The evolution of Modernism in Asian architecture, and other stories

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, we examine the development of modernism in East Asia, tracing its influence through key figures and landmark projects. In other news, Indonesia opened its carbon exchange to international buyers, aiming to raise funds to help meet ambitious domestic climate goals. Lastly, AWS has launched a new region in Thailand.

The evolution of Modernism in Asian architecture: Key figures and landmark projects

Modernism in architecture emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century, fueled by advancements in science and engineering and a deliberate departure from historical styles. It championed a focus on social equity, urban development, efficiency, and functional design, marking a significant shift in architectural philosophy. Originating primarily in Europe and the United States, modernism captivated the global imagination with its innovative redefinition of space and architecture. Its spread to Asia was facilitated by cross-cultural exchanges—East Asian architects who studied under prominent modernists and European architects working in East Asia through international collaborations or colonial-era influences. ArchDaily examines the development of modernism in East Asia, tracing its influence through key figures and landmark projects that have left a lasting impact, shaping the architectural identity and urban fabric of these cities.

Indonesia launches international carbon exchange

Indonesia opened its carbon exchange to international buyers on 20th January, aiming to raise funds to help meet ambitious domestic climate goals. The move opens the way for foreign investors to enter a market launched in September 2023 for domestic players. Carbon credits are generated by activities that avoid or reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. They can be purchased by companies seeking to “offset” or cancel out some of their emissions, either to comply with regulations or bolster their “green” credentials. CNA reports that Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest polluters and is heavily reliant on coal to fuel its growing economy.

AWS launches new region in Thailand to advance cloud adoption

AWS has launched a new region in Thailand, providing developers, startups, enterprises, and public sector organisations with a local option for running applications and serving end users from AWS data centres located in the country. The company is planning to invest over USD5 billion (SGD6.82 billion) in Thailand. AWS’ vice president of Infrastructure Services, Prasad Kalyanaraman, said in DataCenterNews Asia that the new region will help customers deploy advanced applications with a set of technologies that offer core cloud capabilities, including compute, storage, analytics, and networking, and services that enable customers to evolve, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].