Focus on developing a whole green infrastructure : Dr Ken Yeang
Renowned sustainable architect Dr. Ken Yeang at BEADS/BIT
Mangaluru : "Architects should not limit themselves to building only a green building but focus on developing a whole green infrastructure in the city " said world renowned architect , planner and author Dr. Ken Yeang of Malaysia. Dr Ken, who is recognised as the first and only ecologist architect globally was delivering a talk at the Bearys Enviro Architecture Design School (BEADS) and Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT) at Inoli on Sunday.
Dr Ken gave a presentation on ‘Sustainability and building in harmony with the natural world” and explained briefly how he has worked on some of his most important projects across the world. He stressed the need to understand the importance of ecological architecture and masterplanning and creating hybrid systems as ‘constructed ecosystems’.
When asked about the economic feasibility of sustainable construction, Dr Ken said it will cost 6.3% more than the normal industry standards. But the amount of energy and water saved in these sustainable buildings will return that extra cost within 8 years. Architects, developers and the society should understand this, he said.
Dr Ken reminded the young architects that they should have the passion, ability to handle stress and work very hard to give best results. They should not come to this field if their main intention is to make money , he said.
Bearys Group with Dr. Ken Yeang
Chairman of the Bearys Group, Syed Muhammad Beary said that the group will be joining hands with Dr Ken in a prestigious project in Chennai and will start work on that very soon. " Being the pioneers in green building and the only developer to have 6 platinum certifications from IGBC , Bearys Group is proud to be associated with Dr Ken" Beary added.
BEADS principal Ashok Mendonsa introduced the guest. Architects of Dr Ken's team Saw Seng Ee, Muhammad Haiqal and Vanessa Lai , Principal of BIT, Dr Antony AJ, academic Dean Dr Malabaleshwarappa, Principal of BIT Polytechnic Dr Aziz Musthafa were also present. Anjali compered the program. Faculty member Laxminarayan presented Dr Ken's portrait which he has drawn to him.
If you get visa and if you are a good architect ...
When a student asked Dr Ken if he will take interns from India, he replied that " the problem is not me, its about visa from Malaysia government. If you can get the visa and if you are a good architect and designer, i will definitely consider " he said.
Ken Yeang is an world renowned architect, ecologist, planner and author from Malaysia, best known for his ecological architecture and eco master plans that have a distinctive green aesthetic. He pioneered an ecology-based architecture (since 1971), working on the theory and practice of sustainable design. He has built over 200 buildings globally and published numerous books advocating an environmentally responsive approach to design. Yeang lectures extensively at conferences and schools of architecture (over 30 countries worldwide). The Guardian newspaper (2008) named him "one of the 50 people who could save the planet".
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Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first general audience
Vatican City (AP): Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the “heartbreaking” toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square.
The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope.
Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly, and sick people,” he said.
The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific messages to particular faith groups.
The encounter, which lasts more than an hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra “Peace be with you.”
To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican's willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader's office said.
Meloni made the call after speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See's offer.
“Finding in the Holy Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV's willingness and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,” Meloni's office said in a statement late Tuesday.
Trump had referred to the Vatican's longstanding offer to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation. Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore obliged to execute its warrants.
