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Carbon-Neutral Ziggurat Could House 1.1 Million In Dubai

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the big-brother's-wet-dream dept.

Engadget is reporting that a new pyramid-shaped city of the future, dubbed a "Ziggurat," is being touted by Dubai-based environmental design company, Timelinks. Claiming that their design allows for an almost self-sufficient energy footprint and, obviously, economy of space, the real trick would be getting 1.1 million people to live in such close proximity. "Martijn Kramer, managing director of The International Institute for the Urban Environment told WAN: 'As a general reaction the Ziggurat Project is viable from a technical point of view. However reflecting from a more sustainable holistic approach we do wonder if the food supply and waste system are taken care for, as the concept seems rather based upon carbon neutrality and energy saving.' Kramer's initial reaction to 'Ziggurat' also raises a very important issue: are people willing to live in a mega building of 2.3 sq km? Will the thought of living in a machine comfort people?"

13 of 393 comments (clear)

  1. right up till... by LWATCDR · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Someone crashes a A340F full of explosives into it. Or sets fires in it, or...
    Well you get the idea. Good idea but a great target.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    1. Re:right up till... by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Be fair. It could happen any place.
      Toyko, Oklahoma, or the Middle East.
      One of the sad rules of the Universe is that it is a lot easier to destroy than to create. It only takes a few evil nut jobs willing to die to create a lot of misery.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    2. Re:right up till... by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's pretty dangerous to exit a skyscraper from the side halfway up. A pyramid, however, can have dozens of exits all over it's surface. They may not be all that safe, depending on the slope, but better than straight down. After all, it's an emergency exit.

    3. Re:right up till... by WrongMonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Great plan. Let's not build anything cool because it might get blown up by terrorists.

  2. vapor? by Un+pobre+guey · · Score: 3, Insightful
    The blurb is certainly buzzword compliant, but where are the specs and data? On the face of it, the project is utterly ludicrous, but sounds really cool.

    Who cares? Show us something real.

  3. Control of personal space by Stanistani · · Score: 5, Insightful

    People can live in very different conditions if their basic needs are met, if there is a cultural web to participate in, and if they have control over their personal space and possibility of advancement.

    I see challenges of propinquity here, but there are very crowded, thriving urban environments to use as examples.

    The key question to answer is: What is the reason for the people to live there, rather than somewhere else? That's the question that builds cities - or ghost towns.

    --
    You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
  4. Where does the food come from? by Colin+Smith · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Carbon and energy neutral food I mean?

     

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    Deleted
    1. Re:Where does the food come from? by Un+pobre+guey · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Its' a dream and PR stunt!

      You hit it right on the nose. Forget about where air, food, water, and energy come from or where wastes go, or about trapping a million people or more in a building for generations on end, or what happens in the event of a major fire or other disaster, etc, etc.

      Let's just shut our eyes and think happy, unquestioning thoughts!

  5. Beats mcmansions in Bakersfield by heroine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For all the billions Calif* spends propping up worthless mortgages, it could build gigantic ziggurats & actually house people.

  6. Willingness by Rob+Kaper · · Score: 4, Insightful

    are people willing to live in a mega building of 2.3 sq km?

    Sure, why not. It's not like there won't be parks, squares, expedition, lanes, views.. dense cities are essentially one mega building already.

  7. Book Plug by blair1q · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't remember much else about this book, but the idea of a giant city-building stands out.

    _Oath of Fealty_, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

    http://www.amazon.com/Oath-Fealty-Larry-Niven/dp/0671532278

  8. Re:Ziggurat by agrippa_cash · · Score: 4, Insightful

    On step closer to Caves of Steel

  9. Re:Arcology by stoolpigeon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I grew up in Arizona, and my dad took us to visit Arconsanti when I was in grade school. It was an interesting afternoon. It was pretty obvious then (late 70s) that it was not going anywhere. I'm really surprised it's still there. I always point at it when we go by on our way back to Phoenix from Strawberry. Should probably take my kids while I can.
     
    This kind of thing is always much, much easier to think up, draw, plan, etc. than to actually build and use.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?