What will the world look like in 2050? An urban landscape of megacities? A cleaner, greener, more manageable planet? Or a metroactive cyberscape?

"Urbanisation is no longer something on which you can make a choice; it is poised to be the next revolution." Jaipal Reddy, union minister for urban development, India

According to a report on World Urbanisation Prospects by the United Nations, in 1950, there were two mega-cities with 10 million or more inhabitants. By 2005, the number had increased to 20; it is projected that there will be 22 mega-cities by 2015. Globally, cross-border movement of goods and people is leading to over-population of inner cities and the ‘flight of the middle classes' to suburban enclaves. As countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America move away from being rural and become heavily developed, concerns are rising over the nature and quality of the physical environment that will be built to accommodate the population. One of the urban design ideologies that has been prescribed is high-density, mixed-use buildings that enable people to live within walking distance of shopping, recreation, work and transport hubs, decreasing dependency on vehicles. Thus far, however, even successful examples of sustainable mixed-use projects have not demonstrated an all-inclusive model at the public sector level by accommodating residents from different socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities and age groups.

Sustainability
The future of urbanism lies in sustainability. The overall aim of sustainable urban development of the future must be to achieve a healthy and high quality life for all within a socially cohesive economic development. Since the urban renewal policies of the 1960s, governments across the world are once again partnering with architects to design future visions of the built environment in a responsible way. Taking a lead in this area, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City aims to nurture social harmony by providing high quality housing to residents from a wide spectrum of society, underpinning its commitment to nurture the ‘three harmonies' – man living in harmony with his fellow man, the environment and economic development. Indeed, the definition of sustainability consists of the three Es: equity, environment and economy.

"Social harmony is first and foremost a housing issue. We hope to create a harmonious city that is suitable for different sectors of society" Lin Xuefeng, vice-chairman, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City administrative committee

The ecological dimension of a sustainable model illustrates that modernisation needn't be at the cost of the natural environment. The architecture of tomorrow is inextricably linked with the exploration of new scientific and technological frontiers to counter the impact on climate change. It has also proven to be a fertile ground for a number of partnerships between architecture and other practices such as renewable technologies, organic farming, prefabricated housing, waste disposal and so on. And although not entirely in the realm of urban design, architects also have the opportunity to create opportunities for employment for local or displaced populations through training and transfer of knowledge related to sustainable building technologies and involving them in communal activities.

Bio-mimicry
"Imagine a building that makes oxygen, distils water, provides a habitat for thousands of species, produces energy, changes with the seasons – and is beautiful. In effect that building is like a tree, standing in a city that is like a forest" William McDonough, founder and principal, William McDonough & Partners

Modern architecture has its roots in machines and technology, and mankind's mastery over nature. To create a physical environment as a living organism without damaging the environmental health of the planet requires a model that emulates nature. Communities in desert regions will be able to collect and store water just like plants, while in colder regions, the focus will shift to retaining heat and capturing available sunlight. There is also experimentation with materials designed with molecular chemistry and nano technology. For instance, photovoltaic panels made from polymer-based solar cells are being researched to replace those made with silicon and crystal to obtain greater efficiency, at a lower cost base and greater durability. Other possibilities include organic wallpaper, vertical gardens and rainforest canopies, which require little sunlight and water while bringing greenery to public and residential spaces in innovative ways.

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