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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Masdar, the Zero-Carbon City of Thousand and One Nights

Evolution is no myth, but we may be evolving backward (Maureen Dowd in NY Times). While American society argues on Evolution theory and stem cell research China is doing moonshots (Tom Friedman in NY Times): building a network of ultramodern airports, building a web of high-speed trains connecting major cities, launching its own stem cell/genetic engineering industry, starting an electric car industry in 20 pilot cities. Maybe the same Tom Friedman is right: we need to be in a race with China, not just Al Qaeda.

I would add to this, Islam and Arabs narrative is not only Al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood. 20 miles from Abu Dhabi, a new city has emerged: Masdar, the Thousand and One Nights miracle of nowadays.

Terra-cotta-like Exterior of a Residential Building (photo Duncan Chard / NYT)

This was conceived from start as a zero-carbon city. Electricity is supplied by solar panels, and normal cars are not allowed: there is an underground network of driverless electric cars instead. You enter the car and touch on a monitor the destination and that's it!

The city was designed by Foster & Partners. The architects have blended high-tech design and ancient construction practices to get the perfect model of a sustainable community where local traditions and the drive toward modernization are no longer in conflict (Nicolai Ouroussoff).

Read here a presentation of Masdar (the column of Nicolai Ourousoff in NY Times)...

Raising the Entire City off the Desert Floor takes Advantage of the Cooling Capacity of Stronger Winds (photo Duncan Chard / NYT)


Narrow Streets (photo Duncan Chard / NYT)


Solar Panels on Rooftops (photo Duncan Chard / NYT)


Dome of the Library Building (photo Duncan Chard / NYT)


the Personal Rapid Transit Station with a fleet of driverless electric cars


(Contemporary Art)

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