Issue 120: Who will Define the City of the Future?
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about urbanism. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Who will Define the City of the Future?
The rise of the metaverse will transform how we approach urban planning. This won’t happen overnight, but we will soon see fundamentally new approaches to structuring the urban landscape. As these systems develop, the urban environment must be designed for the benefit of people. While that might sound like an obvious statement, it’s pretty radical. Historically, cities have been designed for many things, such as defense, commerce, and cars. However, putting humans in the city's center is the ultimate goal.
Human-centric design. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Ruler of Dubai, detailed the second phase of the Dubai master plan in December 2022. The urban plan calls for the creation of a “20-minute city”, which would enable residents access to 80 percent of their daily needs within 20 minutes on foot or by bicycle. There are also provisions to grow food within the city limits using vertical farming techniques. “Today, we have a clear vision for the development of Dubai’s urban infrastructure and housing sector until 2040,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “Our goal is for Dubai to be an eco- and pedestrian-friendly city, and a city with a high yield from urban agriculture.”
Putting ideas into action. The Dubai urban master plan is remarkable because it is being implemented. Few megacities have been able to radically transform the urban landscape in a short time. Dubai is different. Plans are designed with residents in mind and then put into practice. This is in large part thanks to the leadership and support of Sheikh Mohammed but it’s also a blueprint for the future. As the metaverse changes our ideas of what is possible, we will need places like Dubai to implement these ideas. It’s an incredible time to watch cities evolve before our eyes.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it's decoration.”
– Jeffrey Zeldman, entrepreneur.
CHART OF THE WEEK
We are looking at raw minerals this week. This chart from Bloomberg highlights new areas of cobalt production, one of the minerals vital in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. Raw minerals are one of the most valuable commodities on the planet and will soon have the power to transform economies.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Resilience is key: Writing in The National in 2020, Mary Ames, our director of strategy, considered the role of urban resilience in countering the covid-19 crisis in the UAE. Urban resilience is the ability of a city to maintain continuity during crises and adapt to the future. The keys to urban resilience are great infrastructure, cohesive communities, and good governance. Moreover, Ames notes in the piece the greater number of vital functions that move online now, the easier these services will be to administer after the covid-19 crisis.
Is wellness the new GDP? Economists love growth. The economic goal is always growth, and GDP measures growth. That explains why this somewhat archaic measurement is so popular. But what counts as growth anyway? We investigate whether wellness and happiness should be the new benchmarks for growth in the international economy.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Overload. Our digital tools should make us work better with more focus and efficiency, but the reality is that we are constantly flooded with work that can make us feel like we’re drowning. Cal Newport, the author of several books, including Deep Work, has become a guru regarding digital well-being. He recently sat down for a spirited and fascinating interview with the New York Times that’s well worth reading. Newport reminds us that another path is possible.
Coffee for a healthy planet. Nespresso pods have been ubiquitous worldwide, but their heavy use of aluminum is a challenge. A new study by researchers at the University of Quebec in Canada suggests that a slight change to pod design and materials will result in a less wasteful coffee experience. Such subtle changes can dramatically impact carbon emissions and recycling efforts. The power to change the climate, one cup at a time.