Groundbreaking is scheduled this week for Masdar City, the car-free eco-city planned near Abu Dhabi.
"Masdar City is a nearly self-contained mini-municipality designed for up to 50,000 people rising from the desert next to Abu Dhabi's international airport and intended as a hub for academic and corporate research on nonpolluting energy technologies."
"The 2.3-square-mile community, set behind walls to divert hot desert winds and airport noise, will be car free, according to the design by Foster + Partners, the London firm that has become a leading practitioner of energy-saving architecture."
"The community, slightly smaller than the historic district of Venice, will have similar narrow pedestrian streets, but shaded by canopies made of photovoltaic panels. It will produce all of its own energy from sunlight."
"Attempts at such green communities have had mixed results. Arcosanti, the ecotopian town in the Arizona desert, was started three decades ago. Still a work in progress, it is now being encroached on by Phoenix's suburban expansion."
FULL STORY: Car-Free, Solar City in Gulf Could Set a New Standard for Green Design
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
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Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
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Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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