Featuring more than 15,000 visitors and 127 exhibitors, the inaugural Ecobuild China which took place from 9 to 12 April 2012 in Shanghai has secured its position as the region’s meeting place for the sustainable built environment industry. Ecobuild was part of Expo Build, the premium building and construction event in China, which attracts more than 100,000 building professionals annually. The announcement of Ecobuild China’s achievement follows the recent success of Ecobuild in the UK which was attended by more than 57,000 industry professionals.
“Sustainability in the built environment is an issue that has picked up pace over recent years and shows absolutely no sign of slowing its momentum,” says James Blue, Portfolio Director, Ecobuild. “Ecobuild in the UK has seen phenomenal growth over recent years. We want Ecobuild China to be the annual meeting place for everyone involved in the creation and maintenance of sustainable built environments throughout China and I’m thrilled that the event has been so well received by such a passionate and diverse community.”
Running alongside the extensive Ecobuild China exhibition, the Ecobuild China Conference: Transforming low carbon construction into reality, provided high level debate and discussion by an unrivalled line-up of international sustainable construction experts. Attended by 411 delegates, the Ecobuild China Conference was developed in partnership with Shanghai Green Building Council and Shanghai Research Institute of Building Science, it covered the most pertinent issues and was supported and endorsed by leading associations including: the UK’s Building Research Establishment, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Chartered Institute of Building, Construction Products Association, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and UK Trade & Investment.
Well attended keynote sessions included: ‘Green building action program’ presented by Yong Wu, Secretary of Science and Technology, MOHURD; ‘China building energy saving technology and the key counter measures – carbon emissions cut potential’ presented by Yi Jiang, Fellow, Professor, Tisinghua University Institute of Architecture; ‘Carbon in context – what are the impacts for China? How can China contribute to a global concern?’ presented by Alan Crane, president, CIOB and ‘Green building standards – the strategic development and advanced concepts of green rating systems’ presented by Jennifer Hardi, Low Carbon Futures and Refurbishment, BRE and Naili Chen, Director of China Office, USGBC.
Ecobuild China has successfully provided a public showcase of the most innovative and impressive sustainable projects from across the region. Visitors were able to explore an additional 348 relevant exhibitors throughout Expo Build. Also on display was the Bamboo Village Lego Construction which had been built during Ecobuild in the UK and then carefully transported for display at Ecobuild China. This impressive construction designed by Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make Architects, raised money for the China Children Teenage Fund (CCTF); specifically for the building of an Anji Bamboo Research & Training Centre which will create new bamboo building products and raise skills in sustainable construction among the local community.
Ecobuild’s Eco-design Gallery presented the latest products and project models from leading architecture companies, including ZED Factory, Aedas, BRE and Eurobuild.
Bill Dunster OBE, Principal of the ZEDfactory said, “It’s clear that the world shops for ideas, products and services in Shanghai. At Ecobuild China we met people from all over the world, interested in procuring the best international quality low carbon thinking that is already integrated with a Chinese supply chain. The future and quality of international low carbon building and infrastructure relies on engaging with the Shanghai market.”
Ecobuild China 2013 will once again be a part of Expo Build and will take place from 1 – 3 April 2013 at SNIEC in Shanghai, China. For further information on the event and its exhibitors please visit www.ecobuildchina.com.
