Eco-Cities: Urban Planning for the Future
Massive developments proposed for the U.S., China and Abu Dhabi aim to reduce or even eliminate the environmental cost of city living
Eco-Cities: Urban Planning for the Future
- Masdar at a Glance Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Size: 1,600 acres
Schedule: Completion by 2016
Future population: 30,000 people from the wealthy emirate
Cost: At least $22 billion (amount committed by the U.A.E. government)
Green features: Zero waste, zero carbon emissions and zero energy from fossil fuels are the goals of this community, one of the first major eco-cities to break ground. Desalination, drawing on large amounts of electricity from solar, wind and geothermal sources, will be key to sustaining this desert city. Creative but traditional architecture, including wind towers, will aid in cooling inhabitants. M-SAT LTD/SPL/PHOTO RESEARCHERS, INC - Green Features In addition to protecting wetlands for birds—and returning some agricultural land to nature—Dongtan will recover, recycle and reuse 90 to 100 percent of its waste. Wind and biomass will provide all electricity, and hydrogen-powered or plug-in electric vehicles will provide most transportation. "Within the boundaries of the city, vehicles should run only on renewable energy or energy that doesn’t have any emissions," says Roger Wood of Arup. WORLDSAT INTERNATIONAL/SPL/PHOTO RESEARCHERS, INC
- Tabletop model of the planned city Location: Chongming Island, Shanghai, China
Size: 250 acres in 2010, 1,600 acres in 2020, 7,400 acres in 2050 on an island of 300,000 acres
Schedule: Construction begins in 2009, with first units available in 2010. To be completed in 2050
Future population: Unclear, but 5,000 people initially and at least 500,000 ultimately
Cost: Undisclosed TIM JOHNSON MCT/Landov - Treasure Island: Aerial Plan Schedule: Groundbreaking in 2010, first homes available in 2013, completed by 2020
Future population: 13,500 people, drawn by a mixture of market-rate and more affordable housing
Cost: Confidential but estimated at $3 billion
Green features: In addition to gaining new buildings, Treasure Island will be mostly returned to nature: 300 of the 450 acres will be parks, farms and other greenery. The 6,000 new housing units will be clustered densely in tall buildings near ferry terminals on the south and west coasts. SOM/SMWM/CMG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
