Malaysia to build three sustainable biodiverse islands off the coast of Penang for people to live in an eco-friendly, car-free zone. By Tanvi Jain
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The people of Malaysia will soon be able to accommodate three artificial green islands that the country is planning to build off the coast of Penang. These sustainable biodiverse islands will be equipped with transport networks for the public and radical design projects.
Each Lilypad-shaped island will be built to accommodate 18,000 residents in various districts, and will reportedly have urban wetlands, public beaches, forests, public parks, technology hubs cultural quarters, and a 25-kilometre-long waterfront.
All the three islands being eco-friendly will be car-free, and will instead be connected by land, water and air public transport networks. They will also have broad cycling and pedestrian lanes. Moreover, only bamboo, Malaysian timber and recyclable materials will be used for the construction of buildings and the whole island will run on renewable energy.
Furthermore, forest reserves and coastal beaches will be connected via eco-corridors and terrestrial and aquatic animals will be given a no-human, safe passage in both residential as well as business areas.
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The BiodiverCity project, which is a part of the Malaysian Government’s Penang 2030 vision, aims at creating socio-economic development while also protecting the regions biodiversity and natural habitats. It will be developed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Ramboll and Hijias.
“BIG, Hijjas and Ramboll are selected as winners of Penang State Government’s international competition to design a masterplan for Penang South Islands, providing Penangites with approximately 4.6 km of public beaches, 600 acres of parks and a 25 km waterfront. Our masterplan proposal – BiodiverCity – supports the Penang 2030 vision with a clear focus on livability, on stimulating a socially and economically inclusive development, and on environmental sustainability for future generations. BiodiverCity will be a new sustainable, global destination where cultural, ecological and economic growth is secured and where people and nature co-exist in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet at the southern shore of Penang Island,” Bjarke Ingels Group mentioned on its official website.
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