Oasis report

ENBE * FINAL PROJECT * PART A – REPORT * THE FUTURE CITY REPRESENTATION
CHIA SUE HWA * 0317920 * GROUP D * FNBE FEB 2014 * TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY
BETTER CITIES OF THE FUTURE
The
NAME : CHIA SUE HWA
ID : 0317920
INTAKE : FNBE 02214
TUTOR : MS DELLIYA
ZAIN
Your Green Haven
1

CONTENTS
a. The starting line
b. A City : Ground Rules + analysis
c. Case Studies
 Ancient city – Memphis, egypt
 Present city – Solarcity, Austria
 Future city – food city, dubai
D. Cities on water
E. X-City : The Oasis
 My Role as ‘Mayor’
A Conceptual Overview
 The Zoning
 Systems and Working Principles
 All in One
 A Haven
F. The Final Inference
G. References
2

a. The Starting
LineDate and Time : 27th March 2014 at 8a.m.
Subject : Elements of Natural and Built Environment
Lecture : Shelter for Inhabitation
Lecturer : Ms Delliya Zain
*Final Project Brief Released* - Better Cities of the Future
On the 27th of March during our weekly lecture, Ms Delliya Zain, the lecturer in charge for
Elements of Natural and Built Environment (ENBE) released our second and final project brief :
• Grouping (in groups of 5 students)
• Introductory video
• Brief explanation of project brief
• Display of senior’s previous works
After the first ENBE project, all our course mates shared mixed feelings of anticipation and
excitement for this upcoming one. We had long ago predicted that this second project will
require even more hard work and teamwork, and the content of the project brief proved us
right. As a short overview, this project’s aim is to question, analyse and articulate the impact
between the natural and built environment, by studying cities in detail, and to eventually design
and plan for a better one. As explained, cities are very much urban living creatures in the natural
environment.
Basically, each student will be assessed individually and through group work as well. Individually,
we will have to present our city through a short video and a typed report. The city with the most
buildable and best design in each group will be chosen. Next, each group is required to build an
actual representation model of the chosen city and to prepare a maximum number of 4
presentation boards as the city plan.
Attached is a few screenshot photos of the introductory video, including the link. Attached
behind the is a copy of the project brief.
Video link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akLVMlyGLZM
3

b. A city : ground rules +
analysis[ what? ]
A city can be defined as a place where people live that is larger or more important
than a town : an area where many people live and work or an inhabited place of
greater size, population, or importance than a town or village, according to the
online Merriam-Webster.
[ a brief history ]
The building of cities has a long and complex history. Although city
planning as an organized profession has existed for less than a
century, all cities display various degrees of forethought and
conscious design in their layout and functioning.
Early humans led a nomadic existence, relying on hunting and
gathering for sustenance. Between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago,
systematic cultivation of plants and the domestication of animals
allowed for more permanent settlements.
Cities exist for many reasons, and the diversity of urban forms can
be traced to the complex functions that cities perform. Cities
serve as centres of storage, trade, and manufacture. The
agricultural surplus from the surrounding countryside is processed
and distributed in cities besides growing up around marketplaces.
Throughout history, cities have been founded at the intersections
of transportation routes, and even at river and ocean ports.
Religious elements have been crucial throughout urban history.
Ancient peoples had sacred places, often associated with
cemeteries or shrines, around which cities grew.
Cities often provide protection in a precarious world. During
attacks, the rural populace could flee behind city walls, where
defence forces assembled to repel the enemy. The wall served this
purpose for millennia, until the invention of heavy artillery.
Cities serve as centres of government. In particular, the
emergence of the great nation-states of Europe between 1400
and 1800 led to the creation of new capital cities or the investing
of existing cities with expanded governmental functions.
Cities, with their concentration of talent, mixture of peoples, and
economic surplus, have provided a fertile ground for the evolution
of human culture: the arts, scientific research, and technical
innovation. They serve as centres of communication, where new
ideas and information are spread to the surrounding territory and
to foreign lands.
+
The masterplan of
Larimer
neighbourhood,
Pittsburgh.
4

[ what makes a city ]
• Efficient electrical, water and food supplies
• Proper infrastructure such as sewage and electrical management and public facilities
• Organised and effective city zoning
• Public transport system and road system
• Areas such as monuments and squares that represent the identity of the city
[ a good city ]
What is the good city?
A vital city successfully fulfils the biological needs of its inhabitants, and provides a safe
environment for their activities. A sensible city is organized so that its residents can perceive and
understand the city's form and function. A city with good fit provides the buildings, spaces, and
networks required for its residents to pursue their projects successfully. An accessible city allows
people of all ages and background to gain the activities, resources, services, and information that
they need. A city with good control is arranged so that its citizens have a say in the management
of the spaces in which they work and reside.
Finally, an efficient city achieves the goals listed above at the least cost, and balances the
achievement of the goals with one another. They cannot all be maximized at the same time. And a
just city distributes benefits among its citizens according to some fair standard.
These criteria tell aspiring city builders where to aim, while acknowledging the diverse ways of
achieving good city form. Cities are endlessly fascinating because each is unique, the product of
decades, centuries, or even millennia of historical evolution. In theory, we should be able to learn
the lessons of history and build cities that our descendants will admire and wish to preserve.
[ the future city ]
+ solutions for
future cities
5

[ lastly, ]
No matter how you define a city, however, there is agreement that cities play an
important role in all our lives today and in the years ahead. After the industrial
revolution, urban centers grew rapidly and over the past 50 years there has been an
"explosion" in the growth of cities, both in their numbers and in their size -- this is
called "urbanization". Today, the most rapid urbanization is taking place in countries in
Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Cities have always been at the center of economic growth, technological advances and
cultural production. But their rapid growth has also brought negative things: urban
violence and poverty, homelessness, overcrowding and health problems, pollution
and waste.
+ An infographic on elements of a city.
“To change life, we must first change space”
—Henri Lefebvre, French writer, philosopher and educator
6

c. Case
studies Ancient city - Memphis, Egypt
+
“Greetings, oh
Nile, who
springs from the
earth and gives
Egypt
nourishment.”
[ history ]
Memphis was founded by the pharaoh Menes around 3000 BC. Capital of Egypt during
the Old Kingdom, it remained an important city throughout ancient Mediterranean
history. It occupied a strategic position at the mouth of the Nile delta, and was home to
feverish activity. Its principal port, Peru-nefer, harboured a high density of workshops,
factories, and warehouses that distributed food and merchandise throughout the
ancient kingdom. During its golden age, Memphis thrived as a regional centre for
commerce, trade, and religion. The city fell when it lost favour with Alexandria, a main
capital of Egypt, besides the emergence of Christianity.
[ significance]
The Egyptians took advantage of the natural cyclical flooding pattern of the Nile.
Because this flooding happened fairly predictably, the Egyptians were able to develop
their agricultural practices around it. The water levels of the river would rise in August
and September, leaving the floodplain and delta submerged by 1.5 meters of water at
the peak of flooding. This yearly flooding of the river was known as inundation. As the
floodwaters receded in October, farmers were left with well watered and fertile soil in
which to plant their crops.
*Agronomy - the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel,
fibre, and land reclamation.
*Irrigation - Natural river irrigation shaped the early landscape of ancient Egypt.
Drainage was not required for the Valley to become liveable. Organized by regional
authorities, every Egyptian had to move about thirty cubic metres of soil in about ten
days every year. The building of dams at right angles to the flow of the Nile, separating
the Nile Valley into basins. The river water was diverted into canals on either side of the
Nile.
7

*Ploughing and Planting - In most countries heavy ploughs have to be used to turn over
the soil, so that the growing plants get enough nutrients, but in Egypt the Nile flood
deposited the nutrients on top, and the ploughing served just to break up the top soil
before sowing or for covering the seed afterwards.
*Harvest - The total amount of grain harvested depended on the surface covered by the
flooding Nile. the annual amount of grain [11] produced was approximately between 1.5
and 2.5 million tons
*Crops – such as emmer, flax, papyrus reeds, castor oil plant, vegetables and fruits.
*Horticulture - Gardening was much more labour intensive than agriculture. Gardens,
orchards, and vineyards were often on high ground and quite a distance from the Nile.
They had to be irrigated by hand with the water drawn from wells or the river.
+
One of the great capital
cities of Ancient Egypt,
Memphis stands before
the formation of the Nile
Delta.
[ the learning point]
• Agronomy for urban agriculture.
• To generate food as a resource and a foundation
to develop the city from the ground up.
• Develop as a trading hub as a floating city on
water.
• To incorporate a constant source of flowing
water in the city as its backbone, such as a river
or waterfront (inspired by the Nile River)
• Inundation to fertilize soil for crops.
• A self-governed and stand-alone city with its own
ruling government.
+
Egyptian agriculture
[lastly,]
The civilization of ancient Egypt was indebted to the Nile River and its dependable
seasonal flooding. The river’s predictability and the fertile soil allows the Egyptians to
build an empire on the basis of great agricultural wealth. Egyptians are credited as being
one of the first groups of people to practice agriculture on a large scale. This was
possible because of the ingenuity of the Egyptians as they developed basin irrigation
8

 Present City – SolarCity, Austria
[history]
This neighbourhood built in Linz Austria has been heralded as an urban development
project which has managed to address three aspects of sustainability: economic growth;
ecological balance; and, social progress. Its planning started in 1992, through the
development of a regional concept plan and master plan. The catalysts for its
development were to address the high demand for housing in the region, particularly
from low and middle income earners, and respond to the ecological global challenges of
our planet. The Provincial Capital of Linz also identified that there were many jobs in their
city but not enough people - they therefore had a large number of people working from
outside their city limits and wanted to reduce the traffic demand associated with this. In
1994 construction started in association with a number of non-profit residential
construction organisations. It is now home to over 3,000 residents.
“Located in
the City of
Linz. Linz =
Life.”
[significance]
• Mixture of land uses – schools, childcare, local shopping, social and cultural facilities, halls
and function rooms, restaurants and residencies
• A key access boulevard forming the functional and spatial link of the neighbourhood,
combined with a centre square creating the focal point
• Ecological advances through energy savings in production, operation and recycling
• Open space – includes an extensive lake system, landscaped parks and nature reservation
areas. A key challenge was to balance access to attractive open space with protecting the
natural landscape of alluvial forests along the Traun River. The development provided a
landscape park as a filter between the two as well as nature trails through the nature
reserve which allows public access whilst subtly controlling access to this environment
• Comprehensive use of solar energy through design of buildings and houses, solar panels
and building orientation
9

• Extensive strategies for drainage and sanitation
involving re-use of all by-products and storm water
runoff
• Transport system which aims to keep residential areas
as free of motor vehicles as possible by providing
maximum priority to pedestrian and cyclists and
funnelling traffic along the boulevard into
underground car parking. The plan also included
extending the tram line from Linz (and consequent
connections to a more regional rail line) into the
development and provision of a local bus system
provided within solarCity
• A central office coordinates the entire operational
process, which is handled by five project groups.
+
Tram as a main public
transport
[the learning point]
• Urban nodes as centrals – walker friendly
• Solar architecture to minimise ecological
footprint
• Rainwater absorption for water recycling
• Urine separation technology for agricultural
uses
• Public, interactive, green spaces that are close
to nature
• Public transport as the main transportation
system. Integrated road systems, bike, tram
pathways
• Urban and purposeful architectural design of
buildings and structures
• Municipality that involves community work and
to determine needs and interests of residents
+
A residential housing
development in the
Solarcity
[Lastly, ]
In building the SolarCity, which was subsidized by the EU and the province of Upper Austria
and designed by internationally recognized architects, the Provincial Capital of Linz has
realized an urban development project that has attracted a great deal of notice. The three
pillars of sustainability, namely economic growth, ecological balance and social progress,
were equally and simultaneously taken into account. This succeeded only due to the
exemplary cooperation of all concerned.
+
Side profile view of
the solar powered
city
10

 Future city – food city, Dubai
[significance]
• Urban planning ideas e.g. vertically stacked landscape surfaces, artificial roof
landscapes, renewable energy systems, aquatic farms and thermal conditioning
• Energy saving initiatives e.g. concentrated solar collectors, towers covered in thin-
film photovoltaic cells, piezoelectric pads in pedestrian areas, and methane
harvesting through sewage percolation tanks
• Water conservation e.g. atmospheric water harvesting, solar desalination through
concentrated solar collectors, grey water recycling, and application of hydroponic
sand to minimize water loss
“Off-the-grid,
self-sufficient
metropolis.”
[history]
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce authorized the development of a “free zone” dubbed
Food City. GCLA, a green landscape architect firm, proposed a master plan for the city
sector to turn it into an incredible off-the-grid, self-sufficient metropolis. GCLA’s future-
forward urban quarter incorporates an extensive list of sustainable urban planning ideas.
GCLA has described their proposal for Food City as the “the marriage of landscapes and
urbanism“. Their project integrates a variety of proposals to decrease overall energy use.
GCLA has described their proposal for Food City as the “the marriage of landscapes and
urbanism“. Their project integrates a variety of proposals to decrease overall energy use.
Essentially, GCLA’s vision is an amalgamation of nearly every urban sustainability initiative
in the past few years. It’s certainly utopian, but it may ultimately prove necessary.
+
Plan of Food
City
11

[the learning point]
• Food and agriculture as the
main development and
concept
• Self-sufficient and
independent
• The city as a ‘free zone’ -an
area adjoining a port where
goods that are intended for
reshipment can be received
and stored without payment
of duties
• A centralised layout and
zoning of city (as seen from
plan)
+ a perspective view of Food City
+ a side view of the city’s
built structures
• Use of urban planning
principles, solar
architecture and green
technology to increase
efficiency
• Implementation of arcology
– a mix of architecture and
ecology for city planning
• Solar energy as the source
of power and electricity for
the city
[lastly,]
Gulf News writes that Dubai Food City will build up Dubai’s local food sector, and improve the
United Arab Emirates’ food security (U.A.E. currently imports over 90 percent of its food).
Food City will be a five million square-foot “self-contained development, aimed at wholesale
food merchants,” and will be able to hold 400-500 food companies.
12

d. Cities on
waterFor this final project, each group (5 students per group) had to make a decision to choose
one amongst these five options to base their individual and group work on.
• An underground city
• An underwater city
• A floating on water city
• A city in the air
• A city on land (next to a river/sea)
After a brief discussion, my group decided almost instantly to select the most flexible type
on city : one that is floating on water.
+ A few future floating-on-water cities proposals
Reasons to why a floating-on-water city is the best solution to our current environmental
problems:
• Mobile. A floating city has the option to sail in the seas and lakes, or just to remain
stationary in the water, just like an island.
• Convenient resources. Surrounded by water, a vital element for a city’s survival is
readily available. With the right technologies, water can be used to a city’s advantage
in the domestic, agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors.
• Interesting and refreshing. Reason being, floating cities don’t exist yet, thus, the idea
excited our group members to produce something amazing and never before seen. A
floating-on-water city could also make for a great model representation later during
the group part of the project.
+ A few other types of future cities proposals
13

d. X-city : the oasis
 My role as ‘mayor’
“28 November 2011 – Global food production is being
undermined by land degradation and shortages of
farmland and water resources, making feeding the world’s
rising population – projected to reach nine billion by 2050
– a daunting challenge, the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO ) said in a report unveiled
today.”
– UN News Centre
“Everywhere, everyday we are reminded of the planetary
crisis. Ice caps melt, forests are decimated, species go
extinct and extreme climatic changes threaten the survival
of human civilization. We desperately need a new
narrative – a compelling vision of sustainability where we
get a happily-ever-after ending. But where are we now? In
the crazed pursuit of financial and material progress,
Gross Domestic Product has grown exponentially. But to
be sure, the Gross Depletion of the Planet is also at an all
time high.”
– Student Pulse
“Everywhere I turn to, I see never-ending effects of what we humans ourselves have caused.
Year by year, my gravest fears are confirmed. Cutting across food security, poverty, climate
change and human rights, I am addressing land degradation and biodiversity loss. A vision of
small-scale, inclusive and ecologically sound agriculture promises to lift the world out of
poverty, inequality and hunger. Now, we only need the courage to stand against the
intransigent guardians of the status quo. In the words of anthropologist Margaret Mead,
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." And so, we must.”
-Me, speaking as the Mayor of the X-City. The city that stands in the front-line of
environmental threat.
+ Land degradation and
desertification
+ Rising sea levels, an
effect of global warming
+
Overpopulation
in China
+
Concrete
jungle in
Kathmandu,
Nepal
14

The Oasis.
Your Green
Haven.
+ The Oasis logo
+ Perspective views
of the Oasis
+ Aerial
plan of
the city
City: The Oasis
Where: The Gulf
of Oman
Population:
300,000
Size: 40km2
Status:
15

Sufficient research and analysis had introduced many new concepts and ideas for the
foundation of a city to me. Taking inspirations from my previous research on past,
present and future cities, implementations of the current concepts have contributed
to my train of thought in creating my new city.
+ Memphis,
Egypt. The river
as the life source
of the city
+ Solarcity, Austria.
Green and
sustainable city
planning.
+ Food City, Dubai. A
‘free-zone’ and self-
sufficient in agricultural
means. Utilizes green
and sustainable
technologies as well.
My city will
• Be agricultural
• Agronomical
• Depend on
surrounding
water source
• Be founded on
sustainable and
green principles
and
technologies
• A municipality -
an urban
administrative
division having
powers of self-
government or
jurisdiction
16

 The zoning
+
Colour-
coded
plan of
the
Oasis
- The Reservoir, main canals and sub canals
- The Radius I/the commercial hub and ports
- The Radius II/residential area
- The Radius III/desalination, sector management and crop checkpoints
- The Sectors/agricultural land
- Main roadways
- Surrounding dry land, the coast of Muscat, Oman
- Wind turbines and control centres
17

[ ELABORATION ]
 The Reservoir and canals – a circular lake in the middle of the city. Collects seawater
from the main canals for city use in agriculture, domestic and industrial needs
through seawater farming and desalination technologies. Trade and transportation
ships and ferries also use the canal to enter and exit the city. Transportation ferries
also travel around the island using the sub canals branching out from the Reservoir.
 The Radius I – the commercial hub and ports area. Schools, the central medical
centre, religious area, open green space, and recreational spaces are also located
here. These facilities are placed near the residential radius for easy accessibility. The
ports extend out to the Reservoir and also accommodate parked trading and
transportation ships and ferries.
 The Radius II – the residential area. Consists of 6 types of housing developments, each
with its own designated ownership class, such as for white-collared workers and blue-
collared workers. All are urban high-rise apartment blocks to save land space and for
panoramic view of the Reservoir and agricultural sectors. All the residential units are
built according to the principles of solar architecture.
 The Radius III – the desalination plant, sector management, and crop checkpoints.
Seawater is treated into freshwater for daily consumption using the latest desalination
technologies in plants. The oval-shaped zone is the middle is the sector management,
which manages the respective sector while communicating and coordinating with
other sector managements, besides being a main transit and resting station for trams
and vehicles. Tram and roadways connect all the three Radii, and also with the
agricultural sectors.
 The Sectors – green patches of agricultural land. Each of the six sectors are designated
for a certain type of crop each. Clockwise from the frontal canal : Annual crops,
flowers, fruits, cash crops, seasonings, and biannual crops. Each sector has its own
portion of Radius III and a main road for transportation
 Main roadways – Paved roads that connects the Radii with the Sectors. Sub roadways
branch out from here, leading further into all parts of the city for better circulation.
 Coast of Muscat – The city is partially surrounded and even slightly made out of the
dry lands of Muscat. This provides easy access to land in case of emergencies, and for
trading purposes. Also a link for the daily Farmer’s Market and other activities.
 Wind turbines and control centres – Generates power for the city. Its built-in broad
bases are also the electrical, waste, and water management department bases.
+ Why agricultural? A constant source of energy for the city in terms of a secure access to
nutritious food and also in by means of income through trading activities. Food production,
marketing, and transportation, as well as the sustainable management of natural resources
will be able to eradicate poverty and unemployment, besides strengthening urban-rural
linkages. In short, agriculture is Oasis’s route to successful development.
18

 Systems and Working principles
[AGRICULTURE]
o Seawater farming technique
Climate change, together with
rising world populations and
unsustainable farming practices,
are causing the exhaustion of
fresh water and food resources.
The necessity for both is
expected to exceed availability in
the foreseeable future. It is the
simple reality of this situation
which gave rise to the Seawater
Greenhouse. This provides a low-
cost solution by enabling year-
round crop production in some
of the world’s hottest and driest
regions. It does this using
seawater and sunlight. The
technology imitates natural
processes, helping to restore the
environment while significantly
reducing the operating costs of
greenhouse horticulture.
+ A drawing I
did depicting
the
agricultural
technology
+ A seawater greenhouse in Oman, helping to reclaim
abandoned agricultural land where soil and water
salinity have reached levels at which crop production
is not viable.
Benefits:
• Freshwater production: The fresh water
produced is pure and distilled from seawater,
with no need for chemical treatment.
• Salt and mineral production: Salt gained in the
process can be sold and other minerals used as
crop nutrients.
o 6 sectors
To maximize productivity and for easier
management, 6 sectors consisting of 6
different agricultural crops are farmed
in the city. These are fruits, flowers,
cash crops, annuals, perennials, and
seasonings.
+ Close zoning
view of a
sector
Irrigation canal
Farming land
Desalination
plants
Sector
management
Crop
checkpoints
+ Crops are
also irrigated
through
inundation by
the city’s canal
/ irrigation
system.
19

[ Transportation System]
Besides walking by foot, public transportation in the Oasis accounts for 80 to 90 percent
of citizen mobility.
• Reduces traffic congestion and air pollution
• Increases efficiency
• Saves cost and production of cars
• Sustainable and rational
The two types of public transportation in the Oasis are trams and ferries.
o Flow of food through the Urban Farmer’s Market
Located on dry land on the Muscat coast on both sides of
the city, this is the step in delivering safe nutritious food
from the field to the urban consumer: the production,
processing and marketing, are all interlinked and should
mutually
strengthen each other. The Farmer’s Market is a crucial
input and output of food source generated through
agricultural activities.
• A smart outlet to exchange fresh, nutritious food
• Important anchors for vibrant communities. Social
activity and integration for a mature community is key.
• Integrates Oasis citizens with citizens from other cities
+ A marketplace planning
concept. Hollywood
Farmer’s Market in Los
Angeles.
o Roadways
Used for daily travel. Trams, bicycles,
vehicles, cargo vehicles share the same
roadways around the city. This system is
efficient for travelling back and forth
from the Sectors and the Radii. Main
roads also lead straight from the Radii to
the coastland. Checkpoints in the
Sectors also act as resting stops.
+ Road mapping
of Oasis.
+ A
circular
subway
map
design
proposal
for NYC
20

Citizens also travel by foot from their residential
areas to their local sector’s facilities which is
combined with Radius I. This area is a encouraged
pedestrian zone. Reducing the carbon footprint
for a cleaner and sustainable city is vital. Thus, the
use of electricity-powered trams, bicycles and
travelling by foot plus a minimised usage of cars is
encouraged.
+ The roads are
well-planned and
distributed to
accommodate
pedestrians,
bicycles, cars and
trams
o Canals
A built-in, natural feature of Oasis is
the ferry transportation system for
citizens and also goods and cargo.
From the seas, outsider ships can enter
and exit using the two main canals into
the Reservoir and towards the ports.
Sub canals leading outwards from the
Reservoir and two other circular canals
around the city provide good coverage
for water vehicles. Also serves as
irrigation river for crops.
The Rideshare programme is
also an initiative by the
transportation department of
Oasis for free-flowing and
efficient roads. Two people or
more can work out their own
agreements on who drives and
how often, schedules and cost
sharing through an online
forum.
+ The canal
mapping plan
+ Solar Sailor ferries run on multiple
sources of power including solar,
wind, stored battery power and fossil
fuel
21

[ SANITATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM ]
o Urine Separation Technology
Its purpose of urine-separating toilet systems is to
separate nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen and
potassium at source. They can then be used as
concentrated fertiliser, as they are free from
environmentally harmful substances and undiluted by
wastewater flow.
+ A flow diagram showing how urine
separation works
o The Green Square
To alleviate the city’s waste
management issues, the Green Square
composting stations would act as a
double-duty solution, processing waste
in an eco-friendly way while an elevated
second level acts as parkland for local
residents.
The complete
transport system
consisting of
road ways and
canals in the
Oasis. The many
nodes and
transits
(indicated by red
dots) make for a
thorough and
complete public
transportation
system.
+ The
Green
Loop, as
designed
for New
York City
22

The open, green space
in the Radius serves as
a underwater compost
hub.
Sea level
o Desalination Plant
As the population continues to grow, shortages of fresh water will occur more often. Salt
water (from the ocean, for instance) is being turned into freshwater for daily uses through
desalination.
+ Taweelah A1 Power and Desalination Plant, United Arab Emirates
23

[ ENERGY SYSTEM ]
The Oasis strives to be a self-sufficient city, in full sense of
the word. That signifies that the city depends solely on
renewable, clean and sustainable means to generate power
to run the whole city.
o Hydroelectric dams
+ Schematic diagram of
an hydroelectric dam
The two main dams built into the two main canals of the city are to control river
flow, improve navigation, and regulate flooding and also to produce
hydroelectric power for the city.
o Wind Turbines
The Oasis is to build robust, durable, off-
shore wind turbines, engineered to
produce power. As well, the Oasis wind
turbines are designed to maximise land
usage with built-in building as its base.
The key benefits of agricultural wind
power:
• Lower cost of energy
• Security against escalating electricity
costs
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Promoting community values
• Substantial incentive programs
available
+ Side and aerial view of the wind turbine
designs of Oasis
24

A close-up view of the six wind
turbines on both sides of the city, one
in the water and one on land. Each
turbine base houses vital city
management departments for each
side of the city.
• Electrical Industry Management
• Water Distribution Management
• Sanitation and Waste Management
• Transportation Management
• Tourism Centre
• Defence Department
25

 ALL IN ONE
+ The
Radius plan
All in one. The Radius is a
colourful combination or
commercial and residential
developments, right at the
fingertips of every citizen.
Interconnected and easily
accessible.
Commercial
and trading
hub
Residential
radius
Residential
zone
Commercial
hub
Trading
ports
Recreational spaces
Educational
facilities
Religious zone
The green square:
open, green space
/ compost hub
Central medical
centre
+Close zoning view of a individual sector’s central
26

[ RESIDENTIAL ]
Each residential zone in each sector consist of different types of housing development
to suit the people’s desires and financial statuses. Nevertheless, a variety of solar
construction is used to achieve generation of solar energy and the maximum energy
demand of the buildings. As a result, all the housing developments and public
buildings were constructed as low-energy buildings with solar panels on their roofs.
The Oasis evinces many different varieties of solar construction and solar architecture
for sustainability and smarter living.
+ The Solar Settlement in Freiburg, Germany
+ A housing development in
Solarcity, Austria
[ FACILITIES ]
o A Prime Kindergarten
The entrance building volume, structure,
building envelopes and passageways
were considered to build this
kindergarten. Solar collectors and
photovoltaic also provided it with mare
than enough noises. The mixed use of
raw, clean materials exudes a an air of
simplicity and contemporary style,
accompanied with the right design and
colour combination
+
Kindergarten in Solarcity,
Austria
27

o The Lake House
Happiness is part of social interaction amongst
nature, right beside the lake.
+ A coloured drawing of the public facility used for gatherings, public
events for just simple picnics.
[ TRADE ]
Trading activities make up a
significant portion of the city’s
economy. With the threat of sea
level rise from climate change, his
design uses plastic drums to keep
it resting on top of the water, and
the frame will be constructed with
wood. Electricity would be
provided by solar panels on the
roof, and rainwater harvesting
would help operate toilets..
[ Recreational Space ]
28

 The Haven
Urban, sustainable, purposeful. These are the three
main words I would use to summarize the Oasis as a
living, breathing city. A dense network of interrelated
systems such as transportation and the waste
management system, accompanied with state-of-art
facilities and open, green spaces create a efficient and
smart community. Agriculture and farming also form a
community of hard work, resilience and technology-
savvy. The Oasis is truly a gem in the desert.
In the face of destruction, we rebuild.
In the face of chaos, we find order.
In the face of desolation, we create an
Oasis.
The Green Haven
29

f. The final inference
“If the cities of the past were shaped by people, the cities of the future are likely to be
shaped by ideas, and there are a lot of competing ones about how such a futuristic urban
space should look. Some of these revolve around the idea that smarter equals greener.
Sustainability experts predict carbon-neutral cities full of electric vehicles and bike-
sharing schemes, with air quality so much improved that office workers can actually open
their windows for the first time.
Visions of a green city often include skyscrapers where living and office space vie with
floating greenhouses or high-rise vegetable patches and green roofs, as we try to
combine urbanisation with a return to our pastoral past.
Behind such greenification of cities lies a very pressing need.
"Cities are reaching breaking point," says Prof David Gann, who heads up Imperial
College's Digital Economy Lab. "Traffic jams are getting worse, queues longer and
transport networks more prone to delays, power outages more common.” “
- How will our future cities look like? On BBC News Technology, 17th February 2013.
[ Sustainability ]
A key word indeed. Nowadays, future city developments all strive to incorporate
sustainability into all projects. Same goes with the Oasis proposal. But what does this word
mean, and why does it have such a strong impact on us?
Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore,
stewardship of both natural and human resources is of prime importance. A systems
perspective is essential to understanding sustainability. Agronomy is envisioned in its
broadest sense, from the individual farm, to the local ecosystem, and to communities
affected by this farming system both locally and globally.
+
Future of Urban
Agriculture. Five
Borough Farm in
New York City.
30

Cities = The
Future of
Living.
Through this
project, I
have
understood
the moving
principles of
a city.
Through
conceptualiz
ing,
analysing
and most of
all, research,
the project
helped me
to realize
that cities
have so
much more
depth to its
function and
outlook than
we think.
“Cities
have the
capabilit
y of
providing
somethin
g for
everybo
dy, only
because,
and only
when,
they are
created
by
everybo
dy.”
― Jane
Jacobs
ALL IN ALL
31

G. References
 http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/agriculture.htm
 http://www.evolo.us/architecture/drors-proposal-for-a-floating-city-of-the-future/
 http://www.e-architect.co.uk/haiti/harvest-city-haiti
 http://arcosanti.org/theory/arcology/main.html
 http://arcosanti.org/node/7329
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_cities
 http://inhabitat.com/silt-lake-city-floating-hydropolis-could-ride-the-tide-of-the-nile-
river-in-egypt/floating-silt-lake-city-city-egypt/?extend=1
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_electricity
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agricultur
 http://inhabitat.com/a-utopian-vision-for-food-city-dubai/
 http://stupiddope.com/2014/05/14/cool-concepts-the-floating-city-idea-by-at-
design-office/
 http://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/technology.html
 http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/04/organic-farming-in-deserts-of-wadi-
rum.html
32

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