News & Events

Funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund and organised by the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), this micro-credential topical course series is designed to provide participants with more in-depth continuing education than traditional CPD webinars. It enables practitioners to construct weekend or after-hours study programmes that meet their development needs. Courses will be rolled out at a frequency of about 1-2 courses per month, throughout a period of two years from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027. Participants taking 20 or more courses can apply for a skill enhancement certificate from HKGBC, certifying their significant efforts in studying green building.

Micro-Credential Topical Course – Nature-centric Building Design 

Modern high-density urban development faces a dual ecological and human health challenge: the rapid loss of urban biodiversity and the growing disconnection of city dwellers from nature. At the same time, buildings and infrastructure account for nearly half of all raw material consumption, and conventional "green" design often falls short of reversing environmental degradation. Recurring climate extremes and the relentless pressure on natural resources have further underscored the need for built environments that actively support both human well-being and ecological resilience.

This intensive 2-hour technical talk equips architects, planners, developers, engineers, surveyors, and green building professionals with practical, evidence-based strategies to design nature-centric buildings. Participants will learn how to move beyond "less bad" sustainability towards regenerative outcomes that restore ecosystems, enhance human health, and close material loops. Through local Hong Kong case studies and international best practices, the course provides the Space-Object-Activity (SOA) model as a structured framework to assess and implement nature-positive design across all project stages.

This course will cover the following topics:

• From Green to Regenerative Design – Understanding the paradigm shift toward nature-positive, whole-system thinking.
• Biophilic Strategies for Compact Cities – Applying biophilic patterns in high-rise, high-density urban contexts.
• Biodiverse Architecture and Habitats – Designing native woodlands, biodiverse roofs, and wildlife habitats.
• Bird-Friendly Building Design – Mitigating glass collisions through markers, shading, screens, and lighting.
• Sky Gardens and Multi-Level Greenery – Optimising elevated green spaces for climate, community, and health.
• Nature-Inspired Circular Materials – Embracing bio-based materials, urban mining, and design for disassembly.
• Nature-Based Climate Solutions – Integrating stormwater cooling, green canopies, and multifunctional infrastructure.
• The SOA Framework for People and Nature – Evaluating space, object, and activity for well-being and ecology.

Speaker: Ar. Dr Tony IP Chung-man, MH, Director, Tony Ip Green Architects Limited

Language: English

Target Audience: Architects, Planners, Developers, Engineers, Surveyors, and Green Building Professionals

Learning Mode: Hybrid (registrants can choose either Physical/Online)

Capacity: 50 (Physical); 1,000 (Online)

Register Now