Governments urged to design ‘compact, diverse and walkable’ communities for people

Mobilk - Cities of the future will be compact, diverse and walkable communities much like the compact neighbourhood concepts of the medieval period, said Professor Kent L. Larson, Director of City Science, MIT, an expert on new urban housing and vehicles. 

Speaking at a session on the final day of the third Government Summit in Dubai, Prof. Larson said the past holds the secret to the future, and urged governments to design cities for people, and not for machines.

Emphasising best utility of space and resources, Prof. Larson identified density, proximity and diversity as three key factors to create an innovative society that enjoys a good quality of life. He said 93 per cent of patented inventions take place in metro areas that provide density, proximity and diversity. New urban spaces based on this concept will pave the way for innovation and create cities that are smart, green and sustainable, he said.

Describing his concept of the new urban system, Prof. Larson suggested that high density should not be seen as a challenge but as an opportunity for cities to become innovation centres. “Done badly, density leads to traffic jams, crime, pollution and a host of other problems. But done well, density creates better economic growth, security and innovation,” he said. 

Likewise, proximity to workplace as well as diverse districts that include everything necessary within a walking distance, are critical to creating urban innovation, he added.

Cities of the future will also encourage shared use of autonomous vehicles in compact districts as an alternative to private automobiles. “The future is in moving from an ownership society to shared modes,” Prof. Larson said. 

Autonomous city cars, shared e-bikes and e-scooters, and foldable cars will ensure efficient use of space on city roads. “With availability of enough data on people and their lifestyle, it would be possible to classify them and accordingly provide a mobility system that suits their requirements,” he said. “Shared vehicles connected to mass transit offer the real power to the future. They will help get rid of traffic jams, traffic signals and turn lanes,” he added.

Prof. Larson said the cities of the future will also be self-sustained communities producing nutritious food with minimal consumption of water and energy. Unlike most modern farming techniques that often lead to highly contaminated produce; the new approach in city farming uses the principles of hydroponics and aeroponics to produce food that uses 90 per cent less water and 60 per cent less fertilizer than traditional methods. 

“While only three sprouts of broccoli can be grown per square feet in soil, aeroponics allows 54 sprouts to be grown in the same area, making it possible to skin buildings with hi-tech food production. Such farming techniques have great potential in cities such as Dubai which have tall buildings,” Prof. Larson said.

Highlighting hyper-efficient places of living and work as another hallmark of the cities of the future, Prof. Larson new concepts in home and office designs will make living and working spaces three times more efficient than prevailing designs.

Organized under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’, the Government Summit in Dubai was held from February 9 to 11, 2015, to discuss the future of government services in the world.