Nature & Biodiversity

Barangaroo, Sydney

Photo credit: Sian Liddy

The Living Seawalls Project at Waterman’s Cove is one of number of initiatives designed to restore and regenerate natural systems in the Barangaroo precinct. 

Designed by the Living Seawalls team, the panels mimic natural marine structures and create 96 square metres of habitat for marine organisms. Bespoke for Barangaroo, the panels add intertidal complexity and aim to enhance native species over nonindigenous species.  

The panels were made using 3D printing technology and incorporated recycled oyster shells to enhance their sustainability. They were planted with native brown kelp (rescued from pilings undergoing maintenance at a nearby location), encouraging marine species to make them their home. Since their installation in 2020, the panels are now home to hundreds of fish, native oysters, seaweed, and invertebrates.  

Living Seawalls is a flagship program of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and works in collaboration with Reef Design Lab. 

Elephant Park, London

Elephant Park’s tree strategy saw over 1,300 trees planted across the development's public realm and surrounding streets, as well as 128 mature trees retained from the original site.  

At the heart of the Elephant Park development is a new 2-acre public park, shaped around 27 existing mature trees along with 19 new trees. The new park links with established urban nature zones, including Salisbury Row Park, Surrey Square Park, Burgess Park, Victory Community Park, and Nursery Row Park.

Throughout the park, habitat features such as bat and bird boxes, log piles, insect hotels and beetle stumpery have been installed to encourage biodiversity.

Amongst our green spaces are the park’s rain gardens which are designed to lessen the burden on London’s combined sewer system by running surface water into the park’s ground.

Comcentre, Singapore

The new Singtel Comcentre is expected to be redeveloped into a $3B world-class sustainable workplace near the shopping belt of Singapore, Orchard Road.

The project’s nature-related strategy is the outcome of a co-design partnership approach with our client. Nature-related mitigation include targets to reduce at least 30% embodied carbon during the construction phase and reduce potable water consumption by 69%.

The project is also targeting Landscape Excellence Assessment Framework (LEAF) certification, with a minimum 50% of plantings native to Southeast Asia as well as PUB Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters certification. 

MIND, Milan

Innovation, science and technology are at the heart of the Milano Innovation District (MIND), and this includes its approach to sustainability with green infrastructure playing a core role in the design.

At MIND we worked with local public authorities to create project-specific environmental commitments as part of the urban planning process. These commitments include biodiversity net gain targets and meeting permeability requirements. We also developed an innovative Green Space Factor, a calculation which includes green walls and green roofs. 

We are creating a 120,000m² system of gardens and canals to create a Parco Verde Blue (Green-Blue Park) throughout MIND. Using nature-based structures, we are building climate resilient canal waterways to maximise ecosystem complexity for local insects, birdlife, amphibian, aquatic and terrestrial life.

All our nature-based initiatives will help to restore the natural environment at MIND while mitigating the two key climate-related risks identified for the project -- urban heat island effect and urban flooding.

Clippership Wharf, Boston

At our Clippership Wharf development we adopted nature positive design to build a climate resilient neighbourhood.

The Living Shoreline initiative at Clippership Wharf increases local river accessibility, climate resilience and tidal protection through nature-based habitat fortifications. It raises the wharf by 2 metres, adding a 500-metre extension, and seeds it with local bivalve and riparian species, creating tidal flats, coastal banks, rocky shores, and salt marsh communities. This nature-based solution results in 3200sqm of new intertidal habitat, improved water quality while providing effective tidal protection. The living shoreline revetement was constructed using repurposed stone from onsite excavation.

The project garnered immense community buy-in, including a new recreational Kayak Centre that monitors marine waste for community benefit.  

Reef Island Initiative, Great Barrier Reef Foundation

The Reef Islands Initiative is restoring critical island habitats to protect ecosystems and save vulnerable species. 

Alongside the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, the Queensland Government and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation, Lendlease Foundation is supporting the Reef Islands Initiative, a 10-year program pioneered by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.  

By combining science and Indigenous knowledge with on-ground and in-water actions, the Reef Islands Initiative is building resilience in reef island habitats to create a network of climate change arks for the Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest reef habitat rehabilitation project of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The social value created through the work of our shared-value partnership with the Reef Islands Initiative contributes towards our target to create $250 million of social value by 2025.