urban planning

The New Paris Skyline?

The skyline of Paris has remained relatively unchanged for the last 18 years but the mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, is seeking to change that and has presented a bold new plan to the city council. It's currently against regulations to build higher than 37 meters (121.4 feet) in the capital and there hasn't been a new skyscraper built in 18 years. But Delanoë believes that new buildings could help ease the city's housing shortage. Even though nearly two-thirds of Parisians are said to be against relaxing the building rules, the mayor said that a public official's responsibility is to act in the best interest of the public rather than just pay attention to polls.

The council has voted in favor of studying the plan and the citizens will be allowed to weigh in at a conference next year. The plans include a 200 metre pyramidal tower next to the Porte de Versailles with a four-star hotel but other planned residential projects are in the 50 meter range. Advocates say this type of architecture is necessary in order for Paris to compete with other "global cities" like London, Tokyo and New York. Critics say that Paris is beautiful as is and that dramatic new architecture would damage the city's famous charm. Check out the potential new Paris in the gallery below.

Gallery: The New Paris Skyline?

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Tags: architecture, city of lights, design, paris, urban planning, UrbanPlanning

The Plans for Oman's Blue City

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

The British architecture firm Foster + Partners has unveiled a new design for yet another planned city in the Middle East. Their latest, Al Madina Al Zarqa, the Blue City, will be a new coastal city near Muscat in Oman. Al Madina Al Zarqa, the Blue City, will be home to 200,000 people. The Blue City is the largest development in Oman and is part of Oman's drive to attract foreign investment to develop its tourism potential and economic growth.

The Blue City takes it is inspiration from traditional Omani architecture, combining local styles with a look that will appeal to potential tourists. The city will be formed of clustered communities with schools, a university, stadia, golf facilities, a marina, hotels, a concert hall, shops and souks with the waterfront developed as a luxury resort. Forster + Partners strives to make sustainable projects and this one will have natural ventilation and careful orientation to minimize direct sunlight and maximize ventilation.

[via Building Design]

Gallery: Oman's Blue City

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Tags: architecture, foster and partners, middle east, muscat, oman, the blue city, urban planning

Masdar, Plans For A Carbon-Neutral City

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The science-fiction-style picture above depicts what British architecture firm Foster + Partners sees as the future of urban living. The walled city of Masdar in Abu Dhabi will be the world's first zero-carbon and zero-waste city in the world. This car-free zone is being driven by Abu Dhabi's Future Energy Company and will be home to the company's headquarters and a new university. The project was unveiled at the Cityscape conference in Abu Dhabi. The land around the city will be home to wind and photovoltaic farms as well as research fields and plantations so that the city is completely self-sustaining. The development is set to open in late 2009.

[via Building]

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Tags: abu dhabi, carbon neutral, eco-friendly, emission free, green, masdar, urban planning