- Webinar 10
- Architecture, Carbon emissions, Construction
Timber is having its moment in the global sustainability discourse. Will it replace concrete and steel, or be used in combination to usher in a new era of low-carbon construction?
As cities grow greener, plants are often used as superficial decoration. But what if architecture could create genuine ecosystems? Catie Ryan Balagtas and Anuj Jain reveal how buildings can support all life.
New York-based Catie Ryan Balagtas brings critical insights to this conversation, drawing on her expertise in biophilic design and her role at Terrapin Bright Green. She challenges us to think beyond aesthetics, exploring how nature-integrated architecture can support human well-being and ecological performance.
Anuj Jain’s work with bioSEA in Singapore places him at the forefront of biocentric design. His experience in wildlife conservation and ecological urban planning adds depth to this discussion, as he highlights the opportunities and challenges of designing cities that act as ecosystems.
From Kampung Admiralty’s urban habitat in Singapore to New York City’s 111 Eighth Avenue redefining sustainable water use, this episode explores how groundbreaking projects are shaping the future of architecture and ecology.
| 00:07:02 | Understanding biocentric design |
| 00:07:45 | “Biocentric design looks at the whole ecosystem, the interactions of different organisms — flora and fauna — with itself […]” |
| 00:13:31 | “You have this continuous plane where birds fly […] you’ve recorded overall, actually, 213 species from this building […]” |
| 00:14:40 | “Buildings become analogues for things that happen in nature […]” |
| 00:24:03 | From theory to practice |
| 00:24:46 | “One of the first questions we often ask is: Should we even be building here?” |
| 00:25:44 | “My first step would be to […] engage the team in understanding the site before […] planning and concept […]” |
| 00:27:20 | “We should start with at least having a small pocket of spontaneous vegetation […] in every project we do.” |
| 00:29:37 | Making it work |
| 00:31:54 | “Sooner is better because then the opportunity is greater […] to bring a whole team together […]” |
| 00:37:45 | “We found it really important to actually bring the facility managers into the conversation early on […]” |
Plants are popping up everywhere in our cities — on facades, rooftops, and balconies. They’re beautiful, sure. But as architects, designers, and urban thinkers, we’re asking a bigger question: What’s the point?
In this episode, we take a closer look at the growing trend of integrating greenery with architecture. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, what are we actually gaining? And more importantly, what are we missing?
Our guests, Catie Ryan Balagtas and Anuj Jain, push us to rethink how and why we green our buildings. They challenge the idea of greenery as just decoration, asking: What would it take to make these designs truly functional — like ecosystems that support biodiversity, clean water, and carbon cycles?
The firm bioSEA has counted 213 species in the cascading green terraces of Kampung Admiralty in Singapore, designed by WOHA (architecture) and Ramboll (landscape).One of the big talking points is the question of how we quantify the success of greening efforts. Should we focus on financial returns, such as increased property value, or embrace broader metrics like biodiversity, air quality, and ecosystem health? How do these differing approaches shape the future of sustainable design?
Terrapin Bright Green tapped a natural stream beneath 111 Eighth Avenue in New York to drastically cut the massive building’s water consumption.Then there’s tension between design intention and real-world outcomes. What happens when projects marketed as “green” fall short — adding token greenery without addressing the deeper needs of ecosystems? Our discussion highlights the urgent need to prioritise long-term ecological benefits over short-term visual appeal.
At Portland International Airport’s main terminal (designed by ZGF, Place, and Terrapin Bright Green), a timber roof serves many purposes.Through examples like Singapore’s Kampung Admiralty and New York’s 111 Eighth Avenue, we see how thoughtful design can deliver real ecological impact. These projects demonstrate that integrating nature into architecture isn’t just possible: it’s practical, scalable, and essential for sustainable urban living.
Kampung Admiralty proves that dense urban development can successfully integrate biodiversity while serving multiple community needs.But it’s not easy. Aligning clients, architects, and project teams around ecological goals comes with significant challenges. How can we push past resistance and bridge the gap between ambition and execution?
Hero image: AI-generated image by StockCake.
This episode is brought to you by:
| The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction The Holcim Foundation helps drive systemic change towards a more sustainable built environment. It was founded in 2003 to define and promote the key principles of sustainability for the construction sector and is committed to accelerating the sector’s transformation so that people and the planet can thrive. The Foundation has investigated various aspects of sustainable construction via a series of roundtables and conferences with international experts. It has also recognised excellent contributions to this field with the Holcim Foundation Awards which are considered the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design. Committed to a holistic approach that recognises the equal importance and interdependence of four key goals, the Foundation combines the collective knowledge, ideas, and solutions of our global community of experts with a recognised platform of international competitions to democratise thought leadership for the entire sector. |  |
This episode is brought to you by:
The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
The Holcim Foundation helps drive systemic change towards a more sustainable built environment. It was founded in 2003 to define and promote the key principles of sustainability for the construction sector and is committed to accelerating the sector’s transformation so that people and the planet can thrive.
The Foundation has investigated various aspects of sustainable construction via a series of roundtables and conferences with international experts. It has also recognised excellent contributions to this field with the Holcim Foundation Awards which are considered the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design.
Committed to a holistic approach that recognises the equal importance and interdependence of four key goals, the Foundation combines the collective knowledge, ideas, and solutions of our global community of experts with a recognised platform of international competitions to democratise thought leadership for the entire sector.
Anuj Jain
Dr Anuj Jain is the Founding Director, Principal Ecologist, and Biomimic at bioSEA, an ecology and biomimicry design consultancy in Singapore.
At bioSEA, Anuj leads biodiversity assessments and ecological design for projects across scales ranging from ecologically designed bungalows to mixed-use developments with building, district, and city-level plans; and across geographies ranging from the tropics of southeast Asia to the deserts of Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Living up to bioSEA’s tagline of ‘Shaping built environments to function like rainforests’, Anuj works with architects and designers to create landscapes that are good for nature and people. When designing he often asks: What would nature do here? What would nature not do here?
Armed with a PhD in wildlife conservation (urban ecology focus) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Biomimicry Professional Certification by Biomimicry 3.8 USA, his flagship projects range from creating the world’s longest butterfly trail in Orchard Road, Singapore; initiating the Every Singaporean a Naturalist citizen science programme; helping conserve some of the world’s most threatened birds such as the Helmeted Hornbill in southeast Asia; and developing a biomimicry design toolkit for building skins for better thermoregulation in tropical climates.
Working with WOHA, his team has recently developed a nature-centric design assessment framework for tropical buildings in Singapore.
Apart from bioSEA, Anuj is a National Geographic Explorer, and the Founding Member of Biomimicry Singapore Network. He also consults with BirdLife International and teaches ecology part-time at NUS.
He is very interested in nature education and particularly how biomimicry can offer a new lens for appreciating and conserving nature.
E | anuj@biosea.sg
Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn
Catie Ryan Balagtas
Catie Ryan Balagtas is the Director of Projects and a technical specialist at Terrapin Bright Green, an international environmental design research and consulting firm. Catie is responsible for the strategy and implementation of complex projects with a special focus on human health and sustainability in the built environment. She has a particular interest in how biophilic design can best be integrated into built ecosystems as a proactive and economical approach to addressing public health, equity, and climate-responsive placemaking.
Catie has consulted on a broad range of projects for clients such as 1 Hotel, Google, Interface, JPMorganChase, PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd, the Port of Portland, and the California General Services Administration. Recent accomplishments include the development of a passenger experience and stress-reduction design strategy for the Portland International Airport (PDX) terminal redevelopment, a biophilic design framework for Google’s global real estate and workplace services, and the LEED Platinum certification of the Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur.
Catie is a co-author of Nature Inside: A biophilic design guide (RIBA Publishing, 2020), 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green, 2014, 2024), and the award-winning Economics of Biophilia (Terrapin Bright Green, 2012, 2023). She is a frequent university guest lecturer and contributor to peer-reviewed journal articles.
Prior to Terrapin, Catie worked with the Department of Zoning and Ordinances in Mexico, with Refugees International in Thailand, and with a design firm in China. Catie is an Accredited Professional with the International WELL Building Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council. Catie received her Master of Arts in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University Heller School of Social Policy and Management, with a focus on urban green infrastructure. Catie splits her time between New York City and the Philippines.
E | catie@terrapinbg.com
If you heard it in this episode, we likely have a link for it right here. Click on any topics, people, buildings, places, products and/or technologies listed below to learn more about each of them.
| 00:01:03 | “…fields of biophilic and biocentric…” “What Is and Is Not Biophilic Design?” | Metropolis |
| 00:01:03 | “…biophilic and biocentric design…” “How biocentric architecture can help architects hit climate goals” | American Institute of Architects |
| 00:08:33 | “…for us: regenerative design. How do…” “What is Regenerative Architecture? Limits of Sustainable Design, System Thinking Approach and the Future” | ArchDaily |
| 00:10:30 | “…would include abiotic. I mean…” “Abiotic Factors” | National Geographic |
| 00:13:00 | “…the right GFA, the right…” “GFA Explained: A Comprehensive Guide to Gross Floor Area” | Room Sketcher |
| 00:14:24 | “…was titled How a Bird Sees It, and it…” “Urban Greening and Architectural Form: A Bird’s Eye View” | Research Gate |
| 00:27:24 | “…small pocket of spontaneous vegetation, wild vegetation…” “Ecosystem services provided by urban spontaneous vegetation” | Springer Nature |
| 00:28:49 | “…like the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design. And there’s…” “Terrapin Releases 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design” | Terrapin Bright Green |
| 00:36:43 | “…made of mass timber was addressing…” “The Dezeen guide to mass timber in architecture” | Dezeen |
| 00:39:21 | “…mapped out 580 watersheds in New York…” “What is a watershed?” | National Ocean Service |
| 00:01:05 | “…design. Catie Ryan Balagtas from Terrapin…” “Catie Ryan Balagtas” | LinkedIn |
| 00:01:06 | “…Balagtas from Terrapin Bright Green in New…” “Terrapin Bright Green” | Terrapin Bright Green |
| 00:01:09 | “…and Anuj Jain from bioSEA…” “Anuj Jain” | LinkedIn |
| 00:01:10 | “…Jain from bioSEA in Singapore…” “bioSEA” | bioSEA |
| 00:06:05 | “…default to Edward Wilson’s definitions or…” “E.O. Wilson” | Britannica |
| 00:11:25 | “…worked with WOHA Architects for a…” “WOHA” | WOHA |
| 00:16:07 | “…like Buro Happold and…” “Buro Happold” | Buro Happold |
| 00:16:07 | “…and COOKFOX have done…” “COOKFOX” | COOKFOX |
| 00:18:43 | “…working with Eric Sanderson, who’s now…” “Eric W. Sanderson” | New York Botanical Garden |
| 00:21:33 | “…As Janine M. Benyus puts it…” “Janine M. Benyus” | LinkedIn |
| 00:29:41 | “…I mean Kevin Lynch, the whole idea…” “Kevin Andrew Lynch” | The Cultural Landscape Foundation |
| 00:39:16 | “…with the Department of Environmental Protection, and they’ve…” “Environmental Protection Agency” | Environmental Protection Agency |
| 00:01:08 | “…Green in New York City, and…” “New York City” (New York, United States) | Britannica |
| 00:01:10 | “…bioSEA in Singapore. We look…” “Singapore” | Britannica |
| 00:11:29 | “…would be Kampung Admiralty. This is…” “Kampung Admiralty / WOHA” | Archdaily |
| 00:17:39 | “…The 111 Eighth Avenue in the…” “111 Eighth Avenue” (Chelsea, New York, United States) | Taconic Partners |
| 00:17:41 | “…in the Chelsea neighbourhood…” “Chelsea” (New York City, New York, United States) | Wikipedia |
| 00:17:44 | “…New York City in Manhattan is a…” “Manhattan” (New York City, New York, United States) | Britannica |
| 00:18:47 | “…at the New York Botanical Gardens at the…” “New York Botanical Gardens” | New York Botanical Garden |
| 00:36:36 | “…the Port of Portland airport terminal is a great…” “Port of Portland, PDX Airport Main Terminal Expansion” (Portland, Oregon, United States) | ZGF |
There are no design features discussed in this episode.
There are no products or technologies discussed in this episode.
Host
Nirmal Kishnani
Producer
Maxime Flores
Editor-at-large
Narelle Yabuka
Senior communications executive
Sana Gupta
Senior editor
Tyler Yeo
Art director (video)
Alexander Melck | Phlogiston
Sound technician and editor
Kelvin Brown | Phlogiston
Video editors
Guellor Muguruka | Phlogiston
Madelein Myburgh | Phlogiston
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