Avenir report

2
Content:
1. Introduction
2. A City Investigation on Better City Guidelines and Issues
3. Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient City
4. Investigation & Data Collection: Present City
5. Investigation & Data Collection: Future City
6. Case study on City in the sky
7. The New “X” City- Avenir
8. Conclusion
9. References list
3
4-5
6-7
8-10
11-12
13
14-24
25
26

3
1.Introduction
For the final project of Elements of Built and Natural Environment (ENBE),
students are required to build a new future city as a Mayor due to several
reasons why the previous city is no longer live-able. We are to propose a new
layout for the new city where the basic elements to build a city such as
topography, landscape, space, building and infrastructure are taken
account.
Students are allowed to enhance or improvise a current city or choose a new
setting such as Underground city, Underwater City, Floating on Water City, or
a City in the Air.
The idea of this project is to help students understand the component and
elements of a city and what makes a better future city.

4
2.The City
2.1 The City Definition
A center of population, commerce, and culture; a town of significant size
and importance.
A city normally have complex systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage,
housing and transportation. The concentration of development greatly
aids interaction between people and businesses, which benefits both
parties in process.
2.2 Brief history
The world’s first city was founded during 7500BC, where Uruk is the largest
Neolithic site found to date. Among the early Old World cities, Mohenjo-
daro of the Indus Valley Civilization (in present-day Pakistan), existing from
about 2600 BC, was one of the largest city with a population of 50,000 or
more.
Whereas in the middle ages, London was the first to exceed a population
of 1 million. But some estimated that Baghdad’s population may have
been as large as 2 million in the 9th century.
The growth of modern industry from the late 18th century onward has led
to a massive urbanization and rise of new great cities, first in Europe and
the others in other regions, as new opportunities have brought a huge
numbers of migrants from the rural communities to the urban areas.
2.3 What makes a city
Physical means:
 Fixed site
 Durable shelters
 Permanent facilities for assembly
 Interchange
 Storage
Social means:
 Social division of labor (serves not merely the economic life but the
cultural process)

5
2.4 What makes a good city
Based on Kevin Lynch's A Theory of Good City Form (Cambridge, MA, MIT
Press, 1981), which offers five basic dimensions of city performance: vitality,
sense, fit, access, and control. To these, he also added two “meta-criteria”
which is, efficiency and justice.
Vital city:
 Successfully fulfils the biological needs of the inhabitants
 Provides a safe environment for the inhabitants’ activities
Sensible City:
 Organized (which allows its residents to perceive and understand
the city’s form and function)
City with Good Fit:
 Provides buildings, spaces, and network required (for its residents to
pursue their projects successfully
Accessible city:
 Allows people of all age to gain the activities, resources, services,
and information that they need
City with Good Control:
 Well arranged
 Allow citizens to contribute in the management of the spaces in
which they work and reside
Efficient City:
 Achieves the goals as listed above at the least cost
 Balances the goals with one another
2.5 What is the future city
A future city is a city where sustainability becomes a priority in city
development where thinking GREEN is a way to go.
An example can be seen in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the peoples
are encouraged to cycle around the city. Cyclist are prioritized and many
cycling tracks are built along the main roads.

6
3.Investigation & Data Collection:
Ancient City
Babylon
3.1 History
Babylon is the most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia whose ruins lie
in modern-day Iraq 59 miles (94kilometres) southwest of Baghdad.
Babylon was founded at some point prior to the reign of Sargon of Akkad
(a.k.a. Sargon the Great) who ruled from 2334-2279 BCE and claimed to
have built the temples in Babylon (where other ancient sources seem to
indicate that Sargon himself found the city).
At that time, Babylon seems to have been a minor city or perhaps a large
port town on the Euphrates River at the point where it runs closest to the
river Tigris. Until King Hammurabi (1795-1750 BCE) transformed the city into
one of the most powerful and influential in all of Mesopotamia. By 1763
BCE, King Hammurabi has successfully united all of Mesopotamia under
the rule of Babylon which, at this time, was the largest city in the world.

7
3.2 What makes it a significant city and what are the details?
Babylon is well known for its famous King Hammurabi’s law codes. But
there are only one example of the policies he implemented to maintain
peace and encourage prosperity. He enlarged and heightened the walls
of the city, engaged in great public works which included opulent
temples, and made diplomacy an integral part of his administration.
Houses:
• two-story brick dwelling of about a dozen rooms and was plastered
and whitewashed both inside and out
Below the house was often located
Streets:
• Wide and straight
• Intersected approximately at right angles
• Paves with brick and bitumen
• a mausoleum in which the family dead were buried (due to their
beliefs)
Water System (to water The Hanging Garden):
• Water pump is used to transport water from the Euphrates River up to
The Hanging Garden where the gardens were very high up.
• Buckets are attached to the chain where the chain was connected to
two big wheels at the top and bottom. (These allow the chain to come
back up after it went bottom to retrieve the water)
• Slaves are used to power the chain so that it would continue to move
• The buckets filler with water will then tip over at the top of the pump so
that the high gardens could be reached and irrigated. The water
travelled down channels so that all of the plants could be watered
• And in order to preserve the building from water damage, the gardens
were built with big stone foundations that were covered with lead.

8
3.3 Conclusion of the City
The streets of Babylon are well connected where each of them intersect
at the right angles which will help increase the city’s connectivity. Also, the
water system used in watering the plants is also a great way to reduce
unnecessary usage of man power.
3.4 What are the information or element that you can use for your
future city
The information that I am using for my new city is the way Babylon
connect their streets, whereby each street is intersected at approximately
right angles. This way, I can increase my City’s connectivity and also
circulation.
Other than that, the water system used in watering the Hanging Garden is
also an inspiration in watering the plants hanging on the sides of the
buildings’ wall.

9
Present City
Paris, France
4.1 History
Between 250 and 200 BC, the Parisii (a sub-tribe of the Celtic Senones)
settled there and founded a fishing village on the island in the river that is
the present-day Ile de la Cité – the center around which Paris developed.
The Romans conquered Parisii in 52AD and they built a town on the River
Seine. The Romans called it Paris Lutetia. At that time, Paris was not a
particularly large or important town, with a population of not more than
10,000 people.
In 486, a race called Franks captured Paris, and during the time, Paris
flourished. Paris is then raided by the Vikings during the 9th century. Yet
from the 11th century onwards, Paris prospered again.
In the middle ages, Paris grew rapidly and it became one of the largest
towns in Europe. Its population probably reached 200,000 (it was huge at
that time according to the medieval standards)

10
Washing Outlets (bouches de lavage):
• 12,000 of them in Paris
• The water under relatively low pressure
emerge from the curbside opening, of which
part of the cover is the side walk
• Used to clean the streets of Paris
• An old piece of carpet diverts the water
from the road
• The idea is to keep the water in the gutter
where the sidewalk curb meets the road, so
it can collect assorted debris and flush it
into the sewer system
• The street cleaners often helps to keep the debris moving when
stuck between the tyres of the parking cars.
• And if there is a large amount of debris, the Paris street cleaners
will quickly sweep it away
Paris has a very unique way of clearing and washing its streets, where
almost zero man power is needed.
future city
The information that I am going to propose for my future city is the
washing outlets used in Paris, where not much man power is needed in
process.

11
Future City
Glasgow, Scotland
5.1 History
Glasgow was first founded in the 6th century when St Mungo built a church
at Glas Glu (meaning, green place). A fishing settlement at the green
place eventually grew into a small town. Glasgow was then given to a
bishop in 1115, indicating that it was a fairly important settlement at that
time.
During the medieval times, Glasgow had a population of about 1,500
people. It may seem small to us, but at that time in the middle ages, the
population in towns were much smaller than they are today. Even so, in
the middle ages, Glasgow was not one of Scotland’s largest or more
important towns.
Between the 16th and 17th centuries, Glasgow grew rapidly. By 1600
century, Glasgow had a population of about 7,000 people, and by 1700
century, it reached to the amount of 12,000.
By the end of 18th century, the population of Glasgow had reached 84,000
people. By the standards at the time, it was considered a large town. In
1871, it had reached the population of half a million, this was despite a
very high infant mortality rate. (Up to half of all children born died before
their 5th birthday)

12
Objectives used in the development of the Local Transportation Strategy:
• Provide accessible, accountable Council services that are effective and offer
value for money.
• Create a cleaner, safer City and a sustainable environment.
• Promote social inclusion and tackle poverty and improve health and well-
being.
• Sustain the physical, social, economic, cultural and environmental
regeneration of Glasgow City Council.
• Develop Glasgow’s metropolitan role, quality of life, heritage and services.
The objectives used by Glasgow are a few of the ways in developing a
city in the future.
future city
I will take the objectives in account when planning for my future city as it is
one of the fundamental element in sustaining a city.

13
6. Case study on the City in the sky
6.1 Where did you get your information?
I got my information by researching through fictions and forums online,
where they discuss and explain how a City in a Sky survive.
6.2 What is the interesting part and important consideration
The interesting part in creating this City is that I am able to be exposed to
a new information or factual by researching. Also, this type of City is still a
fiction where today’s technologies are not able to meet up to it
requirements yet. It is challenging as I have to research on every aspects
in creating this City as I am not expose to it.
The Important considerations when creating this city are: How to make it
float in the sky? Where do I get my resources from? How do I manage the
waste? How do I overcome the weather above the sky? And many more.
Building a City in the Sky is not easy as the City must be stable, so through
research, I have discovered quantum levitation where an object is able to
remain stagnant in the air without bobbing up and down. This way, it will
not cause any sickness to my citizens.

14
7.The New “X” City
– Avenir (City in the Air)
7.1 How did you came up with the solution to create this new city
The problems faced while creating this new city were solved by doing
researches online and also studies. For example, how do I make my city
float in the sky? Through researches, I’ve discovered quantum levitation,
where an object can stay on air by using superconductors and
permanent magnets without bobbing up and down.
7.2 Why is it on air
The reason why my city is on air is because the earth has been destroyed,
where there is almost no land left and only covered with seawater. Also,
by building my city on air, I can avoid various natural disasters such as
tsunami, tornado, earthquakes and etc.
7.3 What is the important characteristic and elements
Technologies to support the city above clouds:
• By using quantum levitation
• Where the city can be hold in the air on a fixed position
• Only superconductor and a permanent magnet is used
• It is green
• Doesn’t emit any harmful substances and doesn’t requires any
fuel to generate it
Resources:
• Have to take space mining in consideration as the Earth doesn’t have
enough resources to sustain us forever.
Food:
 Foods are grown hydroponically
 Synthetic meat (as cow, sheep and other farm animals occupy space)
Sustainable development and sustainability:
• Car free zones
• Pedestrian zones
• Parks, Gardens and or Greeneries within the city
• Hybrid transportations

15
Water and Sanitation Infrastructure:
• Includes:
• water provision
• waste-water treatment
• Sewage infrastructure.
• relate directly to the health outcomes due to the susceptibility to
disease experienced by populations that lack adequate access
• Water can be obtained from air
Weather:
• Winds:
• Buildings are built with a strong foundation
• Residents are inhabited in a closed environment where they are
not directly exposed to the storms
• Lightning:
• Many strong lightning arrester is needed
• Humidity:
• Causes water damps
• Able to collect water easily
• Benefits: reduces fire risk (on the outside)
Transportation:
• “ Flying Car “
 It runs on zero friction magnetic rail
 Where it almost flies along the track
• Elevator
 To transport people or supplies from one floor to another

16
7.4 Aim of the City
To provide a harmonious and better living for the people
7.5 Avenir
Overall
Look
Perspective views

17
Town
Hall
Religion
Building
Lower Floor 1:
View if the
elevator
With water
damp at
the side
Military
Base

18
Layout / Zoning Plan
Pools
Water
Damp
Industrial
Area
Religions’
Building
Hospital
Park
Park
Police
HQ
Military
Base
Town
Hall
Commercial
Area
Traffic
Control
Tower
Plane
Port
Main
Floor
Industrial Area:
Where most of the citizens work at, such as:
• Offices
• Factories
Water Damp:
• For storage of water to sustain the city
• Water collected from the clouds
Town Hall:
• Where the mayor and his/her servant
work at
Commercial Area:
Where the citizens get their basic needs at, eg:
• Magazine stores
• Grocery stores
• Accessories and clothing stores
Parks:
• Green space
• Badminton court
• Football court
• Recreation activities
• Meetings or gatherings
Plane Port:
• Where most of the polices’ or militaries’
vehicles are parked at for standby
Traffic Control Tower:
• To control the air traffic to prevent any
collisions or accidents
Religions’ Building:
• Where the Muslims, Buddhist, Christians
and also Hindus pray
• Separated into four departments where
Orange: Buddhist Green: Muslim
Purple: Hindu Blue: Christian

19
Industrial
Area
Water
Damp
Water
Damp
Religions’
Building
Hospital
Police
Department
Military
Residential
Residential
Education Zone
Control
Centre
Lower
Floor 1
Residential Area:
• Where the citizens live
• It is lower ground to prevent direct exposure from
bad weathers or humidity
Education Zone:
• Where the citizens send off their younger
generations to pursue their studies
• Eg: Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary
School, College, Universities and so on.

20
Lower
Floor 2
Commercial
Area
Heavy
Industrial
Area
Residential
Residential
City Square
Heavy Industrial Area:
• Heavy industrials
• Manufactures of food
• Agriculture
• Processing and Packaging of objects

21
Lower
Floor 3
Waste
Management
Engineering
Room
Electrical
Room
Water
Filtration/
Sanitation
Engineering Room:
• Where most of the mechanism and processors to
make the city “fly” are at
Waste Management:
• Where waste are all collected at and categorized
• Also includes recycling
• Waste are then ship to a specific place to degrade
or dump to decrease the weight of the city
Water Filtration/ Sanitation:
• Where the collected water from the water damp
are filtered before supplying to the city
• Treatment of the water also takes place to ensure a
better health
Electrical Room:
• Where the electrical generators are at
• Energy are collected from wind turbines
surrounded at the sides of the city

22
*In red lines
Transportation Plan: “Flying Train”
Main Floor Lower Floor 1
Lower Floor 2 Lower Floor 3

23
*Blue Highlights
Transportation Plan: Elevator
Main Floor Lower Floor 1
Lower Floor 2 Lower Floor 3

24
7.6 Conclusion about Avenir
In conclusion, Avenir is a sustainable city where the whole city is a car free
zone and also promotes walking. The transportation used, such as the “Flying
Train” is eco-friendly where it does not emit any harmful substances. Other
than that, it runs on a zero friction magnetic rail where it produce almost no
noise at all. This way, it will help reduce noise pollution in the city and provide
a more peaceful and harmonious city.
Following, Avenir also uses renewable energy to sustain its city. Wind turbine
and solar panels are fixed at the side of the city, lightning arrestors are also
fixed around the city to protect the city from thunder where it can generate
electrical energy by absorbing lightning. Also, the waste of the city is recycled
to prevent from producing excessive waste to the dump area. Green roofs
and greeneries are spread out around the city where it can help to collect
rain waters and also provide oxygen to the city.

25
8.Conclusion
The important thing that one should follow is to think green and increase the
sustainability in a city. These are a few fundamental factors in developing a city
which brings it to a better future.
In this project, I have learned the few elements in creating a city and ways to
sustain it.

26
9.Reference Links
1. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/city
2. http://www.art.net/~hopkins/Don/simcity/manual/history.html
3. http://www.ancient.eu.com/babylon/
4. http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Paris_history.shtml
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Paris#Prehistoric_Paris
6. http://www.localhistories.org/paris.html
7. http://www.localhistories.org/glasgow.html
8. http://nanowrimo.org/forums/reference-desk/threads/132545
9. http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php/109470-IDW-49-Futuristic-Steam-
Powered-Locomotive
10. http://www.gmfus.org/galleries/cdp-
tcn/Jensen__How_Copenhagen_Became_a_Cycling_City.pdf

Avenir report

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (17)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (14)

Similar to Avenir report

Similar to Avenir report (20)

More from Lynnstyles

More from Lynnstyles (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Avenir report