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, MSc (PKU), PhD (HKU), is a Senior Engineer in Architectural and Landscape Design, LEED AP (U.S.), and BEAM Pro (Hong Kong). Currently a researcher at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, she is also a core member of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science and the Centre of Human-oriented Environment and Sustainable Design. With interdisciplinary expertise in urban planning, landscape architecture, and green building, Dr Xue has extensive research and practical experience in sustainable development, resilient cities, and healthy built environments across Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shenzhen. She has received the Science and Technology Progress Award from the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture and was recognised as an “Outstanding Engineer” in the Shenzhen Inaugural Engineer Talent Program. Dr Xue has led or participated in over 10 research projects at national, provincial, and municipal levels, resulting in more than 40 publications, including SCI, EI, and SSCI-indexed papers, monographs, and patents. Additionally, she serves as an Executive Editorial Board member of the Landscape Architecture Frontiers Journal and is a reviewer for preeminent SCI journals. Dr Xue has held postdoctoral and visiting scholar positions at the National University of Singapore and University College London and has lectured at the Hong Kong Design Institute and the Macau University of Science and Technology.
Yue Fan, PhD (University of Tokyo), is a Distinguished Professor and Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Shenzhen University, and Foreign Member of the Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ). He serves as the Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Architecture and Urban Science and Director of the Centre for Human-Environment and Sustainable Design Research at Shenzhen University. He is a Chartered Architect with the RIBA. He has received the Huaxia Construction Science and Technology Award (Second Prize), the China Architectural Design Award for Architectural Education, and the National Teaching Achievement Award (First Prize). Professor Fan specialises in sustainable architectural design, building renewal and neighbourhood regeneration, and industrialised building systems. He has led numerous national research projects, including key projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has authored over ten academic publications and published over forty papers as first or corresponding author in the last five years. He holds positions on several prominent committees, including the Architects’ Association of the Asia Social Responsibility Committee, the Ministry of Education Architecture Teaching Guidance Subcommittee, and the National Architecture Professional Education Evaluation Committee. He is also Editor-in-Chief of World Architecture Review.
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. He has been involved in various forward-looking projects to address social needs and environmental issues. 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 The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong, and a 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. This research has been disseminated internationally via publications, public lectures and exhibitions. Her academic credentials include an M.Arch from MIT (2013), a B.A. in Architectural Studies from UC Berkeley (2007), and the Executive Education in Circular Economy strategies from the University of Cambridge (2021). With over 14 years of professional practice, she leads the Hong Kong-based SOS Architecture Urban Design Studio, delivering projects that operationalise her research on smart, inclusive neighbourhood developments. She was part of the three-person creator team for Hong Kong at the Venice Biennale 2024.
Jin Zhang is a sustainability-focused urban planner and designer whose research and professional trajectory reflect a deep commitment to low-carbon design principles. After completing her distinguished education at the University of Hong Kong (Master of Urban Design-Distinction, 2021-2022), she has positioned herself at the intersection of urban sustainability and environmental responsibility. Her research explores various dimensions of urban sustainability, including waterfront vitality, through spatial configuration analysis. She is familiar with urban development and the generation of coastal cities in the Greater Bay Area, China.
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 and the Macau University of Science and Technology, recently the Distinguished Professo He has been an active researcher. He has been practising as an architect, as well as an expert 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.
