In a continuation of China’s fervent effort to reduce energy consumption on a mass scale, a grandiose scheme was unveiled by eminent urban planners SBA Design. The ambitious proposal, dubbed as the Future City, for a meticulously conceived sustainable city is to take place in the south-west of the tourism island of Hainan.
The city would righteously provide the future benchmark for energy efficient development. The mega design will cover a focus area of around 42.8 sqkm; a region traditionally known for salt production by the use of salines. Firstly the architects conceptualized this settlement in such a manner so as to allow a level of comprehensive interaction between rural and urban spatial patterns. Hankering back to the concepts of garden city, this will also allow the city to be sustainable, where each resident shall contribute their own share to the city.
The planners, moreover, look to integrate facilities within this modernistic city that could help in storage and generation of clean energy. Efficient and renewable services like harnessing of solar and wind energy, rain water harvesting, recovery of water resources and energy generation from biological waste will be incorporated. Solar energy production can especially be effectual in this area as with 300 days of sun per year, an energy generation potential of 1628-1861 kWh/(qma) is possible.
The zoning and land use pattern will also be effectively dealt with. Corresponding to particular ecological ‘themes’, the master plan will include a center for each district within the city. They will be again divided into 9 parts with a specific district function. Mixed space usage such as living, working, shopping and leisure will be fastidiously integrated with green spaces in the form of squares, parks and canals. Adding to that a state-of-the-art Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system will be installed for effective and smooth transportation of the inhabitants.
Via: ArchDaily
