Next eco-cities: Imaginations and futures

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Urban environments worldwide are in the midst of multiple shifts, driven by interconnected flows in capital, people, and resources at local, regional and global scales. It impacts not only cities but also the network of social and ecological systems well beyond their borders. In contrast to the complexity of today’s urbanization, the concept of the “Eco-City”, arguably dating back to the ideal of the 19th Century Garden City, seems like an overly simplistic and utopian vision. Yet, the imagery and language of an idealized “Eco-City” continue to shape the planning and design of contemporary cities while disregarding the vital complexity of contemporary urban conditions and issues.

Kongjian Yu is Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture, and founder and Dean of the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University.