World's First Working Arcology?

The Crystal Island project slated for construction in Moscow, will become the world's first completed Arcology, if it is built on schedule. An Arcology can be either a stand-alone city-in-a-building, or it can be a city-within-a-city.

Moscow’s rapidly growing skyline will soon feature an eye-popping new addition: Crystal Island, which will be the world’s biggest building when completed. Sir Norman Foster’s mountainous 27 million square feet spiraling “city within a building” will cost $4 billion and it is scheduled to be built within next 5 years....Foster has a track record of getting buildings built, so the likelihood is high that we will see this striking structure towering over the Kremlin within 5 years time....The exterior facade will be solar responsive and will include solar panels which, along with wind turbines, will generate electricity for the huge tower. Natural ventilation will be provided thanks to numerous strategically placed large atriums. The internal environment will also have dynamic enclosure panels slotted into the structural framing that will allow daylight to penetrate deep into the heart of the structure; the panels will also be controlled to modify temperature inside the building – closed in winter for extra warmth and opened in summer to allow natural ventilation. Energy management is at the heart of this structure, several on-site renewable and low-carbon energy generation projects are planned.

Inhabitat

The building is to be situated on the Nagatino Peninsula next the Moscow River 7.5 km from the Kremlin and will take in panoramic views over Moscow from a viewing platform at its apex.

The spectacular design will be based around a triangulated steel mega frame with a terraced series of winter gardens providing a thermal buffer for the main building that offers protection against Moscow’s climate extremes. A vertical louvre system will give residents privacy and dynamic enclosure panels slotted into the structural framing add to the ability to control the entry of light and manipulate interior temperature according to the season.

GizmagWhile architect Paolo Soleri pioneered the concept of Arcology, it will be up to UK architectural firm Foster and Partners to complete the first working Arcology--and up to neo Russian Empire-builder Vladimir Putin to finance it.