Nanthawan Kaenkaew1, Wiporn Kanjanakaroon2, Kanang Kantamaturapoj2, Wannipol Mahaarcha2, *Alan Marshall2, Thamakorn Siritorn2, Patranit Srijuntrapun2, and Yanna Somnas2
1Computer Science Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
2 Environmental Social Sciences Program , Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities,
Mahidol University , Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
*Corresponding Author: alan.mar@mahidol.ac.th
Volume 6, Number 3, 2016 I Full Text PDF
Article DOI: 10.21659/chitro.v6n3.06
Received September 01, 2016;
Accepted October 19, 2016;
Published October 22, 2016.
Abstract
The futures of four different cities, from around Asia, are outlined via visual means using scenario art and interpretive written support. These four cities are: Dhaka (Bangladesh), Altay (Mongolia), Chongqing (China), and Bangalore (India). Their futures are presented in utopian terms, whereby each city aims to be something of an example of an ‘ideal city’ exhibiting widely-shared, socially-benevolent characteristics along with a marked degree of environmental welfare plus an abundant array of city-transforming mega-technology. In the vein of many previous utopian expressions, we offer some explanation about the way each of these four city arrive at a utopian status (by the start of the 22nd Century) along with a description about the social, technological and economic background that may be present then and there. What emerges from this study are four versions of future Green cities that span the spectrum from ‘ecotopia’ to ‘technotopia’ and from ‘utopia’ to ‘dystopia’. This process ends up outlining, via art and design, some of the choices that many future Asian cities may have to involve themselves with as they work to survive the global environmental crisis and become more livable and more sustainable.
Keywords: Eco-City, Smart-City, Future, Asia, Utopia, Sustainability