Masdar: the sustainable city
Everybody has been talking about sustainability, but only one puts it to practice, Abu Dhabi (capital of the United Arab Emirates), which will build the first 100% carbon free community in the world: Masdar City. The decision dates back to April 2006, but most of the work is starting now. The project should cost more than $22 billion and be finished by 2023. However, the first phase is scheduled to be complete and habitable in 2009.
The city will be entirely powered by renewable and sustainable energy technologies. Foster + Partners describes the city:
The principle of the Masdar development is a dense walled city to be constructed in an energy efficient two-stage phasing that relies on the creation of a large photovoltaic power plant, which later becomes the site for the city’s second phase, allowing for urban growth yet avoiding low density sprawl. Strategically located for Abu Dhabi’s principal transport infrastructure, Masdar will be linked to surrounding communities, as well as the centre of Abu Dhabi and the international airport, by a network of existing road and new rail and public transport routes.
It is peculiar that it is a major hydrocarbon-producing nation that takes such a step first.
Abu Dhabi has established its leadership position by launching the Masdar Initiative, a global cooperative platform for open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind’s most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and truly sustainable human development.
Construction of the first phase of the project is being managed by CH2M HILL.
The Masdar Headquarters has been designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG). It will be the first building of Masdar City. It will be the first “mixed-use positive energy” building in the world. The design was worked with worked with MEP engineers Environmental Systems Design and structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti.
One last thing: don’t miss the excellent videos underneath!
Video 2
Photos
More Info
Masdar: http://www.masdaruae.com/
September 21st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
What a joke!
Air travel is the biggest polluter of them all and this place has an ïnternational airport!
September 21st, 2008 at 9:53 pm
That’s not true. Air travel only represents 5% of CO2 global emmissions. And the airport already exists (it’s Abu Dhabi’s airport). Of course, we can try to make better planes, but we’re not going to ride camels.
I think it is a brilliant idea, and it will provide us some useful and clean technology for the future.