When I was a child, it never dawned on me that the traditional Malay kampung house utilised sustainable products and technologies that could be ideal for modern tropical buildings. It is this humble abode that has been reinterpreted as Sime Darby’s Idea House.

For most adults, work takes up a huge part of life, so having a comfortable workplace is essential for productivity.

Describe anything as “sustainable” these days and you’re onto a winner. From business plans to washing machines, polishing an otherwise ordinary premise, product or purpose with a sheen of “sustainable” transforms it into something that is immediately both sexy and sensible.

When Sime Darby Property Bhd embarked on a RM40 million renovation of the two golf courses at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) in 2008, the aim wasn’t just to create a championship course to host a prestigious golf tournament but also a course that’s environment-friendly.

There is no denying it — global climate change is here. We experience erratic weather and the days seem hotter than they used to be. Global climate change is caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, disrupting eco-systems.

It has been said that we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. But in what condition will this world be when we hand it over to future generations?Towards the end of the last century, the energy and transport sectors were identified as the two main culprits responsible for the degradation of our environment.

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.