Future Warsaw - Towarowa 22 by Bjarke Ingles Cities of the Future 2026-09-21 | Future Warsaw - Towarowa 22 by Bjarke Ingles
Future Paris - Champs Elysees #paris #champselysées #sustainability #green Cities of the Future 2023-09-18 | ...
Future Riyadh - Giant Cube Shaped Supertall Skyscraper for Downtown Cities of the Future 2023-05-23 | ...
Future Neom - 500 Meters Tall City Cities of the Future 2022-07-29 | In 2021, Saudi Arabia announced plans for THE LINE, a 170 km belt of communities connected without the need for cars or roads (see previous coverage here). His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Board of Directors, has now unveiled the designs of THE LINE, offering a more detailed look into the most important characteristics of the world’s first zero-gravity vertical city. Located in NEOM, a destination being built in the Tabuk Province in northwestern Saudi Arabia, the smart city will be only 200 meters wide, 170 kilometers long and 500 meters above sea level. ‘At THE LINE’s launch last year, we committed to a civilizational revolution that puts humans first based on a radical change in urban planning,’ HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said. ‘The designs revealed today for the city’s vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities and create a model for nature preservation and enhanced human livability. THE LINE will tackle the challenges facing humanity in urban life today and will shine a light on alternative ways to live.’
Future Madrid - Nuevo Norte Madrid Cities of the Future 2022-07-20 | Check out the map and renders here...citiesofthefuture.org/madrid-nuevo-norteVR TOUR COMING SOON...West 8 have won the international design competition for the design of Parque Central Madrid Nuevo Norte. The news was recently announced at a ceremony chaired by the Mayor of Madrid. After winning, the multidisciplinary team headed by West 8, together with Porras Guadiana as a local partner, will continue to design the public space that will become a new icon for the city of Madrid.A winning combination of design, sustainability and innovation – the winning proposal is committed to creating a large urban forest whose identity is linked with the memory of place, rising from the existing structure of Chamartín Station. With a surface area of 14.5 ha, the competition set the task of creating a central park that will be integrated into the wider system of green areas of Madrid formed by the Metropolitan Forest (Bosque Metropolitano), the Green Arch (Arco Verde) and the network of parks within Madrid Nuevo Norte. The proposal was chosen unanimously by the jury.
Future Nanjing Nexus China - Financial Center by Büro Ole Scheeren Cities of the Future 2022-04-25 | Büro Ole Scheeren has recently won an international design competition inviting participants to envision the Nanjing Jiangbei New Financial Center in China. Former capital of the South, Nanjing is a bustling trading center located on the shores of the Yangze River and holds a pivotal position within the Yangze River Economic Belt. The new Jiangbei District will complement its historic center as a contemporary urban hub merging culture, tradition, identity, ecology, and nature with the spirit of innovation. The practice’s mixed-use and 350m tall ‘Nanjing Nexus’ was chosen as the winning scheme by an international jury. Imagined as an octagonal super-tall structure with 3D-textured facades and ‘green’ offsets, the proposal hopes to connect the city’s past with the challenges and expectations of its future urban identity.AN OCTAGONAL SUPER-TALL STRUCTURE WITH VERTICAL GARDENS The architectural form of ‘Nanjing Nexus’ departs from the typical rectangular tower archetype by trimming its shaft into an octagon and carving each facet into a concave bay, harnessing the energy of the context and embracing the surrounding city. The eight bays are horizontally split and vertically shifted to create offsets and form a skyline, with large ‘Urban Windows’ accommodating diverse programs and connecting the building to the city. Overall, Ole Scheeren (see more here) creates a dialogue between the small scale of a historic village and the largeness of the vertical, contemporary city. Abundant vegetation further transforms the ‘Urban Windows’ into vertical gardens, a contemporary interpretation of the garden culture and pavilions of the Jiangsu province. The integration of specific landscape typologies in the tower serves sustainability strategies on multiple levels: ecological, social, and historical.
The Future Hospital - Al Daayan Health District by OMA Cities of the Future 2022-04-13 | Led by Reinier de Graaf, OMA introduces its Al Daayan Health District, which will be realized in Doha, Qatar. The team seeks to reimagine the hospital, a feat which is an urgent priority in the context of rapidly advancing medical innovation. Located on an untouched, 1.3 million square-meter site between Qatar University and the new Lusail City, the Al Daayan Health District presents the perfect opportunity — the architects note that it offers the possibility for a new symbiosis between architecture and medical science.
Future Liberland - Zaha Hadid Designs Metaverse City Cities of the Future 2022-04-01 | British architecture firm Zaha Hadid Architects is creating Liberland Meterverse, a virtual "cyber-urban" city in the metaverse where people are able to collaborate across geographies, buy plots of land with cryptocurrency and enter digital buildings as an avatar.The project, which is led by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) principal Patrik Schumacher is a digital twin of the Free Republic of Liberland, a micronation claimed by Czech politician Vít Jedlicka that straddles disputed land between Croatia and Serbia."While the Liberland Metaverse is meant to spearhead the development of Liberland as a libertarian micro-nation it will also function as free standing virtual reality realm in its own right," Schumacher told Dezeen."The ambition is for it to become the go-to-site for networking and collaboration within the burgeoning web 3.0 industry, i.e. the metaverse for metaverse developers and the crypto ecosystem at large," he added.
Future Pujiang Peaks- Civic Center by MVRDV Cities of the Future 2022-03-09 | The area around Chengdu is known for its nature, with lush greenery, good water and air quality, and a deep-rooted agricultural tradition. Expanding the city to the southwest, Pujiang is intended to capture this spirit, offering a sustainable, high-quality-of-life urban development. As one of the new town’s most emblematic developments, MVRDV’s proposal for the civic center complex leads the way in this ambition, following the spirit of a simple slogan: Pujiang is where the future meets nature.
Future Stockholm - Central Station by Foster and Partners 2025 Cities of the Future 2022-02-13 | The integrated team led by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Marge Arkitekter has been revealed as winners of the competition for the development of Stockholm Central Station in Stockholm today. The winning design, put forward by the team which includes LAND Arkitektur, Thornton Tomasetti, Ramboll, Wenanders and TAM Group, will bring several modes of transport together in a single integrated transport hub, while prioritising pedestrian flows and creating a new mixed-use urban district.Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “We’re delighted to have won the design competition to reimagine the future of Stockholm Central Station. As the world’s collective focus shifts to more sustainable ways of living, working and travelling, it is vital that we enhance and redevelop our transport nodes and repair and connect the urban fabric around them. We look forward to developing these proposals with Jernhusen, Trafikverket and the City of Stockholm over the coming months.”Located at the heart of the city, Stockholm Central Station is Sweden’s largest transportation hub. Originally opened in 1871, the historic station now caters to more passengers than it was originally designed for. Future plans to increase the number of trains coming into the city are set to catalyse the reinvention of Stockholm’s central heart. The new district, largely built over the existing tracks, will re-link the surrounding streets to create an active, friendly, and safe public realm that will stitch together the east and west sides of the city, improving passenger connections across Stockholm, without impacting the historic skyline.The masterplan will create a brand-new public square, allowing the new station precinct to become a natural part of the urban fabric. Inspired by the scale and colours of the Klara blocks, the design builds on the existing streetscape of the city to create a dynamic district for a range of mixed-use functions. It also offers an active public realm and better connectivity with clear wayfinding. The design recreates the historic Station Railway Park on the southern tip. With spectacular views over the old town of Gamla stan, Södermalm and the City Hall, it will be a new green meeting place in the city centre.By narrowing Klarabergsgatan Viaduct and reducing traffic flow, the proposals create a natural extension of the historic central waiting hall. The entrance hall will combine the new and historic parts of the station, linking the central station platforms, City Terminal Buses and Arlanda Express Trains.The proposals also seek to realign the new central tunnel with Klarabergsgatan to create a subterranean east-west link across the site. The design allows for the possibility of extending the tunnel to provide a below ground connection through to the Citybanan in the future. The tunnel will then connect the extended platforms of the Central Station, Arlanda Express and the Bus Station in the City Terminal, bringing together four modes of transport to create a single intermodal station. A new centralised Logistics Centre could also be positioned to the west of the tracks, where goods and refuge can be serviced directly, without disturbing the public realm above.Angus Campbell, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, added: “This is a historic undertaking. We are incredibly honoured to be tasked with developing our proposals further. Stockholm is a unique city with historic city silhouettes. We believe our proposals can form meaningful connections between the city and the central station area, while creating green urban spaces for people to meet, as well as a central focus for sustainable travel at the heart of Stockholm.”Pye Aurell Ehrström from Marge Arkitekter, said: “It is fantastic to be involved in redefining Central Station's role at the heart for Stockholm, while at the same time providing new additions that reference the surrounding streetscape of traditional Klara block architecture, which respects the cultural values of the city.”The project, which involves covering the track area and doubling passenger capacity in Sweden's most central location, is scheduled for planning consultations in 2023.
Future Gagarin Valley - MVRDV reveals plans for Visionary Valley of Eden in Armenia Cities of the Future 2022-01-14 | MVRDV has announced its plans to transform an existing valley in armenia into a base for sustainable agriculture and ecotourism. gagarin valley is already inhabited by around 11,000 inhabitants across several villages but this ambitious masterplan will add 12,000 new housing units, 10,000 plant species, and a host of innovative facilities such as a spherical building for agricultural education at the heart of the valley. the massive project was commissioned by the armenian non-profit organisation DAR foundation for regional development and competitiveness, and MVRDV’s proposal was unveiled on tuesday (january 11th, 2022) to armenian government officials.
Future Eindhoven - Trudo Vertical Forest Tree-clad Social Housing Tower by Stefano Boeri Cities of the Future 2021-12-22 | After the pilot case in Milan quickly became one of the city’s internationally recognized symbols, in 2017 Stefano Boeri Architetti’s vision for a new form of architectural biodiversity was extended to include a new building in addition to those currently under development and construction in Lausanne, Nanjing, Paris, Tirana, Shanghai, Utrecht. Designed for Eindhoven and christened the Trudo Vertical Forest, the latest example of the great urban forest project saw the Vertical Forest model applied to social housing for the first time. The Dutch intervention is thus an exploration of a brand new strategic, operational and design condition that is also an answer to a potential limit imposed by this type of architecture, namely that hitherto it has been exclusively applied to high-end residential projects. Designed therefore to accommodate predominantly low-income users and especially young couples, the 19 floors of the Eindhoven tower hosts a number of apartments with affordable rents but with a high quality of life, thanks to the presence on every balcony of hundreds of trees and plants from a vast range of species.The complex vision activated by the Milan Vertical Forest – the “inhabitable” coexistence between humans and other species such as trees, but also birds and insects – is widened in the context of the Trudo Vertical Forest project to meet a double challenge in which the Eindhoven social housing tower establishes the possibility of combating both climate change and resolving the problem of housing through interpreting the idea of urban forestation not only as a necessity in order to improve the environments in cities around the world, but also a great opportunity to improve the living conditions of poorer citizens.Sint-Trudo, the Dutch client, was immensely keen on the building designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti which hosts 125 units intended for social housing and defines new standards for the sector. Each apartment provides a limited size (less than 50 square metres) and designed according to the type of user for which it is intended, however, having the spatial extension offered by terraces of more than 4 square metres and the natural micro-environment created by the presence on each balcony of 1 tree and 20 bushes. Overall, the Trudo Vertical Forest residential tower reaches a height of 75 metres and hosts as many as 125 trees of various species on the whole of its four facades, to which about 5,200 shrubs and plants of smaller dimensions are added.The additional construction costs linked to the inclusion of plant organisms in the Eindhoven tower compared to those of a standard building are compensated in particular by the use of latest generation construction technologies, the rationalization of certain technical solutions for the façades and more generally, the optimization of resources related to the project and the construction of the building.The social value of the intervention must also be measured in terms of urban impact and, in a broader sense, the global scenario of cultural and symbolic values and visions linked to the architectural project. In actual fact the Trudo Vertical Forest generates a new green habitat within the Eindhoven metropolitan environment for the development of biodiversity, a genuine ecosystem driven by the presence of over 70 different plant species able to combat atmospheric pollution thanks to the capacity of trees to absorb over 50 tons of carbon dioxide every year. The combined human-tree, architecture-tree and city-tree interaction make the model first experimented with in Milan and today in Holland the expression of a new design paradigm in which vegetation and living nature must be considered constituent elements – and not just ornamental ones – of architectural language.For aspects related to the design of the organic component of the Trudo Vertical Forest, Stefano Boeri Architetti made use of technical advice provided by the Laura Gatti Studio directed by the agronomist Laura Gatti. This partnership had already borne fruit in the creation of the Milan Vertical Forest and other ongoing urban forestation projects and in this case the Gatti Studio also worked closely with the DuPré Groenprojecten studio in Helmond and the Van den Berk nursery in Sint-Oedenrode. The maintenance of the entire complex, including the plants, will be collective and managed directly by Sint Trudo.
Future Västerås - Transport Hub Under One Roofscape by Bjarke Ingels Cities of the Future 2021-12-21 | Bjarke Ingels Group has unveiled the final design for Västerås Travel Center, a transport infrastructure hub bringing together multiple travel modes within one cohesive architectural object. The project's defining feature is a light, undulating roofscape unfolding across the various complex elements of the program that make up the urban node, creating a new landmark for one of Sweden's largest cities.The raised corners of the structure mark the most important entries. A zigzag line of load-bearing elements cuts across the roof, connecting the columns lining the perimeter, freeing the indoor landscape of constructive elements. The same line slices openings in the roof's surface, providing light and natural ventilation. The building's glazed and curved facades create a light and open space, blurring the boundary between and interior and exterior, while biophilic design brings the landscape within the centre. A series of terraces around the project connects the design to Vasaparken and Hamnparken, extending the city's public realm and providing the citizens with new look-out points, meeting places, skating edges and seating areas. In addition, the new infrastructure will allow residents to cross the railway tracks via separate pedestrian and bicycle passages.
Future Shenzhen - Crossboundaries Turned an Unused Rooftop in Shenzhen into a 1.2 Km Long Urban Park Cities of the Future 2021-12-20 | A space for sports and leisure with shenzhen skyline as the backdrop. that’s what crossboundaries has created with its ‘sky park’ project. the international firm has transformed the roof of a metro terminal and maintenance facility in shenzhen, china, into a 1.2km public park with a diverse range of outdoor sports facilities. the project centers on the adaptation of a previously unused space in the city. hao dong, co-founder and partner at crossboundaries, explains,‘we were confronted with very exceptional circumstances. in china, infrastructure and traffic-related areas usually belong to the government and are not meant to be assigned any public use at all. this elongated rooftop presented itself with huge potential to be transformed into a usable park, accessible to a wider public and enriching the urban environment around it.’
Future Nottingham - City Center Revitalization Heatherwick Studio Cities of the Future 2021-12-09 | Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the city of Nottingham called on heatherwick studio to reimagine its partially demolished broadmarsh shopping center. now, the team unveils first images of its 20-acre project which will see the preservation and reuse of the shopping center’s derelict frame. further, the project will bring new life to the city’s unique network of caves, boosting tourism and the area’s world heritage status. the masterplan is timely, as the pandemic and growth of online retailing has taken a measurable toll on brick-and-mortar shopping. the proposed development is expected to deliver 6,000 jobs, over 400,000 square feet of commercial and business space, along with 750 new homes.heatherwick studio (see more here) along with socially responsible developer stories were commissioned by nottingham’s ‘greater broad marsh advisory group’ to reimagine the derelict broadmarsh shopping center. the vision will rebuild lost connections, reinstating many of the city’s lost street connections and rebuild them for the future of the city, physically and historically connecting the center as a whole. at the heart of the vision is the creation of a so-called green heart. this wildlife-rich green space, which will permeate the whole site and weave in and out of the frame, will create a beautiful, tranquil core for the city and a high quality public realm.
Future New York - Beyond the Street by ODA Cities of the Future 2021-10-09 | ODA introduces its new concept, dubbed ‘beyond the street,’ which seeks to transform new york city‘s streetscape with an extended public realm. the scheme blends existing infrastructure with a proposed new zoning regulation that would take advantage of the porous urban fabric, breaking open existing city blocks to create interior courtyards and pathways that will over time. with adaptive reuse together with new development and landscape design, ODA proposes a city that is even more walkable and blooming with green space accessible to all.ODA begins its ‘beyond the street’ study in new york’s flower district stretching from broadway to 6th avenue between 23rd and 33rd. the neighborhood used to thrive as a pedestrian-filled market area with flower vendors together with hotels, dwellings, and boutique offices. over time, the area had become overrun with car traffic and empty storefronts. the team at ODA addresses this condition, along with the lack of green space, and proposes a revitalization. a new zoning regulation proposed by ODA will encourage new buildings to include bigger courtyards, in return for an increase of floor area and height. an additional bonus would be granted if a passageway is built in from the street to the rear courtyard. the privately owned area will thus become a diversely programmed public ecosystem.
Future Porto - Fuse Valley - Developer Castro Group and FARFETCH HQ by BIG Cities of the Future 2021-10-01 | Bjarke ingels group / BIG has unveiled designs for a 178,000 sqm art-filled site for tech companies called ‘fuse valley’. already dubbed by many as ‘the portuguese silicon valley’, the project is conceived as a community village that will occupy a hillside site 7km from the center of porto. the extensive scheme has been developed by BIG alongside real estate developer Castro Group and fashion e-commerce platform FARFETCH, whose new headquarters will occupy 12 interconnected buildings within fuse valley. project info: name: FARFETCH HQ / FUSE VALLEYlocation: leça do balio, matosinhos, portugalarchitecture: bjarke ingels group / BIGprogram: commercialstatus: in progresssize: 178,000 sqmproject type: competitionclient: FARFETCH, CASTRO GROUPcollaborators: OODA (executive architect – competition) ventura & partners arquitectos (executive architect) dimscale (cost management) quadrante (engineering and sustainability design) PROAP arquitectura paisagista (landscape design) FILAMENTO (lighting design) PACIFICA (signage & wayfinding design) LIMSEN (BIM manager) FEUP/IC (BIM manager) VHM (allotment architect) AMBISITUS (environmental study) ENGIMIND (traffic consultant) CORE (project management) CASTRO RED (project management) AFA (engineering plot B) NdBIM (BIM manager plot B)project team:partner-in-charge: bjarke ingels, joao albuquerqueproject leader: hanna johanssonproject manager: natacha fernandes da ponte viveirosproject architect: mireia sala fontteam: angel barreno, alberto gonzalez-garces, geoffrey eberly, gonzalo castro, gonzalo coronado, jakub fratczak, javier mora, mathieu michel, matthew reger, paula madrid, stefani fachini,tristany serra, wei lesley, alvaro villanueva, ariadna mejias, elena ceribelli, gabriella luppi, gabriela dal seco, giulia orlando, lena mariella von buren, miquel benedito, raphaël logan & ragna nordström
Future Singapore - 2100 - Vision and Regenerative Strategies by WOHA Cities of the Future 2021-09-26 | Singapore 2100 is WOHA‘s vision of a resilient, sustainable future city where humans and nature can co-exist in regenerative, self-sufficient circular systems. today, our planet faces horrible human and natural disasters, that will increase as the impact of climate change heightens. however, this video by WOHA reminds us that there is still hope for human-kind to change the climate path, as long as they act rapidly — the UN climate report showed that immediate crucial, extensive emission reductions, could limit the warming after 2050.As the planet faces an abnormal human-made crisis, the design of singapore 2100 proposes urgent actions; ways to change our existing cities, and mobility infrastructure based on plans, innovations, and technologies that are already available. ‘singapore will be a liveable, sustainable, and resilient city of the 22nd century,’ as is mentioned in the video. it will be a place covered by more lush and greenery, that welcomes humans and other living beings. this vision will offer a high quality of life, fostering wellness and a vibrant lifestyle. singapore city serves as a model that shows how people can combine circular systems into cities, benefiting humans, the hardscape, and nature.
Future Chungnam Art Museum by UNstudio Cities of the Future 2021-07-27 | UNstudio and DA group were selected as the winners of the competition for the chungnam art museum in south korea. the project breaks away from the traditional art museums while serving as a fully captivating hub for arts and culture. it intends to become a place that continuously grows and develops, a station of inspiration and participation, as well as one of the first zero-energy museums in korea. Apart from UNstudio and DA group, the winning consortium also includes squint/opera (digital content and exhibition design), loos van vliet (landscape design), and UNsense (community content). the project will invite people to communicate, providing them with vibrant spaces where art and technology harmoniously coexist, maximizing visitors’ interactions. the architects sought to generate a vibrant performing center that opens up a new vision for the future of the community.The architects have included two defining landmarks in the design: a plateaued central courtyard and the cultural boulevard. both parts are vital for generating communication spaces, serving as locating points, enabling people to immerse in a continuous experience from multiple routes and angles. the cultural boulevard serves as a wayfinding element while offering links throughout the site; it joins the cultural areas and marks the central routes through the building and into the courtyard. the smooth connection among the cultural boulevard, arts center, and library also animates the public functions. meanwhile, the whole structure maintains a visual balance with the surrounding scenery and the mountains behind.
Future Tulum - Train Station by Aidia Studio Cities of the Future 2021-06-29 | The station sits in the beach resort of Tulum, in the Mexican Caribbean, along the Riviera Maya. The primary goal in the design process was to push the sustainability agenda to the foreground and to find in that optimized performance a narrative which would speak about the qualities of pre-Hispanic Mayan Architecture through the use of light, shadows, patterns, materials and vegetation.One of the key elements was to minimise the footprint of the station, so after exploring different spatial configurations, an eye shaped footprint, widest at the centre, where the main functions converge, seemed the most efficient use of space. This was enhanced by stacking the public programme of the station above the platforms deriving in a more compact scheme, connected across levels with vertical circulation and featuring a grand hall flooded with light and natural ventilation. Another key priority during the design process was the user experience, ease of mobility, orientation and the presence of natural light. The linear configuration of the station and the symmetry naturally help, this was assisted by the roof geometry which intuitively navigates users towards the centre of the station.In laying out the commercial component, we aimed to design spaces which constantly celebrate the experience of rail transportation this was achieved by framing views of inbound and outbound trains, and by laying out these retail spaces on a direct visual connection with the platforms.The climate in the Yucatan peninsula is tropical with rain and high humidity in the summer, to deal with this extreme weather, we envisaged a large open lattice roof, glazed in strategic locations, enabling public semi-open spaces that function without mechanical ventilation. The sun light piercing through the roof, projects complex geometric patterns on the walls and floors of the station, a play of lights and shadows travelling throughout the space and evoking different sensations on the users. The openings on the gridshell respond to the radiation exposure throughout the day, smaller openings on the zenith reduce heat gains at the hottest hours and larger openings on the sides let air and light in when the temperature descends. This passive strategy negotiates the amount of radiation exposure and the amount of natural light let into the station.The aerodynamic geometry of the roof promotes the suctioning of the ocean breeze and funnels it through the station. This is key to create a comfortable atmosphere for users without the need of mechanical ventilation. The roof structure is a steel gridshell cladded with Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) panels on the top and laminated wood panels below. The resulting motives on both outer and inner sides are reminiscent of Mayan traditional geometrical patterns.
Future Shenzen - Lunar, a Landmark of the Data Era by Snohetta Cities of the Future 2021-06-24 | ‘Lunar’, snøhetta’s design for the international competition for the qianhai new city center in shenzhen, is a landmark of the data era. the proposal, which was ranked second place, after sou fujimoto’s floating tower, embodies the chinese city’s pioneer spirit and acknowledges both its maritime past and its technological future.‘what is a landmark? does a landmark mark the land? or does it mark its time, its era?,’ asks snøhetta as part of the project’s design concept. ‘a landmark is a product of its context, a manifestation of the technology of its time. a landmark marks its land, and also marks its era.’ with references both to the city’s maritime past and its technological future, ‘lunar’ represents the remnants of a vessel that transmits data to the world, for the world.the proposal embodies shenzhen’s pioneering character and history. ‘shenzhen has historically been the pilot area of china’s national policy,’ notes the firm. ‘this pioneer role can be traced back as far as to the nantou system in the 16th century, interacting and interfacing with the outside world for 500 years.’ the project offers a landmark of the data era, and, like the eiffel tower and the medieval cathedral, it marks not only the land but also the times we live in.
Future Naturbyen - EFFEKT to Present Nature Village Cities of the Future 2021-05-24 | Copenhagen-based studio EFFEKT has presented plans for a residential development that forms part of its contribution to the upcoming venice architecture biennale. titled ‘naturbyen’, a name that translates as ‘nature village’, the project will see a field in denmark transformed into a completely new forest-neighborhood district comprising more than 200 homes. the development seeks to demonstrate how sustainable housing development can be combined with ambitious afforestation, increased biodiversity, and circular resource thinking. ‘as humanity is facing its greatest challenge ever with the imminent threat of climate change, habitat loss and depletion of natural resources — not to mention the ongoing pandemic — we need to rethink the way we live together on this planet. not only as humans, but across all species and ecosystems,’ EFFEKT tells designboom, discussing how the project responds to the biennale’s theme — ‘how will we live together?’.Responding to denmark’s goal of covering 20% of its landmass with forest by 2100, EFFEKT developed the project in collaboration with the town of middelfart. the site, currently an agricultural field, will be densely planted with a mix of native tree seedlings — an approach based on interviews and insight from industry experts, anders busse nielsen and björn wiström. ‘with a project like ‘naturbyen’ we try to address the growing need for more housing while also restoring natural habitats in close proximity to our cities, increasing biodiversity and through afforestation sequester carbon over time,’ EFFEKT explains.
Future Battery-metals Plant, and Underwater Robots Designed by Bjarke Ingels for The Metals Company Cities of the Future 2021-05-15 | Architect BIG has designed a factory and a number of waterborne craft for The Metals Company, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of battery production by extracting metals from the seafloor.The proposed designs will facilitate an alternative to land-based mining of nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese.These metals are essential for batteries such as those used in electric vehicles, but their mining can have a devastating impact on humans and the environment.The Metals Company is developing a process to instead extract the necessary metals from fist-sized rocks that lie loose on the seafloor, which it claims will have a much lower impact than traditional mining.Architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group's designs for the company include a metals processing and recycling plant, carbon-neutral water vessels and underwater robots to collect minerals."The global energy system needs to undergo its most profound change in centuries to realise a world run exclusively on renewable sources," said BIG founder Bjarke Ingels."If the ongoing research and studies conclude that harvesting minerals from the seabed can be done in an environmentally and socially responsible way, we will not only be able to accelerate the green transition but give form to an entirely new industry that will create a sustainable circular metals economy for future generations."
Future Mobilliy - Heatherwick Studio launches AIRO for IM Motors Cities of the Future 2021-04-23 | Heatherwick Studio’s concept electric car, Airo, launched at the Shanghai Motor Show today 19th April 2021.Designed for IM Motors, Airo is a fully electric vehicle with autonomous and driver-controlled modes. It will run on electric power, producing no fossil fuel pollutants as it moves around the city. But the car goes further in its environmental ambition as it’s also equipped with a state-of-the-art HEPA filtering system that actively cleans the air from the pollution of other vehicles as it passes through the under-carriage, leaving the air around it cleaner.Inside, the car’s customisable interior can be configured into multiple functional spaces that turn the car into a moving room or a space for your life. With so much attention to detail and choice of materials, this is clearly a space to spend time in even when you’re not on a journey. The seats rotate from a traditional forward-facing driving position to face each other for social activities such as dining on the four-leaf table which neatly folds away to transform the space into a lounge. A foldaway screen turns the interior into a perfect gaming-pod and when you’ve exhausted yourself, the beautifully contoured seats fully recline to form a spacious double bed. Using the latest technology in glass, the fully glazed roof becomes opaque on command for total privacy.Alongside the car, the studio has also designed a charging station for IM Motors that will become part of the infrastructure of the city. Formed from industrial materials including weathered steel, the charging station aims to become part of the urban fabric for decades to come. It has a retractable wire and an ergonomic handle for easy connection to electric vehicles.Thomas Heatherwick, Founder of Heatherwick Studio said:“Airo isn’t simply another electric car that doesn’t pollute the air. Instead, using the latest HEPA filter technology, it goes further by also vacuuming-up pollutants from other cars as it drives along. Designed to simultaneously address the global space shortage, Airo is also a multi-functional room with extra space for dining, working, gaming or even sleeping. As a new room for our lives, with a changing view, Airo is a car intended to transport us to a cleaner and better future.”The concept for IM Motors Airo designed by Heatherwick Studio was launched today and the car is expected to go into production in 2023.
Future Copenhagen - Kastrup Sea Bath by White Arkitekter Cities of the Future 2021-04-20 | Kastrup Sea Bath is one of many architectural gems of København's Ørestad region. Conceived as a fully-accessible outdoor swimming facility, Kastrup Sea Bath transformed an overlooked brownfield site into one of Denmark’s most enchanting, recognisable and popular leisure destinations.Affectionately known as ‘The Snail’, Kastrup Sea Bath consists of the pool enclosure, as well as a new beach and service building, complete with toilets and accessible changing room. The form was in response to the north-facing beach; a wooden pier stretches from shore and curves around to form a south-facing circular enclosure. The pier gradually rises above the sea level and ends in a five metre diving platform. The circular shape creates a concentrated interior that provides shelter from the wind and the perfect retreat for swimming and sunbathing. A continuous bench runs along the pier, providing additional spaces for leisure and reflection.
Future Kiruna - The Swedish Town that is Relocating Building by Building Cities of the Future 2021-04-15 | 2013, plans were unveiled that would see a town in the far north of sweden relocated building by building. kiruna, home to the world’s largest iron ore mine, had become a victim of its own success. while it’s estimated that an equivalent of six eiffel towers worth of ore is extracted from the mine each day, consequential land deformation on the town’s western border had begun to subsume it, putting residents at risk. as a result, an international competition was launched to relocate kiruna in phases over a 20-year period. the winning entry, drawn up by white arkitekter working with ghilardi + hellsten, looked a century into the future to envision a sustainable city with a diverse economy.The difficult part in moving a city is to preserve its sense of belonging, the history and the soul of the community,’ alexandra hagen, white arkitekter’s CEO, tells designboom. ‘it is easy to build a space or a building, but the real challenge is to preserve the thriving soul that makes a community.’ although two thirds of kiruna’s population depends on the mine for employment, the city has recently experienced population growth alongside an increase in tourism.To develop the project, the architects involved kiruna’s 20,000 citizens — allowing them to take a prominent role in the masterplan. ‘our approach to put the citizens of kiruna first in this project is important,’ hagen continues. ‘we’ve spent a lot of time interviewing and listening to them. the city of kiruna exists because of the mine and the mining cannot continue if the city is not moved. the citizens of kiruna understand this but at the same time it’s still difficult for them as homes and spaces where memories have been made are being demolished to keep kiruna alive for the future.’
CAPTN Vaiaro is an Autonomous Electric Ferry Concept for Kiel Fjord in Germany Cities of the Future 2021-04-12 | What will mobility look like in the future? a team of designers from the CAPTN initiative has answered this question with two autonomous ferry concepts powered by electricity. the designers have developed the alternative modes of transport for the port city of kiel based on the city’s geographic location and traffic situation. the project, called ‘CAPTN vaiaro’, presents a possible future for ferry traffic on kiel fjord.Several scientists and working groups are involved in the project, namely from kiel university, kiel university of applied sciences, muthesius university of fine arts and design, and representatives from politics, administration and industry. the CAPTN initiative addresses the entire mobility chain, including connections between bus and ferry services. based on an electric, autonomous ferry, two concepts have been developed for the vaiaro project, called ‘floating platform’ and ‘passage’ respectively. each concept tackles the brief with a different approach.
Future Saint Petersburg - Coop Himmelb(l)au Wins Competition to Design a New Ice Hockey Arena Cities of the Future 2021-04-07 | coop himmelb(l)au‘s design for ‘SCA arena and park’ in st. petersburg, russia, has been awarded first place in an international competition. the winning scheme takes cues from the russian constructivism movement of the early 20th century, and in particular, an unrealized monument designed by artist and architect vladimir tatlin. in homage to the spiral shape of tatlin’s tower, coop himmelb(l)au created a dynamic-shaped building that represents the flowing movement of a person skating around the stadium.the new SCA arena and park will cover a gross floor area of 126,500 sqm (1,361,635 sqft). in addition to the ice hockey stadium, the extensive program will also host a family recreation zone, children’s playground, an athletic track, a football field, and other administrative and technical facilities across the vast site.
Future Pollinator Park - Vincent Callebut Raises Awareness About Declining Rates of Biodiversity Cities of the Future 2021-03-27 | Vincent Callebaut has unveiled his design of ‘pollinator park’, a project which raises awareness about declining rates of biodiversity. the UN states that, as of 2020, pollinators are seriously threatened with an extinction rate that is 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal. intended as a wake-up call to humanity to repair its broken bond with nature, the project seeks to protect ecosystems in order to halt the decline of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.Designed by Vincent Callebaut for the European Commission, the organic form of ‘pollinator park’ references that of a blooming flower. the architect explains that the project’s ‘central park’ symbolizes a plant’s female organs and unites all exhibition spaces. ‘from bottom to top, the ovaries constitute the educational spiral-structured biodomes, the style accommodates a panoramic glass elevator and a chambord double staircase, while the stigma is transformed into an observation platform flourishing in the sky,’ says callebaut.
Future Shenzhen - The Soundwave - Opera House competition entry by MVRDV Cities of the Future 2021-03-24 | Located in a critical position on Shenzhen’s southern shore and highly visible from the Shenzhen Bay Bridge connecting the city to Hong Kong, the Shenzhen Opera House will be the main jewel in a necklace of cultural projects that are emerging in Shenzhen Bay. MVRDV’s proposal for the Opera House, named The Soundwave, takes advantage of this prominent location, with a folded roofline in a dramatic form inspired by the building’s functionWith 5,500 seats spread across four performance spaces, the Shenzhen Opera House is set to be one of the largest in the world. The Soundwave unites these four venues under a single iconic roof shape, which is folded to form entrances and “lifted” at key locations to highlight certain views and create skylights and rooftop bar spaces. Incorporated into the folds of the roof are sloping tribunes, providing outdoor seating spaces to enable open-air performances. The roof is finished in a light grey local stone to emphasise the building’s form, while also helping to integrate the building into its landscape.The building is positioned directly adjacent to the location of a planned metro station on Wanghai Road, which strongly informs the building’s entrance sequence: from below the road, visitors emerge into a generous entrance plaza which is partly protected from sunlight and rain by the overhanging roof. From this entrance plaza, visitors continue into the large hall that envelopes all four venues, and can immediately appreciate the views towards the bay generated by a roof fold on the other side of the hall. Above, the ceiling of this entrance hall acts as a gigantic canvas for artistic light projections, giving the space a dynamic feeling and the building an ever-changing atmosphere.
Future Sustainable City in Mars by ABIBOO Studio Cities of the Future 2021-03-24 | ABIBOO studio has led the architectural design of a self-sufficient and sustainable city on mars that could house one million humans. ‘nüwa’ forms part of an exhaustive scientific work for a competition organized by the mars society, and fully developed by the SONet network, an international team of scientists and academics led by astrophysicist guillem anglada, who headed the discovery of exoplanet proxima-b. considering the atmospheric conditions, ABIBOO chose the side of a cliff on mars to build a vertical city, with the design and construction systems a result of the planet’s harsh conditions. ‘if we were to construct the buildings as on earth, the buildings would tend to explode from the pressure,’ says says alfredo muñoz, founder of ABIBOO. ‘the solar and gamma radiation on mars forced us to build spaces that are not directly exposed to the sky.’
Future Macau - Central Library by Mecanoo Cities of the Future 2021-03-09 | The new Macau Central Library will be located by the Tap Seac square in the historical center of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated on the site of the former Hotel Estoril (designed by the Macau- born Portuguese architect, Alfredo Victor Jorge Álvares), which was the first casino resort in Macau opened in 1962 and has been vacant since the 1990s.Libraries are dynamic and continually changing. While clearly a contemporary structure within a traditional context, the new Central Library will provide a forward-thinking platform for influencing its surroundings. The adjacent square will become an integral part of the library, creating an activated public realm, which will encourage visitors to use all the public amenities that new library can offer.The facade takes inspiration from the former modernist design of Hotel Estoril by filtering the light and creating a controlled indoor climate. An intriguing play of light and shadow is projected onto the floor and walls of the library. The continuous ‘L’ shape that defines the library volume and its uniform facade helps to redefine the square.The façade pattern acts as an extension of the bookshelves, from the inside out, from stack to protective shell. The uniform skin wraps the library volume and opens up like a book page to the main entrance facing the Tap Seac square. This welcoming gesture is an essential part of the relationship between library and square.Rather than imagining the new Central Library simply as a cultural destination in Macau, Mecanoo’s design proposal is built around the idea of creating a journey – one that commences at city level via the Tap Seac Square and continues through a series of interconnected spaces, leading visitors all the way to the large reading rooms situated at the top level of the building. The futurist mural designed by the Italian sculptor Oseo Acconci depicting Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance, is preserved and integrated it in the new lobby welcoming the visitors.Within the library, a soaring atrium opens to the uppermost levels of the building, allowing visitors to orient themselves immediately to the activities within and inspiring them to move upwards through the library. As visitors move upwards via the spacious tribunes, the building offers unique views out to the mountain and the Tap Seac Square.
Future Cairo - Monorail System by Bombardier Cities of the Future 2021-03-06 | The monorails will reduce traffic congestion in the city that’s home to more than 20 million peopleThe first line will run 34 miles (54 kilometers) from east Cairo to the new administrative capitalMONTREAL: Canadian manufacturing group Bombardier announced on Monday it had signed a multi-billion dollar agreement to build two automated monorail lines in Egypt’s notoriously congested capital Cairo.The $4.5 billion (4 billion euro) agreement, which was signed with Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels, is subject to “final signatures of supplementary documents,” Bombadier and its Egyptian partners Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors said in a joint statement. The monorails, which will be able to transport 45,000 passengers per-hour in either direction, “will dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of residents by significantly reducing their daily commuting time,” said Danny Di Perna, president of the company’s railway division Bombardier Transportation.He noted the monorails will also reduce traffic congestion in the city that’s home to more than 20 million people. The three companies will be responsible for the construction, development and maintenance of the new monorail lines for 30 years, according to the statement. The first line will run 34 miles (54 kilometers) from east Cairo to the new administrative capital being built in the desert. The second line, which will run for 26 miles, will connect 6th October City to Giza.
Future Milan - Biophilic Mixed-use Complex by Kengo Kuma Cities of the Future 2021-03-05 | A biophilic development designed by kengo kuma and associates has broken ground in milan. titled ‘welcome’, the mixed-use project is located in the italian city’s former rizzoli district, previously an abandoned industrial area. anchored around a newly established public piazza, the project seeks to act as a catalyst to revive the entire area — uniting people and nature for a better quality of life and work. once complete in 2024, the project will include offices, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and auditoriums, as well as restaurants and lounges, shops, a supermarket, a wellness area, and places for temporary exhibitions.Commissioned by the independent platform europa risorse, the ‘welcome’ development is populated with greenery throughout. the piazza is packed with vegetation and surrounded by soft rolling hills, while open-air courtyards, dedicated to informal work and meetings, also form part of the design by kengo kuma and his firm. in addition, the terraces, designed as extensions of the outside spaces, will host flower gardens and sheltered walkways, while greenhouses will double as workplaces that can be used for recreation and entertainment.Conceived as the ‘biophilic office of the future’, the development — financed by a fund managed by pinebridge benson elliot — unites work and nature as part of a complex centered around employee health and well-being. ‘milan is a city with exciting and unique combination of contemporary and tradition in art, architecture and crafts that makes the ideal ground for our work to be implemented,’ says kengo kuma. ‘our organic design approach and designing of wood can be achievable in high quality with italian craft.’
Future Miami - The Underline, a Linear Park and Urban Trail Cities of the Future 2021-03-01 | The first phase of a park located beneath part of miami’s metrorail has opened to the public. ‘the underline’, which was first featured on designboom in 2017, is being completed in phases, and will eventually become a 10‑mile (16 kilometer) linear park, urban trail, and public art destination. the scheme is the brainchild of meg daly who worked with james corner field operations to develop plans for the site.On febraury 26, 2021, ‘brickell backyard’, the project’s first phase opened to the public. designed by field operations, this first half mile of the underline comprises: the river room, with separate biking and walking paths, a dog walk, and native grasses, trees, and flowers; an urban gym with exercise equipment as well as basketball and soccer facilities; the promenade, an urban stage with a plaza for cultural and wellness programming as well as community-based events; and the ‘oolite room’, which features four butterfly gardens nestled in a natural stone canyon.
Future Red Sea Airport - Designed by Foster + Partners Cities of the Future 2021-02-27 | Foster + Partners was appointed to design a new airport for the red sea project — a luxury tourism development on the west coast of saudi arabia. now, more details have been revealed about the project, which is set for completion in 2022. ‘the red sea international airport has been envisaged as a gateway to one of the most unique resorts in the world and an integral part of the visitor experience,’ explains gerard evenden, head of studio at foster + partners. ‘inspired by the colors and textures of the desert landscape, the design seeks to create a calm and luxurious journey through the terminal and will become a transit hub for visitors coming in by both land and air.’By 2030, it is estimated that the red sea international airport will serve one million tourists each year with a schedule of domestic and international flights. furthermore, the location of the airport is within eight hours of 80% of the world’s population, and will include facilities for seaplanes and helicopters. in line with the red sea development company’s sustainability goals, foster + partners has drawn up an eco-friendly design that is informed by the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. the project is aligned with LEED green building standards, while the design itself focuses on utilizing shaded areas and natural ventilation.In january 2021, the red sea development company (TRSDC) named daa international as the airport’s operator. ‘our state-of-the-art airport will provide a unique gateway for guests arriving at our destination, and this announcement is an important step in bringing the experience to life ahead of welcoming visitors by the end of 2022,’ says john pagano, CEO of TRSDC. construction work on the airport is already underway, with completion scheduled for 2022.
Future Sydney - Health Building at the University of Sydney by DS+R Cities of the Future 2021-02-27 | Diller scofidio + renfro (DS+R) and billard leece partnership (BLP) have completed of a state-of-the art educational facility at the university of sydney in australia. set to welcome its first semester of students in march 2021, the ‘susan wakil health building’ brings together the university’s school of nursing and midwifery, the central clinical school of the sydney medical school, and the sydney school of health sciences. the project also contains the university’s library alongside other components of the faculty of medicine and health.Designed by new york-based firm DS+R and australian practice BLP, the 21,500 square meter (231,400 square foot) building is optimally positioned near the royal prince alfred hospital and the charles perkins centre. this consolidation of clinical, teaching, and research functions serves as a new model for health facilities, unifying education and practice. ‘our design creates a new common ground for the university, the hospital and the charles perkins centre, while respecting the site’s historic significance as a gathering place,’ explains DS+R partner, Benjamin gilmartin.
Future Tokyo - Toranomon Azabuai District to feature work by Clarke Pelli + Heatherwick Studio Cities of the Future 2021-02-20 | More details have been announced detailing the ‘toranomon-azabudai’ district currently under construction in tokyo. conceived as a ‘modern urban village’, the masterplan includes three towers designed by pelli clarke pelli architects and a landscaped public realm by heatherwick studio. meanwhile, the development’s retail space will be designed by sou fujimoto architects. comprising offices, residences, a hotel, an international school, retail outlets, restaurants, and cultural facilities, the development broke ground in august 2019 and is set to complete in 2023.
Future Haikou - Pavilions by the Seaside by Invited Architects and Artists Cities of the Future 2021-02-17 | Architects and artists including sou fujimoto, bjarke ingels, and anish kapoor have been invited to build a series of public ‘pavilions by the seaside’ in haikou — a port city and the capital of china’s island province hainan. the masterplan, located along 32 kilometers (20 miles) of coastline, aims to bring long-term and sustainable vitality to the city, enrich the local community, and attract millions of international visitors.
Future Moscow - Rublyovo Arkhangelskoye the Smart City by Zaha Hadid Architects Cities of the Future 2021-02-15 | Zaha Hadid Architects working with TPO Pride Architects (Russia) have been selected as one of the consortiums to build the new Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye neighbourhood - A smart city west of Moscow."We developed a people-centric design for a smart interconnected city that brings people together not only through innovative technology but also through organising the public realm," said Christos Passas, project director at Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA).ZHA alongside Pride Architects – a studio based in Russia – consulted studies about happiness whilst masterplanning the district, concluding that building communities, access to nature and environmentally friendly design were key factors.
Future Red Sea - Coral Bloom Concept by Foster and Partners Cities of the Future 2021-02-12 | The red sea project, a luxury tourism destination in saudi arabia, has revealed plans for its main hub island at the destination — shurayrah. known as the ‘coral bloom’ concept, the scheme was designed by foster + partners to blend in with, and protect, the island’s pristine natural environment. biodiversity considerations take center stage, with the plan designed to avoid disruption of the island’s mangroves and other habitats, providing natural defenses from erosion, while new habitats are created through landscaping to enhance the island’s natural state.
Future Mobility - Hyundai Walking Car Concept Cities of the Future 2021-02-07 | Debuting at CES 2019, “Elevate”, the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV), prepares communities in the event of a natural disasterWheels with robotic legs allow users to drive, walk or even climb over the most treacherous terrainLAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2019 – Any first responder will tell you that the first 72 hours following a natural disaster are the most crucial to saving lives. However, often times due to the nature of the disaster (forest fire, earthquake, hurricane, or flood), it can be difficult for search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid missions to reach and get immediate help to those in need. The need for efficient, rapid, resilient transportation for disaster assistance is what led Hyundai to develop the first-ever vehicle with moveable legs. Elevate is the first Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV), blending technology found in electric cars and robots, which allows it to traverse terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle.
Future Los Angeles - River Mastreplan Proposals from Frank Gehry and OLIN Cities of the Future 2021-02-03 | In October 2016 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed Public Works In October 2016 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed Public Works to work with other County Departments to update the LA River Master Plan for the first time in over 20 years. This kicked off a multi-year process, involving dozens of community meetings, thousands of community members, and a diverse Steering Committee to help ensure the plan reflects the diverse interests along the river.In the midst of current events that include the health pandemic, social justice uprisings, and wildfires worsened by climate change, it is clear the LA River is a critically important, often overlooked, public resource in the County. We want the plan to be comprehensive, thoughtful, and representative of the various community voices as we lay the groundwork for the next 25 years of investment in the river. These investments are not only an engine of economic recovery for the region, they are essential to addressing the disparity within our communities and improving the quality of life and ecosystem health for current and future generations of Angelenos.We have a vision for the LA River to become 51 miles of connected public open space that provides landmark opportunities to reduce flood risk and improve resiliency, support healthy and connected ecosystems, address potential adverse impacts to housing affordability and people experiencing homelessness, promote healthy, safe clean water, and create jobs while fostering opportunities for arts, culture, and community engagement. These goals have perhaps never been more important than right now and the LA River can help us achieve them.Specifically, Los Angeles County's 2020 LA River Master Plan identifies opportunities for the following:Over 200 potential project sites that will create local jobs.Thousands of acres of publicly accessible open space that will help address public health issues, especially in the most disadvantaged communities.Innovative multi-benefit projects that assist in mitigating future disasters, such as flooding, drought, and extreme heat events, while enhancing ecosystem function.Actions for affordable housing and homelessness, a key initiative to address displacement in areas vulnerable to gentrification.A framework for future community engagement to influence projects built under the plan.The draft 2020 LA River Master Plan is available below for a 60-day public comment review period.We know that updating the Master Plan for all 51 miles of the LA River is a huge undertaking and there’s still time to provide your input. We are grateful for you and all the people who have brought their dedication, innovation, and creativity to help guide this effort.to work with other County Departments to update the LA River Master Plan for the first time in over 20 years. This kicked off a multi-year process, involving dozens of community meetings, thousands of community members, and a diverse Steering Committee to help ensure the plan reflects the diverse interests along the river.In the midst of current events that include the health pandemic, social justice uprisings, and wildfires worsened by climate change, it is clear the LA River is a critically important, often overlooked, public resource in the County. We want the plan to be comprehensive, thoughtful, and representative of the various community voices as we lay the groundwork for the next 25 years of investment in the river. These investments are not only an engine of economic recovery for the region, they are essential to addressing the disparity within our communities and improving the quality of life and ecosystem health for current and future generations of Angelenos.We have a vision for the LA River to become 51 miles of connected public open space that provides landmark opportunities to reduce flood risk and improve resiliency, support healthy and connected ecosystems, address potential adverse impacts to housing affordability and people experiencing homelessness, promote healthy, safe clean water, and create jobs while fostering opportunities for arts, culture, and community engagement. These goals have perhaps never been more important than right now and the LA River can help us achieve them.Specifically, Los Angeles County's 2020 LA River Master Plan identifies opportunities for the following:Over 200 potential project sites that will create local jobs.Thousands of acres of publicly accessible open space that will help address public health issues, especially in the most disadvantaged communities.Innovative multi-benefit projects that assist in mitigating future disasters, such as flooding, drought, and extreme heat events, while enhancing ecosystem function.Actions for affordable housing and homelessness, a key initiative to address displacement in areas vulnerable to gentrification.A framework for future community engagement to influence projects built under the plan.
Future Mumbai - Virgin Hyperloop presents Passenger Experience Cities of the Future 2021-01-27 | When Elon Musk first described the Hyperloop concept back in 2012, he spoke of a new mode of mass transportation that would cut travel time significantly. With speeds of up to 600 miles per hour, a trip from L.A. to San Francisco would be complete in under 45 minutes; Stockholm to Helsinki in about 30. Nearly 10 years later, Virgin Hyperloop—one of several companies working on hyperloop technology—is closing in on making the future of travel less futuristic.Designing an entirely new form of mass transit, of course, is just as complex, if not more so, than making it function. “It’s about far more than getting from one place to another, but it is also that,” says Sara Luchian, head of passenger experience at Virgin Hyperloop, which gave AD an exclusive first look at the design and architecture involved in creating the Hyperloop “pods.” “There’s no question that some people will ride for the novelty, but we have to assume that people will ride more than once. And in that case, you don’t want bells and whistles every day. We had to balance what we could have created with what we should create. When people are putting faith in new technology they’re not accustomed to, they don’t necessarily want to feel impressed. They want to feel familiar.”
