sierraclub.org - sierra magazine - march/april 2012 - future-cities - your future city?
By Colin Griffin
Foster + Partners
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Designed by prominent British architecture firm Foster + Partners (headed by Pritzker Prize winner David Foster), Masdar City is currently under construction in the desert outside Abu Dhabi. Slated for completion in 2030, Masdar will eventually be powered entirely by renewable sources and will provide sustainability-centered living for 40,000 residents.
Stupefaction factor: 4. Masdar is particularly awe-inspiring because it represents a novel approach to city planning. But it does so without sacrificing any coolness. Stunning arabesque facades will line the streets, and beneath the city, a complex grid of electric trams and buses will replace fossil-fueled transportation.
Fantasy Factor: 1. Despite some financial hiccups, Masdar is being built to its original specifications. This is the actual green city of the future.