Some call it hype, some call it a passing fad but everywhere, architects around the world are giving high priority to the green agenda in their creations. One cannot deny that sustainability is the way forward as it could spell the survival of our rapidly declining earth. More and more green structures are dotting the skylines around the globe.

Can you imagine living in a house made out of loofah? Better still, these house panels made out of loofah, also known as patola, can also be recycled. Loofah, a plant originally from Asia, easily grows and is available in abundance in Paraguay. If harvested before it is completely ripe, loofah can be eaten.

In Holland — the home of windmills, clogs and tulips — lies an eco-friendly city that’s considered “one of the greenest cities in Europe”.

The Tiong Bahru estate in Singapore is morphing into an attractive boutique hotel enclave with the entry of a new kid on the block, the upscale 50-room Hotel Nostalgia located at the corner of Tiong Bahru Road and Seng Poh Road.

SHAH ALAM: Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd (KHSB) in talks to acquire 9.4 acres of land in Section 14, Petaling Jaya for a proposed property project with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM600 million.

KUALA LUMPUR: The SBC-Taylor's 2009 Architectural Design Award competition took on a "green" theme this year as participants had to design a sustainable community recycling centre for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) of their choice of between three and five storeys.Students were required to do their own research on current and emerging trends, contributing ideas and solutions to design th

KUALA LUMPUR: The serviced apartment sector in Hong Kong has been relatively more resilient than the luxury residential market during the current economic downturn, according to real estate services agency Colliers International (Hong Kong) Ltd.According to the "Serviced Apartments Overview - June 2009" report published by Colliers International recently, between August 2008 and April 2009, the

When City & Country caught up with Lim Ching Choy last week, it was at a hotel lounge as his office was under renovation.

It looks like downward trend in residential property prices on the secondary market in Johor Baru, apparent since 4Q2008, will continue to plague the state’s property market for a while yet.According to KGV-Lambert Smith Hampton Johor director Samuel Tan, homebuyers in Johor Baru are maintaining a cautious stance.“Despite the recent slight stock market rally, the outlook for the economy and Joh

City and Country randomly monitors landed residential properties up for auction in the Klang Valley, with a minimum reserve price of RM250,000.Given the current economic climate, it comes as no surprise to see a rise in property auctions. While more properties go under the hammer, sales have been sluggish overall.