Sex and the city

Just how important the subject of sustainability has become in the property industry was very clear during a panel discussion at EXPO REAL on urban sustainability. German state secretary of transport, building and urban affairs, Engelbert Luetke Daldrup noted that as more people move to cities in Germany to live and work, making the urban environment sustainable will take a coordinated effort by both federal governments and the real estate business. We will also have look beyond energy use and look at the whole picture, including environmental, social and even cultural elements to create truly sustainable city living.

Peter Wynne Rees, the City Planning Office for the City of London, sees increasing urbanisation as a real opportunity. ‘Cities are the most sustainable environments, while living in the country is the least sustainable. People living in the countryside, growing organic vegetables and working via the internet are kidding themselves if they think they’re being sustainable. And people want to live in cities because the sex is better.’ In fact, he added, if we want to create truly successful and sustainable cities, we have to make them as sexy as possible. ‘London is the most successful financial centre in the world because the sex is so good. We need to create cities that attract the most number of people.’

After reassuring Wynne Rees that sex is also pretty good in the countryside, Dieter Ullsperger, ceo of German property firm Aurelis, agreed that urbanisation is both an opportunity and a challenge, and creating sustainable cities will take a lot of coordination and planning. And some hard decisions. ‘We will at some point have to look at old, inefficient building stock and either tear it down or drastically refurbish.’ And while commercial tenants are currently unwilling to pay a premium for the technology to make their buildings more efficient, and cheaper, as energy prices continue to rise they will eventually pay extra to have lower energy bills.

Sustainability expert Prof. Tim Dixon agreed that any discussion of sustainability has to include the social element. ‘Looking at some new developments, we're in danger of creating isolated and transient communities, as these projects do not include healthcare, transport or cultural facilities.’

One thing everybody agreed on what that it was time after years of discussion it is time for action. 'We might look like we’re ahead in the UK, but what we are really good at is formulating strategies. What we’re not so good at is putting those strategies into action,'Wynne Rees said. The truth is, Dixon added, is that if you're not going green now, your buildings will be obsolete in 10 years.