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World's first zero carbon, zero waste city in Abu Dhabi
Thursday, 01.01.1970.
15:49
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The first
project as a result of the Masdar Initiative is a new 6 million square meter
sustainable development that uses the traditional planning principals of a
walled city, together with existing technologies, to achieve a zero carbon and
zero waste community. Masterplanned by Foster + Partners, the initiative has
been driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, and will be a centre for
the development of new ideas for energy production. Masdar responds to the
urban identity of Abu Dhabi while offering a sustainable urban blueprint for
the future. Due to be launched at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2007, it is an ambitious
project that will attract the highest levels of international expertise and
commerce, providing a mixed-use, high-density city. The exciting programme
includes a new university, the Headquarters for Abu Dhabi’s Future Energy
Company, special economic zones and an Innovation Center.
As part of the Masdar Initiative, a long term strategic commitment by
the government of Abu Dhabi to accelerate the development and deployment of
future energy solutions, Masdar City will take sustainable development and
living to a new level and will lead the world in understanding how all future cities
should be built. The City is a cleantech cluster which is already attracting
the world’s best in all areas of sustainability from renewable energy to
biomass. All types of companies from innovators, incubators, research and
development, pioneers and solution providers will be part of the journey to
create, work and live in Masdar City.
Masdar City will be built over seven years at an investment in excess of US$20 Billion. Its masterplan design meshes the century-old learnings of traditional Arabic urban planning and architecture with leading-edge technologies to create a sustainable, high-quality living environment for all residents. The City will be built in seven carefully designed phases, incorporating the latest technological advances generated in its clean-tech cluster and globally.
The principle of the Masdar development is a dense walled city to be constructed in an energy efficient two-stage phasing that relies on the creation of a large photovoltaic power plant, which later becomes the site for the city’s second phase, allowing for urban growth yet avoiding low density sprawl.
Strategically located at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s transport
infrastructure, Masdar City will be linked to surrounding communities, as well
as the centre of Abu Dhabi and the international airport, by a network of existing
road, and new rail and public transport routes. The City will be car free and
pedestrian friendly. With a maximum distance of 200 meters to public transport
and amenities, and complemented by an innovative personal rapid transport
system, the compact network of streets will encourage pedestrians and community
social life.
The city will make use of traditional Gulf architecture to create low-energy buildings, with natural air conditioning from wind towers. Water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination plant. The city will need a quarter of the power required for a similar sized community, while its water needs will be 60% lower.
Utility services at the City will include energy, district cooling, wet utilities (water, wastewater, re-use water, and storm water), telecommunications and waste management. Infrastructure support projects at the City will include landscaping, common areas, leisure areas, access roads, bridges, tunnels and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) services as well as development management.
Masdar City will cost $22bn (£11.3bn), take eight years to build and be home to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses. The city will be mostly powered by solar energy and residents will move in travel pods running on magnetic tracks. Abu Dhabi has one of the world's biggest per capita carbon footprints and sceptics fear Masdar may be just a fig leaf for the oil-rich Gulf emirate. Others fear Masdar City - on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi City - may become a luxury development for the rich.
