Water-oriented Design : Principles and Practices in the Asian Context

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of Water-oriented Design (WoD) principles and practices in the Asian context, presenting an innovative approach to integrating sustainable water management with urban planning and design. It addresses the pressing challenges of urban water systems in high-density Asian cities, providing practical solutions for enhancing urban resilience, sustainability, and livability.

By focusing on the Asian context, the book offers region-specific strategies and case studies that are particularly relevant to rapidly developing urban areas facing water-related challenges. Spanning from theoretical foundations to practical applications, the book covers four key areas: Water for Cities, Water for Nature & Ecology, Water for People, and Water for Comprehensive Urban Solutions. It provides in-depth analyses of successful WoD initiatives, including Sponge Cities in China, ABC Waters in Singapore, and Low Impact Development in the United States, offering valuable lessons for practitioners worldwide.

Fei XUE is a Researcher at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University. She holds a PhD from the University of Hong Kong and previously served as a Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore. A credentialed LEED AP and BEAM Pro, Dr. Xue specialises in sustainable development, resilient cities, and healthy built environments. Her work has been recognised with the Science and Technology Progress Award from the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture and the title of “Outstanding Engineer” in Shenzhen. She has contributed to over 40 projects and authored numerous monographs, patents, and articles in leading peer-reviewed journals.

Yue FAN is a Distinguished Professor and Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Shenzhen University. He holds a Doctor of Engineering from the University of Tokyo and is a Foreign Fellow of the Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ). A Chartered Architect with the RIBA, Professor Fan also serves as Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Architecture and Urban Science. He is a recipient of the National Teaching Achievement Award (First Prize) and the Huaxia Construction Science and Technology Award. Professor Fan has led numerous national research projects and authored extensive monographs and peer-reviewed articles.

Ivan Chin Shing FU, registered Architect Hong Kong, has been participating actively in various public platforms in Hong Kong and mainland China, including statutory bodies like the Town Planning Board, Construction Industry Council, Urban Renewal Fund, Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme and China Green Building Council. Ivan is particularly interested in conservation and sustainability in a social and environmental sense. Among his acclaimed works, the Blue House clinched the highest recognition of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation with the Award of Excellence.

Sunnie Sing Yeung LAU is an Adjunct Associate Professor at both the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong, Registered Architect (HKIA/ARB HK, RIBA) specialising in urban regeneration strategies for high-density environments. Her academic work focuses on participatory design methodologies for smart, sustainable cities, notably through the Kowloon East Inclusive Innovation & Growth Initiative (2013–2022), which integrated community engagement with post-industrial site revitalisation. With over 14 years of professional practice, she leads the Hong Kong-based SOS Architecture Urban Design Studio. She was part of the three-person Creator Team for Hong Kong of the Venice Biennale 2024.

Jin Zhang is a sustainability-focused urban planner and designer whose research and professional work centre on low-carbon design principles in Asian cities. She received her Master of Urban Design with Distinction from the University of Hong Kong in 2022, and works at the intersection of urban sustainability and environmental responsibility. Her research applies spatial configuration analysis to high-density urban environments, examining how density, form, and connectivity shape environmental performance.

Stephen Siu Yu Lau was born and raised in Hong Kong. Received education and professional training in Hong Kong and London, he has devoted thirty years plus to the education of architects and graduated 50+ PhD in Hong Kong and Singapore―retired as a Professor of Architecture from the National University of Singapore. Recently joined the Macau University of Science and Technology as a Distinguished Professor.  Whilst an active researcher. He has been practicing as an architect, as well as a consultant on sustainable design and certification, environmental technology―acoustics, daylighting, artificial lighting and carbon auditing. He has been an advocate of green building since the mid-late nineties.