Cities reimagined: A blueprint for humanity’s future

According to the United Nations Statistics Division, by 2050, nearly 70 per cent of the global population is expected to reside in cities, placing unprecedented pressure on infrastructure, resources, and the environment.

Urban planners worldwide are grappling with the dual challenges of retrofitting existing cities and building entirely new ones that meet the demands of modern life.

Cities like Detroit, Cairo, and Johannesburg have sought to retrofit their urban systems to address sustainability and liveability challenges. While some efforts succeeded — such as Detroit’s revival through urban farming and creative reuse — these endeavours are often limited by costs, structural constraints, governance gaps and entrenched socio-economic inequalities.

Greenfield cities: A Tabula Rasa for urban innovation

Greenfield cities, built from scratch, offer a clean slate to overcome these limitations. Unlike retrofitting, where innovation must adapt to pre-existing frameworks, greenfield cities enable planners to implement their visions unencumbered by the past. They promise holistic ecosystems designed for sustainability, cutting-edge technology, and human-centric urban living.

Prominent examples include Msheireb Downtown Doha, in Qatar, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, The Line in Saudi Arabia and Nusantara in Indonesia. These projects aim to tackle issues like climate change, overpopulation and technological inadequacies with bold, futuristic approaches.

Sustainability: The core of future cities

Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of greenfield cities. In the Gulf region, projects like Masdar City, near Abu Dhabi, have integrated renewable energy sources, energy-efficient architecture and autonomous electric vehicles. The Line, a linear city under construction in Saudi Arabia, takes the concept of sustainability even further.

Designed as a car-free, walkable community, its ultra-compact form promises to minimise land use, preserve nature and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s decision to move its capital to Nusantara on the island of Borneo is another ambitious greenfield endeavour. The new capital city is designed to alleviate Jakarta of its overpopulation and environmental pressures.

Plans for Nusantara include a forested urban core and the use of renewable energy sources to ensure a sustainable energy supply.

Technology: A double-edged sword

Technology lies at the heart of future cities, shaping their efficiency, resilience and livability. From AI-powered smart grids to autonomous vehicles, these innovations promise transformative potential. Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, for instance, boasts advanced traffic management systems and e-governance platforms to streamline urban operations.

Lusail City in Qatar entails a fully integrated smart infrastructure to manage energy consumption, water use, and waste disposal in real time.

While the ambitious Nusantara project aims to enhance urban resilience by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including flood management systems to counter the island’s vulnerability to rising sea levels. These advancements highlight the ambition to embed artificial intelligence and automation into the very fabric of urban life. However, it is important to note that the success of these initiatives requires seamless connectivity with equitable and inclusive access for all citizens.

Liveability: Cities designed for people

The success of any urban development ultimately hinges on liveability. Msheireb Downtown Doha blends modern innovation with traditional architecture to prioritise people and culture. By weaving traditional materials with pedestrian-friendly layouts, Msheireb creates an inviting, weather-resilient environment that fosters community engagement.

Newer projects like Telosa in the US aim to establish the much-discussed 15-minute neighbourhoods, where all essential services are within a short walk or bike ride. The city also emphasises mixed-use development to foster a sense of community and reduce commutes.

However, I admit that not everything new is innovative. Older cities like Amsterdam, which have embraced retrofitting, also provide vital lessons. Its extensive cycling infrastructure and green initiatives demonstrate that liveability and sustainability can be achieved through thoughtful planning, even within existing urban frameworks.

Balancing vision with reality

These ‘new cities’ are not a panacea. While they promise a future unburdened by the past, their history offers cautionary tales. Brasília, Brazil’s capital, was a modernist triumph in design in the 1960s but faltered in fostering social inclusivity and connectivity. It remains a vivid reminder that aesthetics must not overshadow functionality and equity.

Similarly, Indonesia’s Nusantara has faced criticism for delays, funding gaps, and environmental concerns — such as deforestation on Borneo Island. Furthermore, the risk of over-reliance on technology is significant and can exacerbate inequalities.

Therefore, retrofitting existing cities, despite its limitations, remains an equally important tool for addressing urban challenges. Cities like Amsterdam illustrate how strategic planning and revised policies can transform ageing infrastructure into modern and thriving neighbourhoods.

A blueprint for tomorrow

The cities of the future are more than ambitious experiments; Whether drawing lessons from new urban developments like Qatar’s Msheireb Downtown Doha or learning from established models like Amsterdam or Venice, the challenge ultimately lies in balancing the three key components: sustainability, technology and inclusivity.

These efforts go beyond solving today’s challenges — they lay the foundation for a future where humanity can thrive sustainably and resiliently.

The writer works with governments, cities, businesses, and civil society in creating content and community-driven platforms that turn ideas into action. he works closely with the Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna) is a non-profit policy research and advocacy center, established by Qatar Foundation.