Are We There Yet? A Status Update on the Cities of the Future

PlanIT Valley, Masdar City, Songdo - the names of these bold visions elicit past promises of a smart and sustainable future. Eric Jaffe rounds up the latest news on the progress of the world's new urban utopias.

1 minute read

September 11, 2013, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


With flashy renderings, bold visions, and effervescent marketing schemes, a multitude of utopian visions of have come and gone over the past decade. Of the myriad promises of melding cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and design, which are still on track and which have yet to put a shovel into the ground? Eric Jaffe investigates the status of four of the most promising plans: PlanIT Valley (Portugal), Masdar City (United Arab Emirates), Konza Techno City (Kenya), and Songdo (South Korea).

There's mixed news from the land of dreamers: though the projects have faced their share of obstacles, all are still committed to their ultimate completion. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 in The Atlantic Cities

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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