Masdar Initiative

[Whoaccio]

Out of all the developments currently going on in the UAE, I think the Masdar Initiative is probably the one which interests me the most. In a nutshell, it is billing itself as "the world's first 100% carbon neutral city."

To quote the Foster & Partners website:

The first project as a result of the Masdar Initiative is a new 6 million square meter sustainable development that uses the traditional planning principals of a walled city, together with existing technologies, to achieve a carbon neutral and zero waste community. Masterplanned by Foster + Partners, the initiative has been driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, and will be a centre for the development of new ideas for energy production. Masdar responds to the urban identity of Abu Dhabi while offering a sustainable urban blueprint for the future. Launched at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2007, it is an ambitious project that will attract the highest levels of international expertise and commerce, providing a mixed-use, high-density city. The exciting programme includes a new university, the Headquarters for Abu Dhabi’s Future Energy Company, special economic zones and an Innovation Center.

The principle of the Masdar development is a dense walled city to be constructed in an energy efficient two-stage phasing that relies on the creation of a large photovoltaic power plant, which later becomes the site for the city’s second phase, allowing for urban growth yet avoiding low density sprawl. Strategically located for Abu Dhabi’s principal transport infrastructure, Masdar will be linked to surrounding communities, as well as the centre of Abu Dhabi and the international airport, by a network of existing road and new rail and public transport routes.

Rooted in a carbon neutral ambition, the city itself is car free. With a maximum distance of 200m to the nearest transport link and amenities, the compact network of streets encourages walking and is complemented by a personalised rapid transport system. The shaded walkways and narrow streets will create a pedestrian-friendly environment in the context of Abu Dhabi’s extreme climate. It also articulates the tightly planned, compact nature of traditional walled cities. With expansion carefully planned, the surrounding land will contain wind, photovoltaic farms, research fields and plantations, so that the city will be entirely self-sustaining.

I am interested in the project primarily from a more urbanistic point of view. I am skeptical of "carbon neutral" claims, especially coming from a place like Abu Dhabi. It is likely just a marketing gimmick which will be used to suck capital from Europe. In any case, I do think the project is interesting a.) in it's scope and b.) in it's embrace of more traditional mid-rise forms. To the later, most developments I have seen in the UAE thus far are firmly in the CityPlace mold, such as the Dubai Marina. Given the tradition and romanticism which exists in the casbahs, it is interesting to see an attempt at a 21st century redux.

Here is where I claim that Toronto should try to copy it. I will admit as much that this would be a still born project in Toronto as is. There are alot of cutting edge technologies in the project though which we could do without. For instance, the PRT system is a total gimmick which could be replaced by cars (which are pretty good at "PRT"...) and modest investments in conventional transit. Ditto for the PV arrays and Hydrogen power plants, just pipe the juice in from Pickering. There are a bunch of research intensive aspects which could be replaced for half the cost and 90% the efficiency with conventional technologies. I enjoy the specific focus on "mixed use" in this project. In Toronto, a condo with a dry cleaners on the ground floor seems to fly for mixed use, but in this case they are actively building the project around a university, a SEZ and various commercial partners.