The range of (im)possibilities is even the subject of an exhibition at the Queens Museum in New York (City Lab). Urban utopias, sometimes bizarre, sometimes grandiose, speak volumes about the complexities of designing the urban space (Creators, in French). Among the range of far-fetched projects, a number of visionary ideas stand out. For example, the visionary designer Buckminster Fuller invented the geodesic dome in 1960, the properties of which inspired many architects. At the time, the engineer proposed to cover Manhattan with one of these domes, to regulate temperature differences and reduce energy costs (FastCo Design). Another utopian idea that is making a comeback is Paul Maymont’s floating city. Originally conceived for the Bay of Tokyo, the city takes the form of a pyramid on a cruciform base, which is attached to caissons moored to piles. The floating city is now being envisaged as a solution to address rising sea levels (Architectural Digest), demonstrating that yesterday’s imaginative ideas can inspire the cities of tomorrow.
Urban utopias that are not too far-fetched!
The city is a seemingly infinite source of creative inspiration: from the high-rise towers of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” to L.A’s “dystopic alter ego” portrayed in “Blade Runner”, imaginary cities have risen to the rank of cultural artifacts (City Lab).
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