Better Cities of the Future Elysiumfnbe0214annaneo.weebly.com/.../fp_-_part_a_-_report_template.pdf · ENBE | Final Project | Part A – Report | The Future City Representation Better

ENBE | Final Project | Part A – Report | The Future City Representation

Better Cities of the Future

Elysium !Nor Syarianna Neo | 0318236

FNBE FEB 2014 | Taylor’s University !

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Nor Syarianna Neo| 0318236 | Ms. Ida| FNBE Feb 2014 | Taylor’s University ! 1


Content: !

1. Introduction

2. A City & Investigation on Better City Guidelines and Issues

3. Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient and old cities

4. Investigation & Data Collection: The present city/cities

5. Investigation & Data Collection: The future city/cities

6. The New “X” City : Elysium

7. The Conclusion

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1.Introduction: For my final ENBE project, we as the mayor of the X city have to proposed a new X city. The people in the the X city require a new city because it is no longer liveable. As a mayor , we need to propose a new layout for the X city within the 5 option , which is :

• underground city

• underwater city

• floating on water city

• city in the air

• city on land next to river or sea

!The city layout must fit 150,000-300,000 Malaysian people and the city layout must be within 20 kilometre square - 40 kilometre square. Besides that , we have to include this in the city planning:

• the geometric shape, form, pattern, hierarchy, system and structure of the city

• the main focus of the city

• the zoning of the city

• the people, population, social issues, activities, food distribution, culture and religion

• transportation and networking

• infrastructure, utility,services and amenities

• sustainable initiative and climate changes consideration and resilience

• other services

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!2.The City 2.1 What is a city?

• A city is a relatively large and permanent human settlement.

• Cities generally have complex systems for sanitation,utilities,land usage,housing and transportation.

• The concentration of development greatly facilitates interaction between people and business, benefiting both parties in the process.

2.2 What makes a good city?

Urban Design Principle-

1.Density,Diversity and Mix (Cities and neighbourhoods will need to embrace density,diversity and mix of users,building types, and public spaces.)

2.Pedestrians First (Resilient cities and neighbourhoods will prioritize walking as the preferred mode of travel,and as a defining component of a healthy quality life.)

3.Transit Supportive

4.Place Making ( Conserving,enhancing,and creating strong,vibrantplaces, which are significant component of the neighbourhood’s structure andof the community’s identity.)

5.Complete communities

6.Integrated natural systems

7.Integrated technical and industrial systems.

8.Local Sources (Grow and produce the resources they need in close proximity)

9.Engaged communities

10.Redundant and durable life safety and critical infrastructure systems.

11.Resilient operations (Develop building types and urban forms with reduced carbon and environmental footprints.)

!Building Design Principle-

1. Use low carbon-input materials and systems

2. Design and plan buildings for low external energy inputs for ongoing building operations

3. Design buildings for maximum day-lighting

4. Design ‘generic buildings’ for future flexibility of use

5. Design for durability and robustness



6. Design for use of local materials and products

7. Design and plan for low energy input constructability

8. Design for use of building systems that can be serviced and maintained with local materials,parts and labor !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!Nor Syarianna Neo| 0318236 | Ms. Ida| FNBE Feb 2014 | Taylor’s University

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3.Investigation & Data Collection: Ancient City-Tenochtitlan

3.1 Overview of the city

!Tenochtitlán was an Aztec city that flourished between A.D. 1325 and 1521. Located in

present day Mexico City, Tenochtitlán was an overwhelming, monumental city that was built

on top of small islands and marsh lands. Built largely upon land reclaimed from Lake

Texcoco, the city was laid out on a grid, inspired by the still visible ruins of the ancient city

of Teotihuacan of a thousand years earlier

It was the third largest city in the world, after Constantinople and Paris, housing 200,000

inhabitants at its height. Tenochtitlán was the city where the most impressive and

monumental Aztec architecture was to be found. Built on an island on Lake Texcoco, it had

a system of canals and causeways that supplied the hundreds of thousands of people who

lived there.

After the Spanish conquest, the city was looted, torn down, and its materials were used to

build present day Mexico City. From archaeological and various historical documents, such

as Spanish Chronicles and codices written by friars, Indians and other historians, the extent

and significance of the Aztec architecture can be deciphered.


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http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot/hd_teot.htm


3.2 Significance details of the city

The Aztecs were well organized and had strong infrastructures and systems that mobilized

people and material resources in order to build large edifices that met the needs of their

population.

Tenochtitlán, the capital city, symbolized Aztec power. Aztec architecture, being similar to

that of other Mesoamerican cultures, possessed an innate sense of order and symmetry.

Geometric designs and sweeping lines were representations of religious tenets and the

power of the state.

In addition, the Aztecs used bas-reliefs, walls, plazas, and platforms, as media to represent

their gods and ideals. During various epochs of their empire, the Aztecs added new

techniques and materials to their structures. Examples of Aztec monumentality and

grandeur are seen at the Great Temple, where 8,000 people could fit into its plaza, and the

market of Tlatelolco that housed 20,000 people on market days.

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3.2.1. Layout of the city

The general layout was formally planned around a center. At the heart of the city, there was rectangular public plaza with civic and religious buildings. Beyond it were markets, dwellings, schools etc. public area.

The city was divided into four zones orcampan, each campan was then divided on 20 districts (calpullis, Nahuatl calpōlli), and each calpulli, or 'big house', was crossed by streets or tlaxilcalli.

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!3.2.2 Aqueducts and Dams

The major cities of Tenochtitlán were erected on tiny marshy islands along Lake Tetzcoco.

Those swampy islands had a limited supply of drinking water, so an aqueduct was built to

carry fresh water over the lake from springs at Chapultepec on the mainland .The Aztecs

also created long canals for irrigation of the fields, and in the times of the king Motecuzoma

I, the Tezcocan king Netzahuacoyotl built a dyke or dam that protected Tenochtitlán from

floods that were very destructive during heavy rainy seasons. These sophisticated hydraulic

works were some of the most impressive accomplishments of Aztec technology. city was

joined up by 3 main causeways and a double aqueduct that brought fresh water from

Chapultepec. Surrounding the raised causeways were artificial floating gardens with

network of canal waterways that crossed each other at right angles, dividing the city into 4

quadrants.


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4 Large Quarters

Smaller !Neighbourhood

Each own central

plaza,shrine

City is divided into four large quarters symbolizing the 4 cardinal directions with a ceremonial center.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calpulli

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahuatl


!3.2.3 Marketplace and Public Places

Each calpulli (from Classical Nahuatl calpōlli, Nahuatl pronunciation: [kaɬˈpoːlːi], meaning

"large house") had its own tiyanquiztli (marketplace) In the center of the city were the

public buildings, temples and prostis. Inside a walled square, 300 meters to a side, was the

ceremonial center. There were about 45 public buildings including: the Templo Mayor,

which dedicated to the Aztec patron deity Huitzilopochtli and the Rain God Tlaloc, the

temple of Quetzalcoatl, the tlachtli (ball game court) with the tzompantli or rack of skulls,

the Sun Temple, which was dedicated to Tonatiuh, the Eagle's House, which was associated

with warriors and the ancient power of rulers, the platforms for the gladiatorial sacrifice, and

some minor temples. Outside was the palace of Moctezuma with 100 rooms, each one with

its own bath, for the lords and ambassadors of allies and conquered people. Also located

nearby was the cuicalli or house of the songs, and the calmecac.The city had a great

symmetry. All constructions had to be approved by the calmimilocatl, a functionary in

charge of the city planning.

!3.2.4 Causeways and Networking

The city was joined by three main causeways and a double aqueduct that brought fresh

water from Chapultepec because the lake was salty. To the north lay the road to Tepeyacac

(Tepeyac), to the south lay Itztapalapa and Coyoacan, and to the west lay the road to

Tlacopan (Tacuba) and Chapultepec. In addition, there was a network of canals that crossed

each other at right angles, dividing the city into four quadrants, plus the center that was the

sacred precinct (symbolizing the Mesoamerican cosmogram of the four cardinal directions

and the center). Each quadrant was further subdivided into the four directions, with a center

and its own ceremonial precinct. The city followed the ancient city of Teotihuacán's urban

grid-plan system. The pyramids and plazas were a metaphor for the surrounding

mountainous volcanic shapes and the plateau of the lake.

Tenochtitlán had three types of streets: dirt roads for walking, water canals that required a

canoe, and dirt-water streets which could be walked or canoed. Because the city was on

top of a lake, many streets intersected with deep water canals flanked by bridges made of

wood beams.

!3.2.5 Chinampas: Floating Gardens

The swamps and gardens were on the outskirts of the city. Chinampas, known as “floating

gardens” were rectangular patches of earth on the swamp used to cultivated food and to

build houses. They were constructed on the swampy lakebed by staking out long


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templo_Mayor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame#Aztec

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzompantli

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calmecac


rectangular enclosures of about 2.5m wide and 30m long. Stakes were woven together to

form fences which would be covered with decaying vegetation and mud. Another plot

would be constructed parallel to the first. The water in between each plot formed a canal.

This developed long rectangular chinampa patterns. Chinampas were stabilized by planting

slender willows around their perimeter. The willows’ dense roots anchored the retaining

walls. In order to irrigate the chinampas, a sophisticated drainage system of dams, sluice

gates, and canals were installed. The chinampas allowed the Aztecs to have productive

planting areas.

!3.3 Building techniques

The building construction mainly focuses on the solidity of buildings due to the ever sinking

subsoil. Tezontle, a strong, light volcanic stone was extensively used as the main building

materials as it is lightweight yet sturdy enough. To prevent sinking,two building techniques

were implemented:

1. Use platforms as foundations

2. Drive wooden piles into the earth in close-packed formations. !!!!!!



4.Investigation & Data Collection:

Present City: Ijburg 4.1 Overview of the city

The development of Ijburg by Amsterdam, Holland, is based on the struggle to provide new urban development amidst a swathe of conflicting conditions; the demand for new housing close to Amsterdam city centre, the lack of available land to build on, and the necessity to retain water surface area and flood water volume in Lake Ijssel.

Ijburg is made up of eight islands, each with its own character. Forming part of phase 1, Haveneiland and Rieteiland are the most urban, with high density buildings, quayside promenades and facades dropping directly to the water's surface. In contrast, Buiteneiland and Middeneiland in Ijburg II take on a more loose-fit, organic feel, with softer waterside gardens leading to more gradual tapered coastlines.


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4.2 Significant features of the city At this moment IJburg has 20,000 inhabitants. One of the highlights of Ijburg is the small

Steigereiland, in English Pier-island. The urban design scheme is based on the ‘collage city

concept’. The island consists of 8 neighborhoods, each of which has its own individual

character. This island is considered as the ‘maternity’ of modern architecture. In Ijburg, we

could find among other things free lots with surprising and colorful architecture and a water

neighborhood with floating dwellings and pile dwellings. !4.2.1 Mixed aesthetics, mixed occupancy The island of Steigereiland combines high density, high rise apartments, medium density

four-storey townhouses, two-storey terraces and houseboats. There are also a number of

self commissioned dwellings. Each urban block is held by a design framework but within

this, there is a high degree of variation with regards to façade arrangement and the choice

of colours and materials used.

4.2.2 Floating houses Due to a lack of available land next to Amsterdam city and in response to future flood risks

from rising water levels, Ijburg is becoming a fertile test-bed for floating homes. These are

constructed on concrete bases and are prefabricated which allows for customized homes.

Houseboats can change and adapt to future conditions since they plug on to the mains

supply of water, heat, and electricity via floating jetties but can always be detached, moved

and plugged on elsewhere.



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5.Investigation & Data Collection: Future City: Green Float City

5.1 Overview of the city

Green Float city is a future

environmental island with a

botanical future city concept

on the equatorial pacific

proposed by Shimizu Japan

Corporation.

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Green Innovation !!Botanical !

City

Float !Innovation !!Floating !

City

The ‘GREEN FLOAT’ concept embodies 2 areas of innovation:


The concept of the Green Float City is a city that grows just like a lily floating on the water,

designed meticulously on the equatorial region where sunlight is plentiful yet the impact of

typhoons is minimal.

5.2 Significant features of the city

The Environmental Island Green Float has a diameter of 3,000m and floats on the ocean

like a flower petal. It is shaped like an inverted cone to maximize ground surface exposure

to sunlight.It consists of a vertical City in the Sky, a village-scale community with a diameter

of 1,000m and green and aquatic open spaces rich in sunlight.

5.2.1 Layout of the city

1. City in the sky (30 floors,700m high, 200ha) An area rising 700-1,000m above the equator. Contains residential area. Here you find an energy-conserving compact city that is pleasant and peaceful, with no strong winds and a temperature of about 26-28°C year-round. !2. Terrestrial forest A Estuarine zone where seawater mix with freshwater. It is Form as ecologically rich green space. !3.Marine forest Formed of dense marine vegetation in a rich biodiverse lagoon.



4.Marine city In the oceanfront area, the low-rise townhouses are bases for living. green space. An estimation of 10,000 inhabitants could be contained in this residential zone. !5.Plant factory With leading-edge biotechnology. Acts as a production facility to support the inhabitants. Aimed at 100% food self-sufficiency. !6.Ship terminal !7. Office tower New business models are born here. Contains office area, commercial stores and research facilities. Future businesses that fuses nature and technology together. !

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5.2.2 City Planning

Green life zoning-

Apart from the essential residential area, office area, commercial area, research area, the

city is also divided into six different green life zoning area to promote a more healthier

lifestyle:

1. Strolling and jogging zone

2. Shop and restaurant zone

3. Agritourism Zone

4. Aquatic leisure zone

5. Culture and heritage zone

!!!Flexibility to grow-

Concept: Human-scale distances and configurations, an urban village that grows like a

floating on the water. The green float tower is a compact village with a walkable radius of

1km, which is also defined here as a cell (district). Cells are then added to form modules

(cities) which join to form units (countries).

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5.2.3 The Technology behind Green Float City

!A. CO2 Reduction: Going Beyond CO2 Reduction to Carbon Negative- !


Concept: To create a city that absorbs CO2 like a plant, we will employ environmental technologies to achieve a carbon negative system.


1.Switch to a Compact City and Conversion of Industrial Structure (CO2 Reduction: About

40%).

Effort will be done to reduce CO2 through more efficient transportation and distribution

resulting from the shift to a compact city.

2.Energy Conservation (CO2 Reduction: About 30%)

At 1,000m above the equator, the temperature is around a comfortable 26°C. In

addition,the newest next-generation technologies will be adopted to eliminate fossil fuel

use and increase thermal insulation and facility efficiency.

3. Power Generation Using Natural Energy (CO2 Reduction: About 30%)

A range of natural energy sources including space solar power satellites, ocean thermal

energy conversion, waves, wind and solar power will be fully employed.

4. CO2 Recovery and Ocean Sequestration (CO2 Reduction: About 30%)

The CO2 absorption capacity of the ocean is thought to be orders of magnitude greater

than terrestrial forests. Large-scale CO2 reduction and fixation can be expected following a

global agreement.

B. Preserving Nature: A Bustling Botanical City Where People Live in a Harmonious Balance with Nature-

1.Terrestrial Forest

Biodiversity through a mixture of forest and farmland . A space for a thriving diversity of life

will be created through a mixture of forest, fields, waterways, reservoirs and grasslands. In

addition,importance on human contact with Nature will be placed including making places

where people can experience agriculture.

2. Marine Forest

Biodiversity in coastal waters. Around the coastal circumference shallows will be created

while maintaining harmony with natural ecosystems. Together with water purification and

enhancing the biodiversity of the shallows, importance on the relationship is placed

between natural ecosystems and human activities such as shellfish and algae harvesting.

!!!!C. Futuristic recycling:



!Garbage and CO2 produced in daily living are used to cultivate food and achieve food self-

sufficiency. Total recycling includes the ability to use wastepaper, daily garbage and scrap

wood as an energy source.

D. Disaster and Evacuation Features

Comprehensive urban disaster prevention and a business continuity plan (BCP) will be

employed to respond to potential natural and urban disasters. Measures will include the

adoption of predictive active control functions for disaster prevention based on weather

forecasting and information from wind and wave sensors.

1.Disaster and Evacuation Measures

Each 100m of height is segmented as an individual

unit for disaster prevention purposes. This

prevents damage from spreading to other units

and keeps fire from spreading. In addition, each

unit contains an evacuation area to provide

temporary shelter.


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2. Strong Wind Countermeasures

As a countermeasure in the unlikely case of strong winds, active control vibration dampers

will decrease the effects by using sensors currently employed in airports to measure the

force of the wind and estimate its influence on buildings.

3. Wave Countermeasures

Very strong elastic membranes are attached to the

bottom of the lagoons around the outer

circumference, with the shallows above the

membranes around 10m higher than sea level. The

water pressure difference limits the movement of

the membranes, thus buffering the force of open

sea waves. In addition, 20-30m high seawalls are

constructed to handle a worst-case scenario.

4. Lightning Countermeasures

In addition to lightning rods around the circumference of the tower top, because the

structure is very tall, mesh lightning conductors will be placed on the exterior walls as a

countermeasure against lightning strikes on the side walls.

E. Environmental-friendly Structural Materials

The Environmental Island's structural materials are

magnesium alloys whose primary raw material is

sea water. Because magnesium is found not only in

ore but also in sea water, if it is smeltable then

there is no danger of depletion. Sea water is

composed of about 0.13% dissolved magnesium by weight, so one ton of magnesium can

be extracted from 770 tons of sea water. Because its specific gravity is a quarter that of

steel, magnesium has a superior specific strength. In addition, it has gained attention as an

environmentally friendly material even compared to other lightweight structural materials

such as fiber-reinforced plastic(FRP) because it can be melted down and recycled.

F. Tower Structural Planning and Construction

The ultra-high-rise tower is composed of three structural tubes. Residences and the plant

factory are located between the outer and middle tubes, and equipment for the vertical

circulation, such as elevators, in the inner tube. The residences in the outer circumference of

the City in the Sky form a projecting megaterrace linked to the central core by bridges.


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G. Construction of an Artificial Offshore Ground Structure (Bonded Honeycomb Structure)

The ground base of the city is a honeycomb structure which incorporates hexagonal cells.

Widely used in construction and leading-edge aerospace fields, this structure is more than

90% air, making it both strong and lightweight. An artificial offshore ground structure will be

constructed by linking these honeycombs.

STEP 1

Individual honeycombs are produced

on special wave-resistant barges

equipped with concrete plants.

Approximately 20m wide, 50m tall and

weighing from 5,000 to 7,000 tons,

they are turned on end and set afloat

by equipment at the edges of the

barges.

STEP 2

Water is injected into the honeycomb

units, to achieve a balanced position.

Units are bonded into square groups

with other honeycombs with rubber

gaskets on bonding surfaces, using

water pressure to join them together

by forcing the interstitial water out. In

addition, high-strength concrete and

studs are used as secondary bonding to

achieve close coupling.

STEP 3

Once the 50m high floating

substructure is coupled and

expanded to create an artificial

ground structure, construction work

on the ground will begin.

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!! !!!!!!!!-THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OFFSHORE GROUND STRUCTURE,

!H. Ultra-High-Rise Marine Construction ("Smart" System Float-Over Deck) !The ultra-high-rise tower will

be built with "Smart" system

float-over deck marine

construction, employing the

unique properties of marine construction. The building is not

erected above the surface. Construction of the framework is

conducted above sea level, but as the structure is completed it



is temporarily submerged. Once the framework is assembled, it is lifted in one movement

using the buoyancy of sea water. Rather than moving people and equipment to the upper

levels, construction at the surface platforms can be constantly performed, thus ensuring

safe, efficient construction.

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!!!5.3 Conclusion about the city

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6. The New “X-City”: Elysium 6.1 Overview of the city

Elysium is a decentralized, self-sustaining city unit, which offers the transition of men from land to sea, so that the land could be used for food production and the Earth could start its process of self-regeneration from the negative human impact. It functions independently as a city-unit, as well as a cluster of units, which share information, energy, and goods.

Each city-unit is placed on the intersection of perpendicular traffic lanes, which form the grid that serves as a connection between cities and land. through a network of ultra fast

trains.



!As seen in the photo, Elysium, represented by the red dot is a city that is composed of

multiple city units in the form of a grid. Each city units is connected to each other by the

high-speed train lanes. Within each square grid, there is also a hydrophobic farm that

supports each city’s agriculture purposes. The reason why the city is in the form of grid is

that each city units may detach themselves from each other in cases of emergency. As the

weather is much unpredictable, living offshore in the ocean has it dangers. For example, a

monstrous storm or tide may present themselves in future time. So to provide a self-

defence mechanism to the city, Each city units is connected in the form of grid with

detachable train lanes. Apart from defence purposes, the grid lane also serves as a energy

conservation mechanism, as the energy between each city units are transferable and thus

conservable.

As shown in the second photo, Elysium also takes maximum advantage of its offshore

location to produce renewable energy by two main systems, which is the wind energy and

also the water stream energy . It consists of two structures that can rotate independently to

utilize the two specific energy.



6.2 Significant details about the city

6.2.1 Layout of the city

Each Elysium unit is a vertical building that composes of a upper and lower part.

!The most upper part of the building is the communication antenna that is used for

communication purposes. Beside the antenna, is an airplane landing dock. Alongside the

upper tower, there are wind turbines that utlilzes the wind energy and in turn generate

energy for conservation. Below it is a row of fresh water storage that conserve and reuses

rainwater. Alongside it is the elevator that connects each of the 60 floors in the upper tower,

which contains residential units,office units, technical labs etc. While the lower part of the

building contains community centre, public library, religious centre,laboratories as well as

the administrative office. At the side of the building are the connected train lanes.



6.2.3 Structure of the Elysium unit

!6.2.4 Technology of the Elysium unit



!6.2.5 Transportation


The figure above shows the generation of energy by utilising the wind energy and

water stream energy. In addition, the utilisation of seawater is also displayed hin the

figure. When the winde current blows across the Elysium building, the wind turbines

located alongside the building will starts to turn and in turn generates energy for

conservation. Same theory goes to the water turbines on the lower part of the

Elysium. When there is excessive energy in one particular Elysium unit, it will be

transferred into the next or any Elysium unit that is lacking energy. Apart from that,

the Elysium unit has also one important feature where the seawater is sucked into the

lower plant and is processed through the desalination plant which becomes fresh

water. The fresh water is then transported to the upper tower for human usage while

the waste water is transported through the waste water treatment center and is used

for irrigation purposes.

Generated energy is continuously shared

between the buildings and cities connected by

the transportation grid,

Excess energy can be stored in each building

and can be used as energy source whenever

and wherever necessary throughout the

network system.


6.2.6 Hydrophonic Farming

Within each Elysium grid square, there is a hydrophobic farm that supports each city unit’s

agriculture necessity. The two main features of the hydrophobic farm are biofuel production

and food production through High Density Vertical Bioreactor System and High Density

Vertical Growth System. The highlight of the structure of the hydrophobic farm is that at the

top of the structure is a few rows of ‘Fog catcher’. This mechanic structure captures the

water fog and also the rainwater for re-use purposes while sunlight is captured by the algae

tube to be produced as biodiesel. These two features are important as it provides the

citizens valuable vegetation and energy sources.


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The structure and the movement mechanism of the fog catcher.

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6.3 Conclusion of the city

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7. Conclusion

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Documents

Better Cities of the Future Elysiumfnbe0214annaneo.weebly.com/.../fp_-_part_a_-_report_template.pdf · ENBE | Final Project | Part A – Report | The Future City Representation Better