PLATFORM/MALAPERT Etienne The City Of Possibilities (2015)
PLATFORM/MALAPERT Etienne The City Of Possibilities (2015)
240301
In 2006, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to undertake the crazy project of building an entire city in the middle of the desert. Masdar City’s first aim is to reach 0% CO2 emissions and be recognized as a “Green City”. London architectural firm Foster + partners designed this huge project, at a time of growing environmental concerns, especially about energy consumption and pollution. Despite holding a major share in global oil and gas production, the United Arab Emirates wish to change their image to showcase green technology and socalled clean energy. Located 25 km south from Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is destined to be within the next 15 years the first self-ecological city in the world, with a population of 50 000 and a business hub of 1 500. Currently, only a few buildings have already emerged from the sand, including a scientific university, research laboratories and offices of major multinational corporations such as Siemens. The country launched the Masdar project as part of an economic policy shift called Economic Vision 2030, based on renewable energy and a denser complex of research and developments. Following this trend, the government, in collaboration with UAE Oil Company, one of the world most influential one, have invested nearly $20 billion in the project. The real purpose of this commercial association is to establish the UAE as a pioneer in the renewable energy sector to complement its current status of “major oil exporter”.
In 2006, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to undertake the crazy project of building an entire city in the middle of the desert. Masdar City’s first aim is to reach 0% CO2 emissions and be recognized as a “Green City”. London architectural firm Foster + partners designed this huge project, at a time of growing environmental concerns, especially about energy consumption and pollution. Despite holding a major share in global oil and gas production, the United Arab Emirates wish to change their image to showcase green technology and socalled clean energy. Located 25 km south from Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is destined to be within the next 15 years the first self-ecological city in the world, with a population of 50 000 and a business hub of 1 500. Currently, only a few buildings have already emerged from the sand, including a scientific university, research laboratories and offices of major multinational corporations such as Siemens. The country launched the Masdar project as part of an economic policy shift called Economic Vision 2030, based on renewable energy and a denser complex of research and developments. Following this trend, the government, in collaboration with UAE Oil Company, one of the world most influential one, have invested nearly $20 billion in the project. The real purpose of this commercial association is to establish the UAE as a pioneer in the renewable energy sector to complement its current status of “major oil exporter”.
