Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(Foletta and Field
2011
)—the examples are far outweighed by the continued devel-
opment of traditional car-orientated suburban designs. Moreover, there are still very
few examples of complete settlements being built on the sustainable ideas described
above that could be classified as Eco-towns or Eco-Cities. Dongtan, outside Shang-
hai, promised to be one of the most pioneering eco-cities to reach 500,000 people
when its plans were unveiled in 2007. However its progress stalled by 2014 because
of questions of funding and corruption scandals, so it may be yet another example of
a plan that was never completed (DAC
2012
). Similarly a proposal for eight British
eco-towns were scaled back to six in 2009, given the opposition from surrounding
areas and limited government financial commitment, but the plans were eventually
abandoned with a change to a conservative dominated national government. How-
ever there is one major example of a settlement that claims to being built on eco-city
principles. This is the Masdar City development in Abu Dhabi, which is proceeding
apace since its construction started in 2008 (MC
2013
).
When completed in 2025 at a current estimated cost of just under $ 20 billion,
Masdar is projected to have a resident population of 50,000 on a 6 km
2
site, together
with 1500 businesses that will probably also attract as many commuters to these
organizations as its resident population. The development is south east of the centre
of the main city of Abu Dhabi and is adjacent its international airport. Its name,
which means the 'source' in Arabic, was chosen to symbolize the way the design
draws upon the traditional building techniques of historic cities in the arid region,
some of which were designed to mitigate the effects of the extreme heat of summer
and to utilize the cooling on-shore breezes. Designed by the British firm of Foster
and Partners, its technology depends entirely upon renewable energies, especially
solar-generated power, and aims for an ecology without waste, thereby creating
what is claimed to be the world's first carbon-neutral, waste-free, car-less settle-
ment. Since cars will be banned in the settlement, transport needs will be served by
mass transit and personal transit vehicles. It is also designed to be a low-rise, yet
high density area, with no buildings over five storeys, and with a large number of
public spaces for people to mingle and enjoy the outdoors. It will also have mixed
uses, so residences, workplaces and leisure facilities are in close proximity in order
to encourage pedestrian travel and social interaction. Another important feature is
that the streets will be narrow to ensure shade, with many patterned screens to filter
breezes and sunlight, following traditional practices in the Arab and Persian world.
This desire to minimize solar heat build-up and increase cooling possibilities can
also be seen by the plans for streets, walls and buildings which are also orientated
away from the sun and designed to catch the prevailing night breezes. Some build-
ings, such as the Zayed National Museum, will have elaborate funnels to bring the
winds into the galleys that are buried within its palm-treed mound, again following
traditional practices of adding wind towers to bring cooling breezes into buildings
in the region. Buildings and roofs tops have been deliberately built to be irregular
so as create turbulence, while the town will be walled, not for defensive purposes,
but to reduce the penetration of the hot desert airs and storms into the settlement.
One of the first buildings constructed was a solar power plant, to be expanded to
60 MW, which will be supplemented by solar panels added throughout the settle-
ment that will deliver twice this amount of energy. In addition, local wind farms
