World Architecture News is spotlighting the CTBUH in a series of articles on the site’s Eco-in-the-City blog. The articles penned by CTBUH leaders are focusing on sustainability issues, specifically in Asia, as the Council prepares for the CTBUH 9th World Congress in Shanghai.

The articles have been running weekly. All four segments are now available online.

August 6, CTBUH 9th World Congress in Shanghai
Timothy Johnson, CTBUH Chairman, explains the role of tall buildings in China, which has been the site of a skyscraper explosion lasting two decades. Architects working in the country face a number of challenges, Mr. Johnson writes, many of which will be discussed during the upcoming CTBUH Shanghai Congress.

August 13, Investigating the Sustainability of Tall Buildings
Antony Wood, CTBUH Executive Director, expresses the necessity of understanding the full implications of building vertically and concentrating population in urban centers. While tall buildings offer a diverse range of advantages, their disadvantages are just as important to understand and address.

August 21, The Importance of a Green Urban Habitat
Peter Irwin, CTBUH Board of Trustees member, relates the significance of natural green spaces, parks and woodlands as part of the urban habitat. By utilizing plants and trees, designers are able to improve wildlife habitats and preserve natural eco-systems, which in turn can improve the long-term quality of life in the city.

August 28, Rapid Urbanization and the Sustainable Response
William Baker, CTBUH Trustee, writes about the process of including sustainability into urban planning in order to advocate a holistic vision of the urban environment. “The sustainability challenge is better addressed as the sum of its many parts,” he writes. This strategy will maintain the growth and health of cities in the future, he argues.