Enbe report

Content:
1. Introduction 3
2. A City: Investigation on Better
City Guidelines and Issues
4-6
3. Investigation & Data Collection:
Ancient and old cities
7-10
The present city
11-14
The future city/cities
15-18
6. The New “X” City / Or the new
name
19-24
7. The Conclusion 25
8. References List 26

1.0. Introduction
For our final ENBE (Elements of Natural and Built Environment) project, we students will
have to pretend that we are the mayor of the “X” city and propose a new layout for the new “X”
City as the people there require a new city because of reasons that it is no longer livable.
This final project is divided into two parts, where the first part (Part A) is an individual
component where we have to make a short video and a detailed report regarding our city based
on certain given guidelines; whereas the second part, being Part B, is a group component where
we have to make a model of the selected city within our group on a maximum of three A2
board.
The idea of this project is for students to understand the components and elements of a city and
what makes a better future city.

2.0. The City
2.1. The City Definition
By definition, “City” (noun, Pronunciation: /ˈsitē/) is a large town. It is a center of population,
commerce and culture; a town of significant size and importance.
2.2. Brief History of Cities
Cities have had a long history and played an important role throughout the whole as they act
as central places of trades for the benefits of the citizens living in close proximity to others
which facilitates interaction of all kinds.
Accordingly, cities first appeared in the Neolithic era when the crops and food sources yield
large enough to sustain a permanent and growing population due to the development of the
agricultural technology. Cities turn up increasingly after the middle ages under the political
control of centralized government and served the interests of nation-state. However, it was only
during the Industrial Revolution and the rise of automobile that massive population and
urbanization started to advance.
2.3. What Makes a City
Cities are broken up into precincts and each of them contains its own councilmen who decide
the budget and assign people for many other positions that are elected in a town government.
Cities tend to have a denser population compared to their surrounding areas. Currently, over
half of the world’s population resides in cities.
Cities provide various services to their citizens, typically food distribution, transportation,
utilities, sanitations and road systems. However, the population in the city does not grow its
own food but rely on other sources instead. Also, citizens are required to pay taxes, often for
the construction and maintenance of public buildings and spaces. Oftentimes, the creation and
production of arts, literature and sciences are centralized within cities.

2.4. What Makes a Good City
There are more to a city than just the amount of its buildings; a good city should be a sustainable
and have a solid and stable politic, social and economy to ensure that the future generation can
live in a comfortable and safe environment. And hence, a good city should include the
following:
 A secure water and electric supply
 Open public spaces or rest area where people can hang out and congregate
 Accessible and efficient public transportation network on every level
 Affordable housing
 Affordable medical and social services for all its citizens
 A built in arts and culture environment
 Wide range of education and business opportunities
 Promote walkability by providing large footpaths along its roads
 Mixed used neighborhood
 Low-carbon urban transportation to reduce air pollution
 Pro-active planning and management of the government
 A community spirit

2.5. Future City
Over the next decade, cities will evidently grow larger and more rapidly as technologies will
adapt in various ways to meet local needs. As such, there are much to look forward into the
future cities as the use of “smart” technologies that can improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of urban system will be assimilated into our future cities, such as:
I. Smart Mobility
Moving and travelling within the smart city combines car sharing, carpooling, and shared
vehicles with the interconnectedness of transportation and other infrastructures. Mobility-on-
demand and fleet-management-tools can fill the gaps in public transit. Many opportunities can
arise from Smart Mobility to improve the daily commute of workers as well as the needs for
citizens to move around the city. Smart Mobility includes:
 Intelligent Transport System
The transport system will be interconnected which allows for different public transports
to be coordinated and to provide information in real time.
 Smart Parking
There will be systems of which they will alert the drivers when there is a parking slot
available. Finding a parking slot will no longer be a hassle and the air pollution will be
reduced as drivers do not have to go around the car parks looking for a parking slot.
 Traffic Management
Monitoring road systems will inform drivers the best route to use at any given time.
II. Smart Transaction
Mobile Money and Mobile Payments technologies are very efficient and convenient in both
B2C (Business-to-Consumer) and B2B (Business to Business) sectors.
One of the smart transaction that is hoped to be seen in the future is the Digital-Signage. Via
the Digital-Signage, urban ads will be tailored to each citizen and advertising will provide
services. Whereas now we see many concert posters around the city, in the future the customer
will have the chance to actually buy the ticket via the billboard.
III. Smart Buildings
Media facades and interactive landmarks convey situated information through their exterior
skin.
Reactive architecture and buildings respond to the environment and people flows. They can
mimic biologic structures for sustainability, energy saving and innovative human habitats
purposes.
IV. Smart Sociality
Cities are social platforms and physical locations that contribute to the organizing logic of
social interactions. Location-aware mobile technologies strengthen the feelings of connection
to our surrounding space and nearby people, allowing us to connect information to places and
communicate with others.

Investigation & Data Collection:
Ancient Cities
Athens

3.0. Ancient City
3.1. History
The city of Athens, Greece is one of the world’s oldest cities with a history spanning
approximately 3,400 years. According to Greek mythology, the city was named after the
goddess Athena after she won a competition with Poseidon over who would become the
protector of the city. The city’s location (in the fertile plains of Attika between the Parnitha,
Penteli, and Hymettos mountains), proximity to the Saronic Gulf, and its mild climate were
probably the main reasons why the founders of the city chose to live there.
Under the rule of Pericles during the 5th
century BC was one of the most glorious periods in
Athenian history and laid the foundations of western civilization. It was during this Golden
Age that the Parthenon was built, and the fields of art, philosophy, and drama developed
significantly. The Peloponnesian wars between the Athenians and Sparta brought an end to the
Golden Age, but Athens continued to be an important cultural and intellectual center for
centuries to come. Athens remained a center for learning and philosophy during its 500 years
of Roman rule. The conversion of the empire to Christianity ended the city’s role as the center
of pagan learning and the schools of philosophy were closed in AD 529 marking the end of the
ancient history of Athens.
After the Greek Revolution of 1821, Greece was established as a modern independent Greek
state in 1830 by the Treaty of London and Athens was made the capital. Athens was chosen as
the capital of Greece for historical and sentimental reasons. Once the capital was established,
a modern city plan was laid out and many public buildings were erected.
After WWII, Athens began to grow as people migrated into the city looking for work. Greece
joined the European Union in 1981 which brought in many new investments to Athens, but
also increased social and environmental problems. At the time, Athens had some of the worst
traffic congestion and air pollution in the world which posed a great threat to the ancient
monuments. Traffic vibrations weakened the foundations and the air pollution corroded the
marble. Because of the environmental and infrastructure problems, the city failed to secure the
1996 centenary Olympic Games even though it was the host of the first modern-day Olympic
Games in 1896.
Since the failed attempt to secure the 1996 Olympics, the city and the Greek government, aided
by the European Union funds, started major infrastructure projects such as building a new
Athens Airport and a new metro system. The City of Athens also restricted the use of cars in
the city center to reduce the air pollution problem. As a result of its efforts, Athens was
rewarded the 2004 Olympic Games which were a great success and brought renewed
international prestige to the city.

3.2. Reasons Why Athens Is a Significant City and Its Details
Athens, the birthplace of democracy is a significant city in terms of its architecture. Ancient
Greek architecture is best known for its temples, and so it is not surprising that the temples of
ancient Greece were the biggest and the most beautiful.
Ancient Greek architecture is distinguished by its highly formalised characteristics, both of
structure and decoration. This is particularly so in the case of temples where each building
appears to have been conceived as a sculptural entity within the landscape, most often raised
on high ground so that the elegance of its proportions and the effects of light on its surfaces
might be viewed from all angles.
The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their own
distinctive proportions and detailing. The Greek orders are:
The Doric style is rather sturdy and its top (the capital), is plain.
This style was used in mainland Greece and the colonies in the
Southern Italy and Sicily.
The Ionic style is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with
a scroll-like design (a volute).
This style was found in eastern Greece and the islands.
The Corinthian style is seldom used in the Greek world, but often seen
on Roman temples. Its capital is very elaborated and decorated with
acanthus leaves.

3.3. Conclusion
Athens had proved itself to be the backbone for the birth of arts, literature, sciences and
philosophy. This shows that in order for a city to reach its peak, it is also important to take note
of what is inside of the city rather than just its physical being.
3.4. Elements that are used for the Future City
Among the elements and characteristics found in the city planning of Athens, there are some
important elements that can be used for the future cities:
I. Large Public Areas
 The Ancient Agora of Athens as the center of commerce, religious, political and
military activity proved that public area is important and served many purposes in a city
 Large public areas are able to carry out many functions which will further enhance
relationship between people and thus create a healthy social environment
II. Hierarchy in City Planning
 A city planning that is arranged according to its roles of importance
 The centre of the city is the home to the city’s most important buildings, including the
town hall and government buildings
 Buildings that play smaller roles in the city are placed further away from the central
area of the city

Present Cities
Chicago

4.0. Present City
4.1. History
The Chicago area’s recorded history starts with the arrival of missionaries, traders, and French
in the late 17th
century. The city was founded by the Americans in 1833, and hence was claimed
by the United States in the late 18th
century where it was inhabited by the Potawatomi Indians
during that time. In the 1830s, the city was founded and advanced from real estate speculation
and controlled access from the Great Lakes into the Mississippi River basin.
As Chicago grew, its residents raised many of the streets and buildings five to eight feet to
install a sewer system. The streets, sidewalks and buildings that were made of wood were
burned to the ground in the Great Fire in 1871. The city grew exponentially despite the Great
Fire which destroyed the central business district and soon became the nation’s major centre
of finance, commerce and manufacturing.
4.2. Present City – Chicago
Chicago, located on the Southwestern shores of Lake Michigan, is one of the cities in the state
of Illinois of the United States of America. The history and economy of the city are closely
linked to its proximity to Lake Michigan. Most of the early buildings began around the mouth
of the Chicago River when the city was founded. Even though the Chicago Loop is the central
business district, the city is also a city of neighbourhoods. Chicago is famous for its greenery
and contains some famous parks along the waterfront of the city which includes the Burnham
Park and Lincoln Park.

4.3. Reasons Why Chicago Is a Significant City and Its Details
Chicago may be the third most populous city in the United States. However, what truly makes
it a significant city is its drive and approach towards being a more sustainable city. As such,
various concepts and systems are applied into the city:
I. Application of Green Roof
 Reverse urban heat island effect
 Provide wild life habitat
 Absorb rainfall
 Insulate buildings
 Extend the life of the roof membrane
 Increase property values
 Improve urban aesthetics
 Creating a self-sustaining city
II. Streetscape
 Wide streets
 The streets of the city are arranged in a grid system
 Grid’s regularity provides an efficient means to develop new real estate property
 Most of the streets have wide patch of grass at the pavement itself
 Has effect of keeping pedestrians walking away from the street traffic
 Encourages the safety of citizens
III. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)in Eco building
 A set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
green buildings, homes and neighbourhoods
 Having buildings with environmentally friendly features are a geothermal heating
system, a green roof, ceiling tiles made of recycled newspapers, and floors of
recycled carpeting and cork
IV. Urban Agriculture
Urban Agriculture is the practice of harvesting, processing, and distributing food in the
city. The energy and cost used to transport food is greatly decreased when urban
agriculture can provide cities with locally grown food. Urban farmers who obey the
sustainable agriculture practice will not only help to build local food system
infrastructure, but also help improve local air, water and soil quality.

4.4. Conclusion
As one of the greenest city in the United States, Chicago is evidently paying much focus on its
development of green roof and working towards a more sustainable city. As a present city,
Chicago is currently paving a path towards a green and sustainable environment.
Among the elements and characteristics found in the city planning of Chicago, there are some
important elements that can be used for the future cities:
I. Green Roof Technologies
 Create a self-sustaining city
 Save urban land spaces by using rooftops as area of agriculture
 Lower the temperature around the city
II. Wider Streets
 Promotes walkability
 Reduce the amount of vehicles along the road and thus reduce pollution
Wide Walkway

Future Cities
h
O2+ scraper

5.0. Future Cities
5.1. Future City - h
O2+ scraper
The h
O2+ scraper is an autonomous floating unit of liveable, functional and self-sustaining
space which will function, in a collective manner, as a floating city. The h
O2+ scraper proposes
to break free of the urban fabric and adapts to the sea and operate completely autonomously:
supplying itself and generating its own resources without exploiting the environment.
The main components of the programme for the h
O2+ scraper consists of resource generation
(i.e. air, food, power etc), play, work, living, waste treatment and maintenance. The programme
is spread evenly in accordance to the proximity of any specific required external resource i.e
the living areas are placed just below sea level where the natural light is the best, the wind
generators are placed on the roof garden island, the livestock farming component is also placed
there etc.
The major part of the building is, like an iceberg, under water. On the visible, green surface
food could be produced through agriculture and aquaculture. A forest, solar panels and wind
turbines are visible signs of the underwater town.

5.2. Reasons Why h
O2+ scraper is a Significant City and Its Details
The h
O2+ scraper is considered a significant city as it is able to function as a self-sufficient
ambassador in the sea because it contains:
I. Green technologies:
 Wave
 Wind
 Current
 Solar
 Bio
II. Ability to generate its own food; through:
 Farming
 Aquaculture
 Hydroponics
III. Ability to be kept upright; using:
 A system of ballast tanks (placed at the lowest portions to create proper
counterforce)
 Balancing tanks
 Tentacles (by constantly moving with the rhythm of the tide)
The surface of the submerged skyscraper sustains a green space of which it will provide food
and oxygen, while the lower structure would provide its inhabitants with housings, work spaces,
and areas for recreation.
The bioluminescent tentacles around the floating city, which is multifunctional, serve as a
habitat for the sea faunas. Through the movement of the tentacles, the building will be kept
upright also when the waves are stronger and generate energy at the same time.
Such sustainability strategies aim to ultimately create and provide an oasis with ‘Zero’ negative
impacts to the environment, not only that but also improves on it hence the ‘Plus’.

5.3. Conclusion
The h
O2+ scraper expands the concept of a floating island into a full-fledged underwater
skyscraper that harvests renewable energy and grows its own food. The h
O2+ scraper is
considered as an ideal future city as it utilizes a variety of green technologies. It is a city that
does not consume nature but creates and produces nature.
Among the elements and characteristics found in the city planning of the h
O2+ scraper, there
are some important elements that can be used for the future cities:
I. Green technologies
 Promote sustainable management of resources
 Reduce pollution towards the environment
 Use of renewable energy
II. Urban Agriculture
 Self-sustainable
 Decrease energy and cost used to transport food
III. Ballast Tank
 The ballast facilitates hydrodynamic stability by moving the centre-of-mass low as
possible, placing it beneath the air-filled buoyancy tank.

6.0. The New Elysium
6.1. Reasons of it being on the Water
The change of global climate in recent years had caused the sea level to rise rapidly. According
to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the current rise of sea
level is about 3mm/year worldwide, which is a significantly larger rate than the sea-level rise
averaged over the last several thousand years, yet of which the rate may still be increasing.
The main reason of Elysium being a floating city is to curb such issue. In the case where the
sea level will keep on rising until it floods the city, the best way is to build a city where it can
sustain itself and float at any given volume of water.
Aside from the main and obvious reason, it is also because a floating city is
 Close to the major human need: water
 Able to portray characteristics of an island which allows the citizens to be more
comfortable with the new setting of the city
 Uses lesser materials to build the city

6.2. The Important Characteristics and Elements
A city cannot stand alone without any characteristics or elements to support it. As such, the
city of Elysium contains several characteristics and elements that helped build the city into
what it is, which includes:
I. Hierarchy in City Planning
The buildings in Elysium is arranged according to its role of importance, where the
buildings that portray themselves as of higher importance (i.e. government buildings, city
hall) are arranged in the centre of the city; whereas the buildings that contributes lesser are
placed further away from the central area of the city.
II. Green Roof Technology
Through the application of green roof technologies, rooftops have become the focus of a
steady and quiet revolution. Even the thinnest green roof can efficaciously reverse the urban
heat island effect, provide wildlife habitat, and absorb most rainfall events. Green roofs can
also extend the life of the roof membrane, increase property values, insulate buildings, and
improve urban aesthetics. The installation of green roofs are mainly to create a self-
sustaining city and lower the temperature around the city. As such, most of the buildings in
Elysium will be a green roof-covered building due to obvious reasons.
III. Urban Agriculture
The urban agriculture in Elysium uses the urban vertical farming concept, and also the
generative system for a vegetable growing infrastructure. It uses the omega hydroponic
garden to get 5 times as much food per watt. With limited land space and the population of
the world being expected to increase in the future, the generative system is built upwards
into the sky.
IV. Green Technologies
With its goal being a self-sufficient city, Elysium will be using sustainable energy
generation technologies such as the solar panel and wind turbine to generate energy. With
the use of these green technologies, not only will it reduce pollution towards the
environment, the city will also be in for the long run as the energy generated can be
replenished.
V. Ballast Tank
Elysium will be using the ballast tank as its floating mechanism. Ballast tanks provide the
city with the air they need to float in the water instead of sinking. By emptying and filling
the ballast tanks, the effective surface area of the city can be changed. The more effect
surface area there is, the more buoyant the city will be, allowing it to rise in the water.

VI. Movable City Units
In the city of Elysium, there are two sub units of the city which are movable. The units are
propelled by turbines so they can attach or detach from the main body of the city at will.
VII. Green City
As Elysium is working its way towards a greener city, most of the city grounds are covered
with lots of green, be it ground covers or shrubs.

6.3. Zoning
According to the hierarchy city planning system, the City Centre and Government Buildings
are placed at the heart of the city to allow easy access for the citizens in Elysium.
The Business Area and Commercial Area (with the Commercial Area being spread out by a
bit) being secondary of importance to the city, is placed on the outer ring of the central area.
The Residential Area are not concentrated and are located all over the city with the Services
Area such as police stations, fire stations, and hospitals alongside it to ensure quick respond
and rescue when needed.
The Educational Area and the Religious & Culture Area are placed on both sides of the circle
to ensure that citizens from both ends are able to have easier access to the facilities. The park
located next to the Educational Area serves as a field for students to play and for the schools
to carry out open-air functions and activities.
The Industrial Area and Port & Shipping Area are under the movable subunits of the city. This
is to ensure that they cause minimum pollution towards the main city.
The Technology Research Centre, Agriculture, and Water Treatment Area are place at the most
outer part of the city to ensure that they receive minimum disturbance from the human
population.

6.4. Transportation Network System
6.4.1. LRT
6.4.2. Route System

6.5. Overall Layout of Elysium
6.6. Conclusion
As a city that is built for the people that are escaping and seeking refuge from the aftereffects
of the global warming caused mainly by the humans themselves, Elysium is propelling towards
a more sustainable, self-sufficient, and environmental friendly direction.

7.0. Conclusion
After numerous weeks of researching regarding urban planning, city layout and the city itself,
I have come to a realization that being an urban planner is not an easy task after all, which is
contrary to my old mindset. In fact, it requires many thinking and consideration as one must
have the ability to foresee possible problems ahead.
Through all the research about the cities above, I have learnt that a good urban planner should
always place the people as their first priority. It is the future. It is about the people. At times,
the urban planner should stop thinking about the technology or infrastructure and keep the
people in the center. Aside from that, as our earth is at the peaking point where pollution is
now a major problem, the surrounding green environment should always take into account
during a city planning.
If our future cities can achieve a self-sufficient, and sustainable condition, surely the quality of
life of the human population will be improved as well.

a. Reference Links
1. http://www.ask.com/question/what-makes-a-city-a-city
2. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/city
3. http://designmind.frogdesign.com/articles/envisioning-the-city-of-the-future.html
4. http://www.iftf.org/our-work/global-landscape/human-settlement/the-future-of-cities-
information-and-inclusion/
5. http://periarthur.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/brief-history-of-athens-greece/
6. http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Art/
7. https://www.boundless.com/art-history/ancient-greece/high-classical-period/urban-
planning/
8. http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/about/history.html
9. http://www.asla.org/meetings/awards/awds02/chicagocityhall.html
10. http://commons.bcit.ca/greenroof/faq/why-green-roofs-benefits/
11. http://architecture.mapolismagazin.com/bda-building-design-art-ho2-scraper-malaysia
12. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/concept-water-scraper-brings-
monumental-architecture-open-sea
13. http://blog.geogarage.com/2010/05/water-scraper-self-sufficient-city-at.html
14. http://allgraphical.blogspot.com/2010/11/water-scraper.html
15. http://www.evolo.us/competition/water-scraper-underwater-architecture/
16. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5562372_ballast-tank-works.html
17. http://inhabitat.com/underwater-skyscraper-is-a-self-sufficient-city-at-
sea/waterscraper-ed04/

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