Plans are in the works for a 582-acre mixed-use development smart city in Malaysia.
Discovery City is set be a new precinct within Ibrahim Technopolis, a planned 7,290 acre township in Johor.
The designer, Zaha Hadid Architects, says the city's design will focus on integration with the region's natural surroundings, implementing sustainable architecture along with smart city technologies while "minimizing [the] environmental impact."
The project will prioritize the use of locally sourced and recycled materials. It will also incorporate renewable power generation and rainwater harvesting.
"Discovery City will be our first project within Malaysia's architectural landscape and we are honored to be awarded this opportunity to explore how architecture can enhance its natural context, creating a synergy between the built and natural environments," Gianluca Racana, director at Zaha Hadid Architects, said in a statement.
"With our maiden project in Malaysia, we are committed to crafting an extraordinary development that will both inspire and respect its setting," Racana added.
A detailed design for the proposed city is expected in 2025.
What Is a Smart City?
A "smart city" is an urban area that uses advanced technologies and data-driven strategies to enhance the quality of life for its residents, improve the efficiency of services and promote sustainability. This typically involves integrating technology with physical infrastructure and city services to manage resources more efficiently and improve urban planning, transportation and energy management.
Construction recently began on one such project in Greece.
The 8.5 billion-euro ($9.5. billion) Ellinikon urban development project will cover an area of around 6.2 million square meters (66.7 million square feet), which its developers have dubbed "Europe's largest sustainable smart city."
Lamba Development, the firm behind Ellinikon said the city will incorporate "the most advanced technologies and carbon neutral practices."
Some experts have expressed concerns regarding the development of "smart cities" globally, particularly about the risk of gentrification and nearby residents finding themselves priced out of their areas.
According to one index, Seattle, home to major tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, ranked first in the country due to its high tech infrastructure and sustainability scores. The city features 10 EV recharging points per 100,000 people, the report found.
Kansas City, Missouri, was lauded in the study, despite not reaching the top 10, for its green credentials, boasting over 12,000 acres of parkland with additional plans to plant 10,000 more trees within the next three years.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Joe Edwards
Quelle/Source: Newsweek, 26.08.2024
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