By 2050, around 70% of humanity will live in urban environments, i.e. 2.5 billion people They will move to cities. This means a population movement that compacts and grows vertically, rather than expanding and growing horizontally. living spaces They will be smaller and there will be less space. For the first time in the history of our planet, human-designed structures, including roads, bridges, buildings, etc., outweigh the entire biomass of the Earth.

Therefore, groups of experts around the world are redesigning the cities of the future. Many of them are in the process of being transformed into existing cities. Other projects are new and are based on the ground up. In this report, we take you on a trip around the world to discover eight projects that reimagine the cities of the future. They all have one thing in common: sustainability through architecture biophilic, zero-emission energy self-consumption and healthy spaces that help subjects interact and make their lives easier. Of course, technology and artificial intelligence will be present in this new era of postmodern society. 

Medellín, the city of the future that already exists

Medellín has been recognized as the “city of the future” in Latin America for its successful urban transformation, which focuses on sustainability, technological innovation and a Public Management citizen-oriented. The city projects itself as a leader in the fourth industrial revolution, and seeks to become a Latin American benchmark for artificial intelligence and an eco-city through green infrastructure and sustainable mobility projects.

The Metro and Metrocable, the escalators in Comuna 13 and the development of the Ruta N innovation district are examples of how technology is applied to social inclusion and improving mobility in marginalized areas. 

This combination of stable economy, low cost of living, fast internet and stunning scenery is attracting an increasing number of digital nomads and has become famous for its thriving tech and startup scene.

Medellín, the second largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, began its program “green corridors” in 2016 due to high air pollution and increasing heat.

Composed of more than 30 green corridors, the system connects green roads, vertical gardens, streams, parks and hills. By 2021, they had been planted 2.5 million plants and 880.000 trees throughout the city. In addition to reducing the heat by up to 3 degrees Celsius, experts say it has helped improve air quality and brought wildlife back to the city.

Stefano Boeri Architetti is the biophilic architecture studio behind the project Smart Forest City, the first city forestry and intelligent which would be integrated into the Cancun area (Mexico). The city is conceived as a fully circular economy, self-sufficient in food and energy, surrounded by a ring of solar panels and agricultural fields which will be watered by the city's own wastewater.

The project covers 557 hectares, with the capacity to accommodate about 130.000 inhabitants About 400 hectares will be green spaces with 7.500.000 plants (from 400 different species carefully chosen by Laura Gatti, botanist and landscaper) of which 260.000 will be trees.

Thus, the proportion of trees per inhabitant would be 2,3, and the rest would be shrubs and plants, which will be able to absorb 116,000 tons of carbon dioxide. All vegetation will be distributed in public parks, gardens, roofs, and green facades, which will help create a balance with the built footprint.

Regarding mobility, vital in a tourist area like Cancun, an articulated transport system is proposed that allows residents and visitors to leave their vehicles on the outskirts of the city and use only public transport systems. electric and semi-automatic mobility, managing to reduce emissions within the city to almost zero.

El water It is considered a key element of the project. The wastewater produced in the city will be recycled and used for irrigation and agriculture. At the entrance there will be a large reservoir with a desalination tower, from where the water will be distributed through different channels to the city and, if necessary, to the belt of agricultural fields.

Due to its excellent quality of life and beautiful landscapes, Lisbon has become the preferred destination for digital nomads, thanks to tax incentives and a favorable environment for remote workers and entrepreneurs.

Recognized as “city of the future” by different entities and publications, its designation is based on its dynamism as a center for digital entrepreneurship, the modernization of the Parque das Nações and the development of innovative and sustainable projects that integrate technology and citizen well-being, as recently highlighted by the European Capital of Innovation 2024. 

The Parque das Nações, built for Expo '98, is an example of modern architecture and urban regeneration, housing futuristic buildings, the Lisbon Oceanarium, and the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology). 

The city has been included in the list of “21 cities of the future” by the consulting firm Cognizant and was named Europe's Best City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards. 

The city combines tradition With a focus on innovation, quality of life, and well-being, it offers a dynamic and connected environment, making it an attractive destination to live and work. 

Paris aspires to become the most sustainable city in Europe by 2030. Plans include transforming the Champs-Élysées into an "extraordinary garden," renaturalizing the banks of the Seine, and much more.

The “Paris Smart City 2050” project seeks to transform the city into a more sustainable and green urban center. This ambitious project includes the creation of energy-positive skyscrapers, a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the pedestrianization of 500 streets to create more green spaces and people-centered public spaces. Furthermore, the goal is to significantly increase its green areas, with the aim of planting more than 170.000 trees in the next years. 

The biophilic architect  Vincent Callebaut  It is designed 8 prototypes of ecological towers, each with a different function, which integrate nature into the urban environment and generate their own energy. Solar and hydrodynamic towers, which generate renewable energy on the roof; 23-kilometer ecological corridor In the center of Paris, with community gardens; a vertical public park, built on several floors and dominated by gardens; biodynamic buildings made with bamboo mesh; a vertical urban farm, photosensitive buildings, amphibious bridges... are some of the surprising innovations with which this project aims to transform Paris into a “large connected ecosystem”, making the city a healthier and more pleasant place to live and work. 

New Administrative Capital of Egypt. New Cairo

The New Administrative Capital is a mega urban development project promoted by the Egyptian government, whose official objective is to move the administrative capital to a new location in the middle of the desert located about 45 kilometers east of the current capital, Cairo. The new capital will have capacity for about 7 million inhabitants,which is intended to relieve congestion in the former capital, one of the most populated in the world.

La Grand Central Avenue It will be the true axis of New Cairo, a vast green corridor which follows the course of an artificial river, with islands and a multitude of intersecting paths. On the sides, the main headquarters of ministries and government buildings will be located, such as the Parliament, the Senate, the Presidential palace and the Ministry of Defence, the main headquarters of Egypt's military and intelligence.

In addition to many other official buildings, there will be plenty of private promotion, such as the Iconic Tower, the tallest building in Africa at almost 400 meters high, mosques, a Coptic cathedral, a thousand-meter obelisk, hotels, luxury residences, sports facilities, etc.

The works of this pharaonic city, Inspired by Dubai, has been underway for years, not without some controversy. The project has drawn strong criticism as it promotes Social inequality, By creating a city for the rich and officials, and leaving old Cairo mired in poverty, the economic viability and the exorbitant expenditure of €60 billion in an indebted and impoverished country have also been questioned.

BiodiverCity in Malaysia is a master plan to create a sustainable global destination on the south coast of Penang Island, developed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group together with Hijjas and Ramboll. The project focuses on the construction of three artificial islandsto create an environment where culture, ecology, and economy coexist. Each island is shaped like a water lily and will be composed of mixed-use districts, 4,6 km of public beaches, 242 hectares of parks and a 25 km long promenade.

Its main features include the integration of the biodiversity, the development of an autonomous public transport network and the creation of large public spaces, such as beaches and parks. The project seeks to create a ecosystem integrated urban, combining nature with urban life. 

It will include a network of autonomous public transport by water, air and land to create a car-free environment, prioritizing the mobility of pedestrians and cyclists. “Penang2030” It is a state initiative, with a focus on economic growth, quality of life and environmental sustainability. 

“The Line” is a futuristic linear city megaproject that Saudi Arabia is building within the Neom region. Designed to have 170 kilometers long, 500 meters high and 200 meters wide, This city will be free of cars and roads, and will operate with 100% renewable energy, Seeking to become a model of urban sustainability. It is part of the Saudi initiative “Vision 2030” to diversify its economy. 

The city will be built as two parallel high-rise skyscrapers, maximizing the use of space. It is planned to be a city without cars or roads, as a high-speed train that will cover the city in just 20 minutes. Essential services are also expected to be within walking distance. For this reason, it will be a zero-carbon city, using 0% renewable energy and self-sufficient resources. 

In this big city, which can accommodate up to 9 million people, There will be housing, offices, shops and green areas, all integrated into the two main walls. 

The project has generated skepticism Due to its scale and complexity, questions have been raised about its long-term economic viability. Although sustainability is sought, large-scale construction in the desert poses environmental challenges, and there are also questions about the impact on local cultures and lifestyles. 

This project is accompanied by other major infrastructure that will be carried out in the region: Oxagona whirlpool bath, industrial city, strategically located on the coast of the Red Sea, close to global shipping routes. The city will incorporate robotics, automation, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, unlike traditional centers that modernize obsolete infrastructure.

This large research and university training center will occupy approximately 460 hectares and will be developed to include research institutes, a university, offices, retail stores and housing very close to each other. The starting point will be the train station, Futian Station, which, in the first phase of construction, will be redesigned and developed to form the urban center.

Futurcity is 50 kilometers from the city of Chengdu in southwest China and just one stop from the new Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. This proximity to the airport makes the area ideally located for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), an urban development concept in which all urban functions are concentrated around a central public transport hub. This translates into short distances between housing, leisure, study, and work. This high-density development corresponds to the "living university" concept used by China to promote academic education and its high-tech industry.

Futian Station will be the core of this future high-tech city. In the first phase of construction, the existing train station will be expanded and equipped with new roofs featuring umbrella-shaped structures. These umbrellas provide shelter for a terraced landscape that includes leisure facilities, a hotel, retail outlets, and offices.

At the same time, the railway station is the intersection and starting point of two axes on which the most important functions of the city of the future converge, one being the educational axis with the research and teaching buildings. The other is the axis of the green landscape, A wide green strip that follows the topography and extends into the L-shaped development area. This green core includes bridges, plazas, and viewing points, giving priority to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Motorized traffic will cross the green axis primarily underground.