Jetsetting with ... Eco-architect Jason Pomeroy

SINGAPORE — Jason Pomeroy is an eco-architect whose job requires him to spend most of his time abroad.

The 42-year-old, who is considered an authority on sky gardens, usually works on projects overseas — on his itinerary are trips to the Maldives and Surabaya. He has also been on the road, visiting eight cities, to film the first season of Smart Cities 2.0 for Channel NewsAsia (CNA).

The eight-part series, which premiered on March 4, takes viewers to Amsterdam, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. It explores the various ways these cities make themselves “smarter” and more self-sufficient.

Pomeroy has hosted two other CNA shows, City Time Traveller and City Redesign. He also created Asia’s first carbon-neutral prototype home, The Idea House, in Malaysia.

Born in London to a British father and a Malaysian mother, Pomeroy is an expert on destinations such as London and Amsterdam.

“It was as cosmopolitan now as it was back in the day,” he says of Amsterdam. Being a fan of old cafes and bars, he relished his trip to Skylounge, the rooftop bar at the Amsterdam Hilton.

Q: You travelled to eight cities for the filming of Smart Cities 2.0. What are some of the coolest things you saw?

A: I find that each city has something very unique. In Higashimatsushima, there is a renewable energy strategy (that ties in with) creating a greater sense of resilience. Also, (I found out that) Amsterdam (is) embracing water as a means of development. There, water is used for recycling purposes. People in Amsterdam are looking to try to mitigate flood risks by greening rooftops.

Q: You were born in London. What do you recommend doing there?

A: I like to go to Borough Market to do my grocery shopping. If I’m meeting my friends for dinner, I tend to go to the Covent Garden area. One of my favourite restaurants there is called Hawksmoor Seven Dials, where I love the steaks and the bone marrow. I also like the full English breakfast — bacon, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes — at Borough Market, at a restaurant called Roast. Plus, I sometimes grab some “fast food” in the form of lobster or a burger at Burger & Lobster at Green Park.

Q: You are living and working in Singapore now. What are some of your favourite things to do here?

A: I like going to the National Gallery Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum as I’m a big fan of art. I also love the vibe of Club Street, and some of the bars and restaurants there.

If I were to think of a restaurant, I would say I really like Oxwell and Co (at Ann Siang Road). I like the rooftop vibe (of its bar). It is also within walking distance from my home, so that helps.

Q: What is your favourite food, from anywhere in the world?

A: I do like French food. I love bouillabaisse — a traditional French fish soup that is cooked with different pieces of fish in a very rich broth — and cassoulet, which is a traditional French stew cooked with sausages, duck confit and white beans. To me, those two dishes are very hearty and traditional, and I feel very at home when I’m eating them.

Q: Where do you travel for leisure?

A: I generally head to a city — I have always been a city boy. I used to be a professor at a university in Venice, and today, the place still has a magic that draws me back, time and time again. I think it could be due to the fact that Venice has been a centre of trade and commerce for hundreds of years. And besides, the architecture is stunning.

I would also like to go to Machu Picchu. I think I would love exploring the ruins there. I would also like to visit the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Sonia Yeo