Close
Search
Menu Menu

Stefano Boeri aims to build the first ever sustainable ‘Smart Forest City’

By
London, UK
1 energy + Add Energy
What is energy?
Want to show your appreciation? Give an article “Energy” and it will help us know what you like.
0 comments
0 comments

Italian architect Stefano Boeri, famous for integrating plants and natural ecosystems within high rise buildings, has unveiled plans for an ambitious circular ‘Smart City’ in the heart of Cancun.

It may be steeped in the history of an ancient civilisation, but Mexico’s city of Cancun could soon become a modern hub for urban climate change innovation. If only the Mayans could see us now.

With half the world’s population residing within modern cities, urban areas currently account for more than 70 percent of global carbon emissions and consume over two thirds of the world’s energy. Therefore, any ambitions of carbon neutrality before 2030 are doubtful, unless we make sustainability a keystone of future living developments.

Looking to become a ‘pioneer’ for such change, Milan based architect Stefano Boeri has unveiled eye-catching blueprints for the world’s first self-sufficient smart city located on the outskirts of Cancun, Mexico.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bKC66_kENU&ab_channel=TomoNewsUS

Renowned for creating city-centre ‘vertical forests’ – high-rise towers designed to live harmoniously with vegetation – Boeri has taken the principles of his residential projects in Milan, Shanghai, Cairo, and Chicago, and is now looking to apply them to an entire metropolis covering close to 1400 acres of land.

The concept images honestly wouldn’t look out of place in a Jurassic Park movie.

The space was originally destined to become a new shopping district, but Boeri’s eco-friendly utopia is now being considered as a serious alternative by planners. Taking the term ‘Forest City’ very literally, Boeri aims to team up with botanist and fellow landscape architect Lauri Gatti to plant 7.5 million plants of 400 different species to live in harmony with the city’s 130,000 residents.

Boeri’s website states that the project will be an ‘urban ecosystem in which nature and the city intertwine and act as a single organism, leaving room for untended vegetation planted on land, used by the public.’

Not only breathtakingly serene to the eyes (and lungs), the city is also designed to be entirely self-sufficient in terms of both food production and energy. The dream.

Homes and open areas would make use of photovoltaic solar panels to power the city, while a dock and desalination tower processes sea water, ferrying it out to a network of canals, residential zones, and agricultural areas. 7.5 million plants will probably need a fair amount of watering too.

Very much a cyclists dream, this city would completely outlaw traditional vehicles, instead providing its own network of electric cars to transport residents and visitors throughout its many developments. As a general rule of thumb, Boeri has strived to make ‘every service available at suitable walking or cycling distance.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyToXrWfqh4&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=BBCNews

As we touched on earlier, the city isn’t merely endeavouring to be its own isolated haven, and is striving for more widespread impact when it comes to climate change solutions. As such, the blueprint accompanies its urban developments with an innovation campus designed to house university departments and state-of-the-art research centres.

On the surface, Beori’s climate solution may seem like just another novel idea, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t be seriously considered. Having earned his chops with several revolutionary developments already, the idea of the ‘Smart City’ could help to inspire similar initative all across the globe.

In the meantime, you’ll find me with my fingers crossed, brushing up on my Spanish.

Senior Writer London, UK

I’m Jamie (He/Him), the Deputy Editor and a Senior Writer at Thred. Keeping up with social media updates and revolutionary technology is my forte, but when away from my keyboard, you’ll probably find me wrapped around a large Tango ice blast at the latest mediocre horror flick. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Popular

Keep up with thred by signing up to our planet-positive newsletter!

More from thred.

‘Bionic eye’ solves mystery of Plato’s final resting place
Credit: Thred
Offbeat

‘Bionic eye’ solves mystery of Plato’s final resting place

Italian researcher, Graziano Ranocchia, may have finally solved the mystery of Plato’s final resting place. An AI-powered ‘bionic eye’ scanned a 2,000-year-old carbonised scroll written around 348 BC which pinpointed a specific location in Athens. The mystery of where one of the world’s greatest philosophers rests may have just been solved – by a machine, ironically. The burial of Plato, arguably the most revered of the foundational thinkers of Greek philosophy...

By London, UK
Nature has officially become a musician
Credit: Pexels
Media

Nature has officially become a musician

As part of a new campaign, nature has been recognised as an artist on major streaming platforms, including Spotify. Royalties will go towards supporting climate action initiatives across the globe. Temperatures are rising, habitats are diminishing, and glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate. As the climate changes, the Earth’s suffering continues to reach new heights, and the reality that we’re running out of time to do something about it becomes...

By London, UK
What are ‘adult gap years’ and why are they on the rise?
Credit: Unsplash
Offbeat

What are ‘adult gap years’ and why are they on the rise?

Most commonly a pre-uni rite of passage for teens and people in their early 20s, putting everything on hold to travel the world is fast becoming a trend among older generations looking for a break from the relentless nature of life as a grown up. Typically associated with the brink of adulthood, a gap year is a period of development for those with the time and resources to travel, volunteer,...

By London, UK
What is the ‘Dead Internet Theory’ and is it real?
Credit: Thred
Offbeat

What is the ‘Dead Internet Theory’ and is it real?

With the ceaseless growth of AI since 2022, conspiracies surrounding the so-called ‘Dead Internet Theory’ have grown stronger. First thing’s first, though, what the hell is it and does it have any credibility? Is this an online rabbit hole worth getting lost in? Is it pure storm in a teacup? Did a human even write this article? So many questions. If you spend any significant amount of time on Twitter (X)...

By London, UK
Accessibility