy aims to guide our clients towards a result which is environmentally responsible as far as possible. In the past few years, we have applied this design principle in a wide range of projects from urban regeneration, reinvention of a shopping mall, to workplace reconfiguration.
The idea of retaining and reusing existing buildings rather than knocking them down and starting again is a more effective way to reduce excess carbon emissions.
Across Asia, one of the major sustainability challenges for retail is how to break out of the airconditioned, brightly-lit box format while providing thermal comfort and convenience for shoppers. Not only are these airconditioned interiors highly energy intensive, they’re also out of step with people’s post-Covid behaviours and preferences. In the wake of the pandemic, there’s renewed urgency around access to sunlight, greenery, open air and space.
With a number of our developer clients, we’re working with them to find alternative ways to reinvigorate existing assets and move away from simple demolition/rebuild. A typical example might be a shopping mall. Often built twenty plus years ago, often these assets are seen as problematic with the only solution being demolition. Our approach is to work with what’s there; taking existing space and reconfiguring where we can to create memorable spaces and new uses.
As companies readjust to new post-Covid environments, we’re also see a trend of reconfiguring existing premises. With flexible working becoming the norm, we partner with clients to create high-quality mixed-use environments that cater to much wider needs.