Cities of Tomorrow: How to re-imagine Urban Development | SPX Lab

Our surroundings have a huge impact on the quality of life. The space we live in everyday is designed in a way to make our lives more comfortable and convenient, while not forgetting about the aesthetic aspect.

In 2007, the United Nations estimated that for the first time ever, more people inhabited urban than rural areas. Since then the number has rapidly risen. By 2050, approximately 75% of us will be living in cities, meaning that the way we design, develop and operate them will significantly influence our wellbeing.

SPX is constantly researching new ways of how to enhance the experience of space. In this new article series we will explore topics such as urban development, innovation districts’ transformation and the future of cities. Welcome to the Cities of Tomorrow.

Urban Experience has multiple dimensions

Karl Marx envisioned cities as epicenters of revolution and radical change. That image has not changed since. In the European Union publication we read that cities play a crucial role as engines of the economy, places of connectivity, creativity and innovation. On the other hand, cities are also the place where problems such as unemployment, segregation and poverty are concentrated.

One of the most pressing problems of the modern generation is loneliness. As Y.N. Harari pointed out, ‘People live ever more lonely lives on an ever more connected planet.’ Research shows that being raised in a city doubles the chances of developing schizophrenia, and increases the risk for other mental health disorders such as depression and chronic anxiety. The main trigger appears to be what researchers call “social stress” or “loneliness epidemic” — the lack of social bonding and cohesion among people & neighbourhoods.

Despite the available technology (or perhaps because of it), younger generations live in an urban landscape that lacks real-life social connections. In their fast-paced lifestyle, they crave comfort, convenience and, in general, more out of life. The desire to be in an environment that engages them on a personal and professional level, ensuring a sense of inclusion, wellness, safety & global connectedness, is extremely strong. That raises a question: how cities can ensure human-centric and steady growth now and in the future? In this sense, the role of urban planning and design must be taken into consideration. To ensure the wellbeing of urban-driven generation, landscape architects should include elements such as sustainability, connectivity and technology.

Is the utopian city just science fiction?

Although a lot has been discussed around this topic, it still seems to be a futuristic idea. Nevertheless, as urban planners are running out of development land, different innovative concepts have started being developed to ensure a great future for our cities. If we ran out of space, where will our houses be located in 30 or 50 years? Whether or not we can not build on the ground, so far architects envision four alternative ways: on the water, underwater, underground and up in the air.

• Floating housing has been known for some time now. IJburg, a residential neighbourhood in Amsterdam completely built on water, came to life in 2017. Since then, similar initiatives have been undertaken to supply a very scarce housing market within the city.
• If we can build on the water, then underwater should not be as difficult. Do you remember Atlantis? Perhaps the accessible materials are not advanced enough to build a series of houses at the bottom of the ocean, but individual buildings are not a challenge anymore. An example is the H2HOME project — a private submarine-alike home that comes with two completely submerged floors adding up to a total of 3,600 sq. ft. of living space underwater. Nevertheless, with the price tag of $10 million, it remains a luxury rather than a reality.
• As cities get denser, why can houses not become one with the ground? Coober Pedy, a tiny town 846km north of Adelaide, South Australia, is known for two things: its opal mines, and its “dugouts” — subterranean homes carved from the rocks. From a bird’s eye view it appears like some brave individuals chose to build their houses in the middle of the desert, whereas in reality 80% of the town’s population live and socialise underground.
• Although the well-known cities floating in the air from Avatar are still fiction, Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay is a great step forward in aerial constructions. Their Supertrees, uniquely designed vertical gardens of up to 50-metres tall, currently serve as recreational spaces. Mixed-use buildings already attempted to combine several functions to satisfy different users within one building, usually placing a green area on the rooftop. However, if this structure was flipped upside-down, residential areas could soon make an impression of ‘hanging in the air’.

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Originally published at www.spatial-experience.com on May 8, 2020.