In 2007, the government of Abu Dhabi announced its plans for the first carbon neutral city in the world. A plan for a new city, Masdar, would blossom from the sands to house over 40,000 residents a perfectly square and perfectly sustainable community. Skepticism was high, especially considering nearby in the UAE sat what could arguably be the least sustainable city on the planet, Dubai. The tallest structure ever built, indoor ski slopes, and man-made islands seemed to detour the environmentally conscious conspicuous consumers. Leaders choose to pursue an alternative route to lure Westerners into the desert, sustainability.
The community is situated 17km from the nearby metropolis of Abu Dhabi. Masdar-Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company and the Mubadala Development Company commissioned this carbon neutral city to lure top research institutions, R&D program and highly skilled graduates. Ultimately, Masdar will become a powerful technology cluster where global renewable energy systems and clean technology industries develop, test and implement their ideas.
It seems as though money is no object to this oil rich nation. Designed by Foster and Partners, a firm known for their technological and environmental innovation (see Reichstag), Masdar City claims to provide the highest quality living and working environment with the lowest possible carbon footprint. The city is oriented northeast-southwest to maximize local wind and sun patterns. Inspired by architecture and planning of traditional Arab cities, Masdar incorporates narrow streets, window shading, thick walled buildings, court yards, and wind towers. Residential, recreational, civic, retail, leisure, commercial, and light industrial areas are intermixed in the master plan to coincide with public transportation networks. This completely walkable community attempts to eliminate the need for cars and trucks; therefore, reducing pollution and emissions and promoting cleaner air. Narrow roads allow buildings to be cited closer together producing more shade while still allowing access to natural light. Green parks separate the built up districts to reduce solar gain and direct cool breeze into the center of the city. The commercial and residential spaces are designed to maximize day lighting and reduce the need for air-conditioning.
- Street view of Masdar
Masdar has already received numerous awards for its design initiatives, but one has to ask… is it truly a sustainable city?
The first residents of Masdar began relocating in September of 2010, and already a glaring issue became present. NICOLAI OUROUSSOFF reported it in his New York Times critique, “(Masdar’s) Utopian purity, and its isolation from the life of the real city next door, are grounded in the belief—accepted by most people today, it seems—that the only way to create a truly harmonious community, green or otherwise, is to cut it off from the world at large.” This Dinseyland-esque style of a totally integrated development does not leave much space for organic evolution or connection to existing communities.
The other issue brought to light is how this over-sized gated community can provide services for a cross section of residents that include laymen and scientist. Social and Cultural sustainability are also factors to recognize in a truly “sustainable” city. The design claims to denounce social exclusion, but in this high tech world affordable housing for support staff seem like an afterthought. The design is mainly geared for students, researchers and their families. No one of lesser means can afford the cost of housing or services within Masdar. The society cannot claim to be self sufficient if it cannot support all member of its community and provide a range of living options. This utopia then is in fact a façade, sustained by laborers and factors outside of the city.
Ouroussoff asked, “how a project like Masdar can ever attain the richness and texture of a real city?” Masdar has limited relevance to the modern world and its issues of equality or humanity. The result instead, is a super-scale version of something all are far too familiar with, economic polarization and segregation. The wealthiest and educated middle class are able to wall themselves off within “sustainable” utopias while the huddled masses are relegated to the polluted slums.
Technologically, the project is a sustainable success. The city does in fact have a minimal carbon footprint, even though it is greenfield (or sand-field) construction it seems to have no negative environmental impact on its surrounding communities. Sociologically it is a failure. Like every utopia that has come before, the community cannot be self sufficient without proper diversification. It is a level of unattainable altruism.
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