How do you envision the city of the future?

By Darren Lee

How Will the City of the Future Look Like?

How many of us have heard about the "City of the Future", how will it look like? How will it be operated and governed? Will the biomass be used in the city for planting its walls, will the humanity move to the new inexhaustible source of energy, or will continue to consume the hydrocarbons polluting the environment? How will citizens live and will they really have to pay for fresh air?

How many of us have heard about the "City of the Future", how will it look like? How will it be operated and governed? Will the biomass be used in the city for planting its walls, will the humanity move to the new inexhaustible source of energy, or will continue to consume the hydrocarbons polluting the environment? How will citizens live and will they really have to pay for fresh air?

Half of the world's population at the beginning of XXI century live in cities, and experts predict that in the future the percentage of urban population will only grow. This means that in the future the city will have to not only solve numerous modern urban problems (ranging from traffic jams to the environment), but also to create favourable conditions for existence.In order to achieve these goals people require cutting-edge technologies. In fact there are already many projects of the future cities and some of them are already being implemented.

Half of the world's population at the beginning of XXI century lives in cities, and experts predict that in the future the percentage of urban population will only grow. This means that in the future the city will have to not only solve numerous modern urban problems (ranging from traffic jams to the environment), but also to create favorable conditions for existence.In order to achieve these goals people require cutting-edge technologies. In fact there are already many projects of the future cities and some of them are already being implemented.

Projects of the Cities of the Future

Architects, sociologists and writers have always dreamed of fiction futuristic city built on water, land or in space. So, here are the most incredible projects of the future cities.

LILYPADA Green Villa in the Sea

This is a model of the island that floats on water and is designed to accommodate people affected by climate change. The city will use renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and biomass to produce electricity. In addition to zero-emission, the complex will be able to absorb carbon dioxide from the air because of the green plants that will be planted on the entire island.

Each island will stay near the coast or swim in the ocean, traveling from the equator to the northern seas.

This is a model of the island that floats on water and is designed to accommodate people affected by climate change. The city will use renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and biomass to produce electricity. In addition to zero-emission, the complex will be able to absorb carbon dioxide from the air because of the green plants that will be planted on the entire island.Each island will stay near the coast or swim in the ocean, traveling from the equator to the northern seas.

GWANGGYO POWER CENTERA Hilly Megastructure

This self-contained city was designed by Dutch architect company MVRDV. It will be located 35 km from Seoul in South Korea. This town will be able to accommodate about 77 thousand people, where they will enjoy the ecological way of life. The design is a mix of housing, office and commercial buildings, leisure facilities and educational institutions.

The towers will be set up for multifunctional atriums and on roofs and terraces there will be located hedges improving ventilation and reducing both water and energy consumption.

This self-contained city was designed by Dutch architect company MVRDV. It will be located 35 km from Seoul in South Korea. This town will be able to accommodate about 77 thousand people, where they will enjoy the ecological way of life. The design is a mix of housing, office and commercial buildings, leisure facilities and educational institutions.The towers will be set up for multifunctional atriums and on roofs and terraces there will be located hedges improving ventilation and reducing both water and energy consumption.

HYDRO-NETAn Independent Eco-Community

The new project, developed by a team IwamotoScott Architects, will present the concept of Ecotopia. The city will consist of the towers, collecting seaweed, fog flowers and geothermal mushrooms. The walls of the Hydro-Net tunnel will be made of carbon nanotubes helping to store and distribute hydrogen, produced by algae and other sources of fuel.

All of these technologies are designed to reduce carbon emissions and to make the city self-sufficient, using renewable energy. They also will provide a network of underground arteries to soaring cars powered by hydrogen fuel.

The new project, developed by a team IwamotoScott Architects, will present the concept of Ecotopia. The city will consist of the towers, collecting seaweed, fog flowers and geothermal mushrooms. The walls of the Hydro-Net tunnel will be made of carbon nanotubes helping to store and distribute hydrogen, produced by algae and other sources of fuel.All of these technologies are designed to reduce carbon emissions and to make the city self-sufficient, using renewable energy. They also will provide a network of underground arteries to soaring cars powered by hydrogen fuel.

CRYSTAL ISLANDThis city will be enclosed in a building, made in the form of a cone. The structure similar to the tent will rise up to 450 meters. This tent will create a ‘second skin’ of the building, forming a thermal barrier to the internal space. This second skin will regulate the temperature inside a building, reducing the heat loss in winter and cooling the interior space in summer.

The city is based on the principle of efficient energy use, including the generation of renewable and low-carbon energy.

This city will be enclosed in a building, made in the form of a cone. The structure similar to the tent will rise up to 450 meters. This tent will create a ‘second skin’ of the building, forming a thermal barrier to the internal space. This second skin will regulate the temperature inside a building, reducing the heat loss in winter and cooling the interior space in summer.The city is based on the principle of efficient energy use, including the generation of renewable and low-carbon energy.

SKYCITY 1000An Ultra-High Urban Skyscraper

SkyCity 1000 will include 14 concaved "space plateaus" in the form of plates, stacked one above the other. The inner space of the plateau will consist of green space, and the edges of the building will house apartments. This project is planned to put an end to the lack of green space in Japan and minimize congestion in the metro.

SkyCity 1000 will include 14 concaved "space plateaus" in the form of plates, stacked one above the other. The inner space of the plateau will consist of green space, and the edges of the building will house apartments. This project is planned to put an end to the lack of green space in Japan and minimize congestion in the metro.

In addition, the green plants planted all over the city, will help to provide it with fresh oxygen and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

Solar panels will be installed on the roofs of all the buildings in this city. These solar panels will generate renewable energy for the entire city. The project also includes the management of renewable water resources and environmental systems, lamps, reducing light pollution, and chargers for electric vehicles.

SUB-BIOSPHERE 2Floating ‘Bubbles of Life’

Sub-BioSphere2 will be a self-contained closed underwater habitat designed for human habitation, animals and plants. It will be able to swim or dive under the water, supporting life in its biomes. Sub-Biosphere 2 will be equipped with everything necessary for the maintenance of life support systems, including air, water, food and electricity.

Sub-BioSphere2 will be a self-contained closed underwater habitat designed for human habitation, animals and plants. It will be able to swim or dive under the water, supporting life in its biomes. Sub-Biosphere 2 will be equipped with everything necessary for the maintenance of life support systems, including air, water, food and electricity.

Each town will consist of eight submerged biomes around the large central biome. Each biome will be able to float independently on the water surface or dive to a depth in order to let its residents and guests enjoy the magnificent underwater beauty.

Each town will consist of eight submerged biomes around the large central biome. Each biome will be able to float independently on the water surface or dive to a depth in order to let its residents and guests enjoy the magnificent underwater beauty.

General Concept of the City of Future

The main idea of the city of the future is to create a city system with favorable

environmental conditions for its citizens. The city will have some amount of

permanent residents and roughly the same amount of people will come to the

city to work every day.

The source of the power supply of the city will be solar panels, located on the

roofs and walls of buildings for the personal energy constituting together a great "Mirror field" designed to supply

the urban infrastructure.

The main idea of the city of the future is to create a city system with favorable environmental conditions for its citizens. The city will have some amount of permanent residents and roughly the same amount of people will come to the city to work every day.The source of the power supply of the city will be solar panels, located on the roofs and walls of buildings for the personal energy constituting together a great "Mirror field" designed to supply the urban infrastructure.

Vehicles with carbon dioxide emissions in the city will be strictly forbidden. A rail transport system will be created instead serving for the move of special electric vehicles, self-driven taxi, for instance.

Vehicles with carbon dioxide emissions in the city will be strictly forbidden. A rail transport system will be created instead serving for the move of special electric vehicles, self-driven taxi, for instance.

Compact urban car powered by hydrogen fuel cellsGyrocopter Zero Helicopter

GM EN-V an electric car Walamai Outback – a car with an electric engine powered by

renewable energy

Here are several examples of future city vehicles.

Wastes incineration and their dumping in landfills cause irreparable harm to the environment. Therefore, a city of future should have a system for on-site wastes disposal. Wastes will also be turned into fuel and useful materials for the needs of the urban economy with the help of thermal recycling.

Wastes incineration and their dumping in landfills cause irreparable harm to the environment. Therefore, a city of future should have a system for on-site wastes disposal. Wastes will also be turned into fuel and useful materials for the needs of the urban economy with the help of thermal recycling.

The entire city will also be covered with an openwork canopy that will create areas of shade, lower the temperature in the summer,

therefore reducing energy consumption for the ventilation system.

The entire city will also be covered with an openwork canopy that will create areas of shade, lower the temperature in the summer, therefore reducing energy consumption for the ventilation system.

The Green City

This is, in fact, the project of urban greening, buildings and walls in particular. However there is a significant ‘stumbling block’: any plant destroys the concrete, because the pressure generated equal a few tens of atmospheres easily destroys meter layer of concrete in just 5 or 6 years. The same will happen with the heavy-duty materials.

This is, in fact, the project of urban greening, buildings and walls in particular. However there is a significant ‘stumbling block’: any plant destroys the concrete, because the pressure generated equal a few tens of atmospheres easily destroys meter layer of concrete in just 5 or 6 years. The same will happen with the heavy-duty materials.

The City on WaterIt is expected that as a result of the polar snow melting, water level in the oceans will rise and much of the land will be under water. City-islands may be applicable in this case. However, there several issues regarding such project. Firstly, it will need a desalination plants to produce water suitable for everyday usage. This will require a lot of energy. Secondly, this city will be very limited in size, and as a result of its swimming, it will simply "draw" water even in calm while in rough sea it may even sink.

It is expected that as a result of the polar snow melting, water level in the oceans will rise and much of the land will be under water. City-islands may be applicable in this case. However, there several issues regarding such project. Firstly, it will need a desalination plants to produce water suitable for everyday usage. This will require a lot of energy. Secondly, this city will be very limited in size, and as a result of its swimming, it will simply "draw" water even in calm while in rough sea it may even sink.

In addition, there are other problems of such projects. For example, the number of residents should remain unchanged, otherwise an increase in the number of city dwellers will require the vehicle and the housing stock increase making the city ‘choke’.

The authorities of these cities will have to introduce laws on family

size. There also should be introduced the age limit for

marriages. Women who become pregnant outside of marriage will

have to do an abortion.

In addition, there are other problems of such projects. For example, the number of residents should remain unchanged, otherwise an increase in the number of city dwellers will require the vehicle and the housing stock increase making the city ‘choke’.The authorities of these cities will have to introduce laws on family size. There also should be introduced the age limit for marriages. Women who become pregnant outside of marriage will have to do an abortion.

ConclusionSumming up, it may be noted that the uniqueness of these project is in the implementation of advanced technologies and scientific developments in the real life. However, futurists claim that in the future, the current urban problems will even worsen requiring solutions to be more

radical than shown in this presentation.

Summing up, it may be noted that the uniqueness of these project is in the implementation of advanced technologies and scientific developments in the real life. However, futurists claim that in the future, the current urban problems will even worsen requiring solutions to be more radical than shown in this presentation.