Environmental Cities of the Future

[Paul McDonald]

Masdar City

Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is to build a sustainable, zero-carbon, zero-waste city in what looks to be a very promising step forward in the concept of sustainable urban developments. Masdar will be home to around 50,000 people and 1,500 business and is hoped to provide viable proof that the convenience and abundance of modern urban lifestyles needn't be sacrificed in the name of sustainability.

Automobiles will be banned in Masdar with travel needs being met by public mass transit and personal rapid transit systems. Roads and rail lines will then connect with existing networks outside the city for travel further afield.

Eco Credentials

Masdar's eco credentials are impressive. Power for the major portion of the city's contruction efforts will come from a 40 to 60 megawatt solar power plant. Masdar will also be home to worlds largest hydrogen power plant with supplimentary energy coming from wind turbines placed around the city's perimeter and further individual solar panels on the roofs of many of its buildings.

A solar powered desalination plant will support Masdar's water needs and with sensible water management the city's water needs should be 60% lower than other similar sized communities.

An example for the near future?

Whether or not Masdar City will indeed provide a viable blueprint for sustainable urban development remains to be seen. It will be interesting if a city within a nation well known for its love of creative architecture can successfully combine sustainability with aesthetics into a viable, practicle example for the future.

What I am also interested in is the lifestyles that Masdar's inhabitants can look forward to. If we're sensible in trying to promote the widespread acceptance of sustainable development it mustn't sacrifice convenience, functionality, and social and cultural wealth. It's important that the environmental nature of urban development enhances, not infringes modern lifestyles.

Let's wait and hope.