14/03/2019
“Rights of Light”, the name is full of mysterious and difficult to understand but is a “power” with strong power that can make an individual and a small family cope with anyone though are Premier League champions or mighty companies.
In addition to obtaining construction permits from Departments or Local authorities, the concept of “my house I build” or “This is my homeland, so I can do everything?” is something that cannot be applied to real estate in the UK or the United States when the current law has clearly regulated: “If the house has enjoyed natural light for 20 years or more, the homeowner is entitled to prohibit construction with works blocking such house’s light.” In other words, when the homeowner has not allowed, neighbors or owners of construction around it cannot conduct construction if the design of the new house will block the natural light of the opposite house. If the construction owners deliberately ignore and keep building up, it is likely that they will be ordered by the court to remove the light-blocking work.
1. From the lesson of the “green-shirt billionaire” football team, Premier League in England.
In early 2018, the famous Chelsea football club had a plan to rebuild Stamford Bridge stadium from the current 41,000 seats to 60,000 seats with a total value of up to £1 billion.
In order to do this, in addition to completing rigorous procedures, Chelsea had to work hard on the lobby, at the same time offer some proposals contributing to the local development to convince the government. Accordingly, Chelsea promised to open up its own “huge” purse to additionally invest £ 6 million into the county’s education programs and £ 7 million into the repair of regional infrastructure. In addition, according to Chelsea’s estimates, their larger stadium would bring £ 16.3 million to local shops, restaurants and businesses because there will be 2.4 million people coming to the stadium every year. Moreover, Chelsea also agreed to compensate for 50 surrounding houses that would be affected by the construction of the project.
97.5% is the consensus rate of Mayor London, local authorities and surrounding households. It is thought that nothing can make it hard for the team that “has nothing but money”, however, until now, the project still cannot deploy because of “fastidious neighbor” – Crosthwaites family who owns villa at Stamford Cottages alley and their house has received 50 years of natural light. This is also the only family of 50 households affected and not agreeing to receive compensation. As soon as they heard about the project, in May, they sent a petition asking the court to force the Chelsea club to stop building a billion-dollar stadium. The reason given is: The new design of the stadium will “seriously affect the daylight of the house”. The Crosthwaites’ disagreement also meant that the construction could not start construction.
House of Stamford Cottages family (red location) with the risk of being blocked from permanent light when the Chelsea Stadium project is rebuilt. (Photos of Googles Map)
After a lot of effort and compensation amount raised up to 6 numbers, it does not come to an end. If Chelsea must ask for a final decision: impact of the local government, the Crosthwaites would be protected by the European Human Rights Convention and it seemed that the “wit combat” between the two parties will still last for this Rights of Light.
2. To “Lighting ordinances” in America
In 1984, San Francisco City, North Carolina (USA) issued the “Lighting ordinances”; whereby all buildings with the height of more than 12 meters and sunny shadow blocking public areas under management of the Parks and Recreation Committee will be banned from construction, unless it is determined by the Committee that the sunny shadow does not create significant problems.
Also by this decree, according to Sfchronicle, in April 2018, San Francisco City immediately “stopped” the construction of a commercial building called Oceanwide Center due to the sunny shadow of this 275m-high and 18ha-wide building will block a public park, that were 10 buildings away within an hour during the day in the fall and will block many of the surrounding public areas most of the time of the year, for example, Portsmouth Square, Justin Herman Square and Union Square.
Oceanwide Center’s shadow will block the natural sunshine of at least 4 surrounding parks once the building is built.
The above two cases are the most obvious examples which have witnessed for the necessity of the living, working and playing space requiring natural light. Overcoming is a need and an essential right as other rights to ensure health and help balance the mood and emotions.
3. “Lighting privilege” in the living space at Ciputra
In recent years, living green and living in harmony with nature are a trend of modern residents to balance and enjoy life when city life is gradually becoming too stuffy with limited land and skyscrapers. Ciputra has seen the value of a truly natural life 20 years ago when embarking on creating Ciputra Hanoi.
The apartment buildings just scatter between the rich green at Ciputra
Although Vietnamese law have not had regulations on “rights of light” yet, Ciputra has gone ahead and created “juridical capacity” for its own “territory” when owning an expensive land fund of up to 300 hectares adjacent to West Lake, which was referred to as “an inch of soil is an inch of gold”. Ciputra has spent more than 1/3 of the total land to create green space equivalent to 77ha of trees and water surface, of which the core park is up to 25ha, large and small parks or 7km Ecopath promenade shaded with trees. While other high-rise properties are “racing” up with a height of 35-40 floors, Ciputra still retains a “one-on-one” style when its buildings have a height of only 21 floors and floor space from 6-10 units/m2. And in particular, the layout of the subdivision and the complex of buildings are very reasonable with a distance ensuring ventilation for the apartments to fully enjoy natural light and wind. For other projects, customers buying later will only buy apartments hidden from the light and vision; however at Ciputra, despite the final choices, owners are always assured that their house is always full of light and unlimited vision by default they own the unique “lighting privilege” here.
Villas are designed with open spaces and wide glass doors to get maximum natural light.
Not only the rich green, “lighting privilege” or green lifestyle at Ciputra also expresses in design language. High-end housing products, whether apartments or villas, are always close to nature with open spaces, wide glass doors or large balconies to get maximum natural light in the house, helping the room be always bright, warm and full of prosperity.
Ciputra is the first international urban area in Hanoi and the pioneering green urban area which gives prominence to experiences and lifestyle close to nature through the Eco Culture. In 2018, surpassing the most rigorous criteria of the international appraisal council, TheLINK345 Ciputra, the newest high-end apartment building, is honored to obtain the Final Certificate, The Edge Green Building by International Finance Corporation (IFC).
