March 2012

Although this issue of BT isn’t devoted to the prospects of time travel, we deal here with an equally futuristic subject – the cities of the future. Imagine green oases off the coasts of clear seas, which resemble some quirky designs of spacecraft or visions of the Surrealists.

 

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Trying to anticipate what the world will look like in 20 years, as well as letting the reins of our imagination flow, we have selected several places worldwide which stand out as regards their potential to grow. While there is no doubt that the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China will soon be vying for the title of “economic superpower”, over the next 40 years countries such as Nigeria, Iraq and Mongolia will also become key players. We will also do business in Novosibirsk, Chandigarh located at the foothills of Himalayas, and in Chinese Chongqing. However, the most fascinating of all trends is the one that involves building ultra-modern metropolises which are eco-friendly and based on intelligent technology. Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is a perfect example of this trend. Upon its completion it will be the world’s first city with zero carbon dioxide production thanks to using only solar energy. Another example is Songdo, South Korea, which advertises itself as one of the most human-friendly cities in the world.

Marzena Mróz, Editor in Chief