Social ecology professor Alan Marshall and several of his students from around the world have tried to portray what cities might look like if they successfully dealt with the environmental challenges of the next century.
The year is 2121. Under the stilt houses in Phnom Penh are urban farms irrigated by the Mekong River. After the car ban in Athens, smog disappeared, and in Tokyo, people live in houses that screen radioactive radiation. In Greenville, South Carolina, USA, buildings have no central communications: everything is powered by solar energy, and rainwater enters the house through a filter on the roof (picture above).
This is how Alan Marshall, professor of social ecology at Mahidol University, Thailand, represents the cities of the future. Marshall and several of his students from different countries tried to portray what cities might look like, successfully coping with the environmental problems of the next century. From the received drawings, Marshall compiled the book "Ecotopia 2121" (the publication is dedicated to the 500th anniversary of "Utopia" by Thomas More).
Filled with hydrogen, the balloons prevent Singapore from sinking into the sea, which has risen substantially. Illustrations: Alan Marshall.
Alan Marshall's Ecotopia project was prompted by the earthquakes that plague his hometown of Wellington, New Zealand. The scientist wondered what would happen if people moved from skyscrapers to squat houses, similar to the dwellings of hobbits. “By invoking imagination, we force people to think differently,” says Marshall. Its urban landscapes combine a rural, sustainable approach with futuristic design.
This futuristic city - Accra, the capital of Ghana, suffering from devastating floods. In the nearby forests, people have built tree huts that are not threatened by floods. Illustrations: Alan Marshall.
Over the years, Marshall has gained confidence that people can prevent the worst. Nevertheless, his next project, Cities-Frankenstein, is devoted to the darkest scenarios. "If we don't change, this will happen to our cities - they will become impossible to live in," says Marshall, adding, "It's a terrible prospect, but it can still be avoided."
Nina Stroklik
Promotional video: