A Prophecy for Each Present

Will There Be a Way to Formulate City Theories in 2125? Will It Be Based on Human Knowledge or AI-Generated Knowledge?”

(Past) PROPHECIES in the PRESENT

“If machines contribute to social intelligence, it will not be because they have learned how to think like us but because we have learned how to communicate with them”. This is what Elena Esposito, ERC Advanced 2020, explains discussing on proliferation of lists (and lists of lists) online, explaining […] web profiling and algorithmic individualization, […] and the implications of the “right to be forgotten” » […] and how photographs today seem to be used to escape the present rather than to preserve a memory. (Esposito, Artificial Communication, MIT Press, 2022, ERC Advanced).
“Intelligence is always artificial”, said Paul Feigelfeld during the last AIA Theory 2024 course, “At the very core of any intelligent behavior there is the idea to try to know the future” […] “to detach immediate danger from instinct, […] so that we need to generalise this kind of knowledge […] as we are living in the age of prophecies”. From these desires and fears derive the power of money «Money too, is made up and can only derive its power from collective social forces.” If you exist outside approved social norms, it’s not a given that the institutions of money will recognise you. It is not given that you will be able to get paid. (Georgina Voss, Systems Ultra: Making Sense of Technology in a Complex World, Verso 2024)».
This picture illustrates past prophecies, elaborated from the impulse of social and cultural re-foundation, which exploded with the First World War, and led to the formation of an idea of the city and new modernity, combining figurations myths and ideals of the recent and distant past. The image of the future city, as well as in literature, was transmitted to the broad masses by the U.S. film industry, now reconsidered both as an atypical case of industrial archaeology (musealization of NASA and the Moon satellites) (Anna Del Monaco, Prophecies in the Present. Technology, Continuum, Climate in the Public Spaces of Extreme Cities in Id. et all, Canon and Code. The language of arts in today world, Proceedings, Icona Conference, Nuova Cultura, 2023, pp. 18-29.)

Leonardo da Vinci (The Ideal City “Milano – 1487); Antonio Sant’Elia (La città Nuova, Futurism – 1914); Fritz Lang (Metropolis – 1927), Piranesi (Le carceri – 1745), Ludovico Quaroni (The Continuos City – 1969), Archizoom (No-Stop City 1967) Paul Maymont (City under the Sein – 1969).

HISTORY, THEORY and CULTURAL HISTORY

DATA SETs in the FUTURE?

Given this premise we decided to draft a simulation: If a person in 2125 asks an AI, “What is a city? How would you
define a city?”, the AI’s response will be based on a combination of AI-generated and human-generated data. The
proportions of each will depend on the sources, context and tools to elaborate available at that time.
Taking into account that the present of 2125 could be based on today’s prophecies. We decided to empirically simulate, starting from the current situation of the available tools, what artificial intelligence could respond if asked in 100 years “what a city is”, the idea of cities and how the collection of data information on the web could take place. Taking into account that books and essays are available in various formats and on different platforms (google books, archive.org, Jstor.org, academic journals, Wikipedia, digital libraries, etc) and that in recent years the principles of Open Access and of Open Science were established. But in the meantime, generative AI tests and experiments will continue, both on texts and images, and that in recent years a lot of material has been accumulating online and more and more will accumulate.
It was interesting to ask Chat GPT to develop a diagram that predicts in what relation what the sources of information will be from 2020 to 2125 on the topic of Future Cities and the response was a decrease in traditional information such as books and academic papers and an increase of AI Generated content and other web information formats.

WHEN WILL AI START GENERATING ITS OWN DATA IN THE FUTURE?

TRAINING STEPS and OUTPUTs

Following the suggestions of the AIA Theory course We started training Chat Gpt introducing books, pdf and open
links on Archive.org of history of architecture, architecture of the city and some web articles describing the idea of City… ChatGPT reacted with a quick reading of open articles, which it found on its own on the web with partly generic and partly generalist contents. On the concept of Future City (https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community
/a12364-future-cities-imagining-and-designing-the-urban-land scape-of-tomorrow/). Despite the training which involved approximately 270,000 characters, and a certain number of reminders Chat GPT wrote an essay of 13,000 characters and it was seen that in that chat it was no longer able to learn and add more text. So we changed the chat and the theme and asked it to write a Definition of the Future City by re-proposing some of the texts already reported but of which we have provided the PDFs, with the addition of a link to a World Economic Forum site. The concepts were all positive, so the last question was to ask what the risks and negative aspects of the Future City are. The AI integrated the text also with negative comments.

Prompt 1: Can you elaborate an essay describing and defining the Future city in 2125 (urban form, housing typologies, architectural language, density, mobility, green areas). How much the idea of the city will be influenced by the architectural history models (modern, contemporary) and how much from the AI generative tools that will be developed in the next 100 years. To elaborate the essay you can check in the https://archive.org/ https://www.jstor.org/
https://www.archinform.net/index.htm and consider history book as Sigfried Giedion, Hitchcock, Banister Fletcher, Kenneth Frampton, Manfredo Tafuri, Leonardo Benevolo, William Curtis, Jean Louis Cohen, and reviews as
Architectural Record, Architectural Design, Casabella, Domus. You can also take inspiration from books as Neuromancer by William Gibson and The City is not A Tree by Christopher Alexander, https://archive.org/details/neuromancer_202209

Prompt 2: Sir Banister Fletcher, A History of Architecture, (1896); Manfredo Tafuri, Architecture and Utopia (1976); William Gibson, Neuromancer (1984); Lucio Barbera, The City in the Evolutionary Age (2014); AA.VV. This is what the cities of the future could look like | World Economic Forum (weforum.org).

WHEN WILL AI START GENERATING ITS OWN DATA IN THE FUTURE?

OUTCOMES and CONCLUSION

In 2025, if the “city is not a tree” (Alexander) and it is not a semi-lattice (Fiore), and it is not even a computer (Mattern),
how long will it be the “human thing par excellence” (C.L Strauss) seen/elaborated by ChatGPT/AI? By now the reply of Chat GPT was “The city of 2125 will embody a synthesis of historical architectural wisdom and cutting-edge technological advancements, creating an urban environment that is resilient, adaptable, and sustainable.” Extracts of the texts and the conclusions of the papers were used to interrogate Chat GPT on image processing.

These are the list of the paragraphs and precedents:

Flexible Urbanism
Integrated Green Infrastructure
Smart Technology
Neighborhood Clusters
Centralized Mobility Hubs
Mixed-Use Developments
Green Corridors and Nodes
Self-Sustaining Neighborhood
BedZED, London
Vauban, Freiburg
Masdar City, UAE
Le Corbusier’s Radiant City
Jane Jacobs’ Theories

What we have learned from this short test, which would need to be improved and increased, is that ChatGPT4 seems to struggle in reading books and theoretical texts and independently from them, tends to search for sources on the web that collect useful content, conceptually valid but rather generic, even mainstream, on topics widely present on internet and on different types of websites. Almost as if it tended to stabilize on culturally commonplaces. Instead, of academic critical theoretical references GPT presents and not very mainstream readings as bibliography and attempt to be groundbreaking or original, or eccentric.

ChatGPT: MORE GENERIC AND GENERALISTIC AND LESS GROUNDBREAKING.

OUTCOMES and CONCLUSION

Flexible Urbanism: “Visualize a futuristic city incorporating modular architecture, mixed-use zoning, and adaptable public spaces. Reflect the organic and interconnected urban planning approach inspired by Christopher Alexander, Peter Newman, and Lucio Valerio Barbera.”
Integrated Green Infrastructure: “Depict a city integrating green roofs, urban forests, and permeable surfaces. Show how these elements enhance sustainability and livability, drawing inspiration from David C. Rouse and Ian McHarg.”
Smart Technology: “Imagine a city optimized by advanced AI, IoT, and data analytics. Illustrate how these technologies enhance urban functions and improve efficiency, referencing ideas from Anthony M. Townsend and Stephen Goldsmith.”
City Layout: “Create a scene of a city featuring neighborhood clusters, centralized mobility hubs, mixed-use developments, and green corridors. Highlight the influence of urban planners like Donald Shoup, Jaime Lerner, Alan Thein Durning, Jeff Speck, Jane Jacobs, and Jan Gehl.”
Self-Sustaining Neighborhoods: “Illustrate self-sustaining neighborhoods with examples like BedZED, Vauban, and Masdar City. Show how these communities integrate energy efficiency, renewable energy, and communal spaces, referencing works by Bioregional, Douglas Farr, Marika Kose, Esther Charlesworth, and Malcolm Eames.”
Influence of Historical Models:“Depict a cityscape influenced by historical architectural models such as Le Corbusier’s high-density living, Jane Jacobs’ mixed-use development, Aldo Rossi’s historical continuity, and Kevin Lynch’s human perception-focused design.”
AI Generative Tools: “Visualize a city utilizing AI generative tools for urban simulation, optimized resource allocation, and enhanced citizen participation. Show how these technologies create a dynamic and responsive urban environment.”

Here after an excerpt from ChatGPT 4 elaboration:

An Essay on The Future City of 2125

• Introduction
• The city of 2125 will embody a synthesis of historical architectural wisdom and cutting-edge technological advancements, creating an urban environment that is resilient, adaptable, and sustainable. This essay explores the conceptual dimensions of future urban design, detailing the layout, housing typologies, architectural language, density, mobility, and green areas. It also examines how these elements will be influenced by architectural history, including the works of Aldo Rossi, Manfredo Tafuri, Ludovico Quaroni, Colin Rowe, Kevin Lynch, and AI generative tools. Additionally, it incorporates insights from Lucio Valerio Barbera’s perspectives on the evolutionary age of cities.
• Conceptual Framework: Principles Guiding Future Urban Design
• Flexible Urbanism
• Flexible urbanism is key to creating cities that can adapt to changing demographics, technologies, and environmental conditions. This principle emphasizes modular architecture, mixed-use zoning, and adaptable public spaces.
• Christopher Alexander’s “The City is Not a Tree” critiques rigid urban planning models and advocates for a more organic and adaptable approach, fundamental to future city design. Alexander argues for a more integrated approach to urban planning, emphasizing the need for spaces that reflect the complexity and interconnectedness of human activities.
• Peter Newman, Timothy Beatley, and Heather Boyer, in “Resilient Cities: Overcoming Fossil Fuel Dependence,” discuss strategies for cities to become more resilient and adaptable in the face of environmental and economic challenges. They highlight the importance of designing cities that can withstand and quickly recover from various shocks, whether they are natural disasters or economic downturns.
• Lucio Valerio Barbera emphasizes the need to understand cities as dynamic entities in an “evolutionary age,” where their development mirrors the psychological and cognitive growth of individuals. This perspective encourages viewing urban growth as a series of stages, each with its unique challenges and opportunities for innovation and adaptation.
• Integrated Green Infrastructure
• Integrated green infrastructure incorporates natural elements into urban planning to enhance sustainability and livability. Green roofs, vertical gardens, urban forests, and permeable surfaces are essential components.
• David C. Rouse and Ignacio F. Bunster-Ossa’s “Green Infrastructure: A Landscape Approach” outlines strategies for integrating green infrastructure into urban planning. They emphasize the role of natural systems in improving urban environments, from managing stormwater to providing recreational spaces.
• Ian McHarg’s “Design with Nature” is another foundational text that emphasizes the importance of integrating natural systems into the built environment. McHarg’s work laid the groundwork for ecological planning and design, advocating for the consideration of environmental factors in all stages of the planning process.
• Smart Technology
• The use of AI, IoT, and data analytics will optimize urban functions and enhance the city’s responsiveness to challenges.
• Anthony M. Townsend’s “Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for a New Utopia” explores how technology is transforming urban spaces and the potential of smart cities. Townsend discusses the role of big data and civic engagement in creating more efficient and responsive urban environments.
• Stephen Goldsmith and Susan Crawford’s “The Responsive City: Engaging Communities Through Data-Smart Governance” discusses how data and technology can improve urban governance and planning. They highlight the potential for technology to enhance citizen participation and make city governments more transparent and accountable.
• Detailed City Layout
• Neighborhood Clusters
• Neighborhoods will be designed as self-sustaining clusters, each centered around a community hub providing essential services. These hubs will be connected by green corridors to ensure walkability and accessibility.
• Donald Shoup’s “The High Cost of Free Parking” discusses the benefits of walkable urban design and reducing reliance on cars. Shoup’s work has been influential in advocating for urban designs that prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over automobiles.
• Jaime Lerner’s “Urban Acupuncture” highlights the importance of small-scale interventions in creating vibrant urban spaces. Lerner argues for targeted, strategic improvements that can have a significant impact on the overall health and livability of urban environments.
• Centralized Mobility Hubs
• Strategically located mobility hubs will integrate various modes of transportation, reducing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable mobility.
• Alan Thein Durning’s “The End of the Car” examines the future of urban transportation and the decline of car dependency. Durning explores alternatives to car-centric urban design, advocating for public transit, cycling, and walkability.
• Jeff Speck’s “Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time” advocates for walkable urban design and the benefits of reducing car usage. Speck provides practical advice on how to create more pedestrian-friendly cities, emphasizing the economic, environmental, and social benefits of walkability.
• Mixed-Use Developments
• Integrating residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within the same buildings or blocks will promote a live-work-play environment.
• Jane Jacobs’ “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” is a foundational text on the benefits of mixed-use development and vibrant urban spaces. Jacobs’ critique of modernist urban planning has inspired a generation of urbanists to focus on human-scale, mixed-use development.
• Jan Gehl’s “Cities for People” focuses on designing cities that prioritize human scale and livability. Gehl’s work emphasizes the importance of designing urban spaces that meet the needs of people, rather than cars or abstract planning principles.
• Green Corridors and Nodes
• Extensive networks of green spaces will provide recreational areas and natural habitats, enhancing urban biodiversity and livability.
• Timothy Beatley’s “Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning” explores biophilic urbanism and the integration of nature into city design. Beatley argues for the incorporation of natural elements into urban environments to improve human health and well-being.
• Robert C. Brears’ “Blue and Green Cities: The Role of Blue-Green Infrastructure in Managing Urban Water Resources” discusses the integration of water management and green infrastructure. Brears highlights the importance of blue-green infrastructure in creating resilient and sustainable urban environments.
• Self-Sustaining Neighborhoods: Detailed Examples
• BedZED, London
• The Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) is a sustainable housing community featuring energy-efficient homes, renewable energy sources, and community initiatives for food production and waste management.
• “BedZED: Beddington Zero Energy Development” by Bioregional provides an overview of the project’s design and sustainability features. The development is an example of how communities can be designed to minimize their environmental impact while enhancing quality of life.
• “Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature” by Douglas Farr discusses BedZED and other sustainable urban projects. Farr’s book provides a comprehensive guide to designing sustainable urban environments, with a focus on integrating natural systems and reducing resource consumption.
• Vauban, Freiburg
• An eco-district in Germany that integrates renewable energy, green spaces, and sustainable transport options. Vauban is designed to be car-free, promoting cycling and walking, and includes communal gardens and green roofs to support biodiversity.
• “Vauban: A European Model for Sustainable Urban Development” by Marika Kose provides a detailed case study of Vauban’s development and sustainability strategies. The book highlights the district’s innovative approaches to urban design and sustainability.
• “The Eco-Edge: Urgent Design Challenges in Building Sustainable Cities” by Esther Charlesworth discusses eco-districts like Vauban. Charlesworth’s book explores the challenges and opportunities of creating sustainable urban environments in the 21st century.
• Masdar City, UAE
• A planned city designed to be a model for sustainable urban development, Masdar City incorporates renewable energy, advanced water management systems, and a car-free environment.
• “Masdar City: A Comprehensive Guide” by Masdar provides detailed information on the city’s design and sustainability initiatives. The guide outlines the various technologies and strategies used to create a sustainable urban environment.
• “Sustainable Urban Development: Past and Present” edited by Malcolm Eames et al., includes a chapter on Masdar City and its innovative approaches. The book provides a historical perspective on sustainable urban development, highlighting key projects and their impact.
• Influence of Historical Models
• Le Corbusier’s Radiant City
• Emphasizes high-density living and efficient transportation but requires integration with green spaces and community-centric designs to improve livability.
• “The Radiant City: Elements of a Doctrine of Urbanism to be Used as the Basis of Our Machine-Age Civilization” by Le Corbusier outlines these ideas. While influential, Le Corbusier’s vision needs adaptation to address modern concerns about sustainability and livability.
• Jane Jacobs’ Theories
• Advocates for mixed-use development and active street life, promoting vibrant, resilient communities.
• “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” by Jane Jacobs remains a crucial reference for urban planning. Jacobs’ work emphasizes the importance of diversity, density, and mixed-use development in creating vibrant urban environments.
• Aldo Rossi’s Theories
• Aldo Rossi’s work, particularly “The Architecture of the City,” emphasizes the importance of historical continuity and memory in urban design. Rossi argued that cities are collective artifacts shaped by cultural and historical contexts, and this understanding should inform future urban development. His concept of the “collective memory” is crucial for creating meaningful and livable urban spaces that resonate with their inhabitants’ experiences and histories.
• Manfredo Tafuri’s Critique
• Manfredo Tafuri, in works like “The Sphere and the Labyrinth,” provides a critical perspective on the relationship between architecture and capitalism. Tafuri’s critique of modern architecture’s complicity with capitalist development processes highlights the need for a more reflective and socially conscious approach to urban planning.
• Ludovico Quaroni’s School View
• Ludovico Quaroni’s work emphasizes the importance of understanding the social and cultural dimensions of urbanism. His ideas, as discussed in “Progettare un edificio” (Designing a Building), advocate for integrating architectural education with a deep understanding of historical context and social dynamics. Quaroni’s approach is crucial for developing future cities that are both innovative and respectful of their cultural heritage.
• Colin Rowe’s Collage City and Kevin Lynch’s Approach
• Colin Rowe’s “Collage City” presents a vision of urbanism that embraces the fragmented and heterogeneous nature of cities. Rowe advocates for a design approach that acknowledges and incorporates the complexity and diversity of urban environments.
• Kevin Lynch’s “The Image of the City” emphasizes the importance of human perception in urban design. Lynch’s concepts of “imageability” and “wayfinding” highlight how the physical form of the city affects the way people navigate and understand urban spaces.
• Conclusion
• As we envision the city of 2125, it is essential to integrate historical insights with contemporary technological advancements to create urban environments that are sustainable, resilient, and adaptable. By understanding cities as dynamic entities in an evolutionary age, we can better address the challenges and opportunities of urban development. Future cities will need to balance density with livability, incorporate green infrastructure, leverage smart technologies, and draw on the rich legacy of architectural and urban design theories to create vibrant and inclusive urban spaces.
  
• Prompts:
• Can you elaborate an essay describing and defining the Future city in 2125 (urban form, housing typologies, architectural language, density, mobility, green areas). How much the idea of the city will be influenced by the architectural history models (modern, contemporary) and how much from the ai generative tools that will be developed in the next 100 years. To elaborate the essay you can check in the https://archive.org/ https://www.jstor.org/ https://www.archinform.net/index.htm and consider history book as Sigfried Giedion, Hitchcock, Benister Fletcher, Frampton, Manfredo Tafuri, Leonardo Benevolo, William Curtis, Jean Louis Cohen, and reviews as Architectural Record, Architectural Design, Casabella, Domus. You can also take inspiration from books as Neuromancer by William Gibson and The City is not A Tree by Christopher Alexander, https://archive.org/details/neuromancer_202209
• Can you develop in a more elaborated data the conceptual dimension related to the city layout, the self-sustaining neighborhoods, make some examples. This framework is rooted in the principles of flexible urbanism, integrated green infrastructure, and smart technology: can you elaborate more and quote references. City Layout: these are still generical categories, how they can be designed to keep the concepts together? Self-Sustaining Neighborhoods: can you quote some examples beyond the generical description (although correct). you are quoting always two main sources. The inspiration from the historical models is a bit too wide in the scope and outcome. how AI tools will enhance urban planning and design.

Definition of Idea of a City in 2125: A Comprehensive Vision

• The vision of future cities in 2125 is a fascinating amalgamation of advanced technology, sustainable practices, and innovative urban planning. Drawing from the concepts discussed in various academic and futuristic texts, we can explore how the principles of utopian architecture and urban planning might evolve to address the challenges and opportunities of the future.
• Technological Integration and Smart Infrastructure
• In 2125, cities are expected to be highly integrated with advanced technologies, creating a seamless interaction between the urban environment and its inhabitants. Smart infrastructure will be at the core of this transformation, incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics to manage city functions efficiently. This integration will facilitate real-time monitoring and management of resources such as energy, water, and transportation systems, reducing waste and optimizing usage.
• The urban landscape will be dotted with autonomous vehicles, drone delivery systems, and smart grids that respond dynamically to changes in demand. Buildings will be designed with adaptive systems that regulate temperature, lighting, and ventilation based on occupancy and external weather conditions. These innovations will enhance the quality of life, making cities more livable, efficient, and sustainable.
• Sustainable Urban Planning and Green Architecture
• The future city will prioritize sustainability in all aspects of its design and operation. Future urban planning will aim to harmonize human activities with the natural environment. Green architecture will dominate the skyline, featuring buildings with integrated vegetation, renewable energy sources, and sustainable materials.
• Urban planners will focus on creating self-sufficient communities that produce their own energy, recycle waste, and grow food locally. Vertical farms, green roofs, and solar panels will be commonplace, contributing to a city’s resilience against environmental challenges. Public spaces will be designed to promote biodiversity, with green corridors connecting parks and natural reserves, providing habitats for wildlife and recreational areas for residents.
• Social Inclusivity and Community-Centric Design
• A key aspect of future cities will be the emphasis on social inclusivity and community-centric design. Urban designers will strive to create environments that foster social interaction, cultural expression, and communal living. Mixed-use developments will ensure that residential, commercial, and recreational spaces are within close proximity, reducing the need for long commutes and enhancing the sense of community.
• Public participation in the planning process will be encouraged, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and reflected in the city’s development. This democratic approach to urban planning will help address social inequalities and create spaces that are accessible and welcoming to all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
• Resilience and Adaptability
• Future cities will be designed with resilience and adaptability in mind, capable of withstanding and recovering from various challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and economic fluctuations. Urban planners will incorporate flexible design principles that allow for the modification and repurposing of buildings and infrastructure as needs evolve over time.
• Disaster preparedness will be integrated into the city’s fabric, with buildings designed to withstand extreme weather events and infrastructure systems capable of rapid recovery. Green infrastructure, such as wetlands and green belts, will act as natural buffers against floods and heatwaves, enhancing the city’s ability to cope with environmental stresses.
• Cultural and Aesthetic Evolution
• The aesthetic of future cities will reflect a blend of high-tech innovation and cultural heritage. While technology will play a significant role in shaping the urban environment, there will be a conscious effort to preserve and celebrate the cultural and historical identities of each city. Architectural styles will vary, drawing inspiration from local traditions and global influences, creating a rich tapestry of urban forms.
• Public art installations, cultural centers, and historical landmarks will be integral parts of the cityscape, providing spaces for cultural expression and community engagement. The future city will not only be a hub of technological advancement but also a center of cultural vibrancy and artistic innovation.
• Trends in Information Sources
• The trends in the sources of information on future cities are illustrated in the diagram provided. This diagram is based on hypothetical data reflecting the expected influence and prevalence of different sources from 2020 to 2125.
• 1. **AI-Generated Content**: The influence and prevalence of AI-generated content are expected to grow significantly over the years. Starting at a lower point in 2020, the trend shows a rapid increase, indicating the growing role of AI in data analysis and predictive modeling.
• 2. **Books and Academic Papers**: The influence of academic sources remains relatively high throughout the period but shows a gradual decline. This trend reflects the enduring value of in-depth analysis and theoretical frameworks while acknowledging the slower pace of publication and adaptation to rapid changes.
• 3. **Other Formats (PDFs, Reports, Magazines, etc.)**: The trend for other formats shows a steady increase, suggesting that practical insights, industry reports, and timely publications will become more influential. This rise highlights the need for up-to-date, diverse perspectives in understanding and planning future urban environments.
• AI and New Formats in 2125
• In 2125, AI will have evolved to incorporate advanced neural networks and quantum computing, allowing for more sophisticated data analysis, predictive modeling, and decision-making capabilities. These AI systems will be able to simulate complex urban environments, optimize resource allocation, and provide personalized urban experiences for residents.
• New formats for disseminating information will also emerge, including immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) platforms, which will allow users to experience and interact with urban planning projects before they are built. These technologies will facilitate greater public engagement and participation in the planning process, making it more inclusive and democratic.
• Potential Negative Issues and Challenges
• While the vision of future cities in 2125 is filled with promising advancements, it is essential to consider potential negative issues and challenges that might arise.
• Technological Dependency and Privacy Issues
• With the pervasive use of IoT devices and AI, significant concerns about data privacy and security arise. The collection and analysis of vast amounts of personal data could lead to misuse or breaches. Over-reliance on technology could lead to vulnerabilities, and a failure in critical systems could cause widespread disruption. Additionally, not all residents may have equal access to advanced technologies, exacerbating social inequalities.
• Environmental Impact
• Despite advances in green technologies, the construction and maintenance of smart cities could still consume significant natural resources. The rapid turnover of electronic devices and infrastructure could lead to increased electronic waste, posing environmental hazards.
• Social and Economic Inequality
• Advanced urban development might lead to gentrification, pushing out lower-income residents and creating socio-economic divides. Automation and AI could lead to significant job displacement, especially in industries relying on manual labor, leading to unemployment and social unrest.
• Resilience and Adaptability Challenges
• Despite efforts to create resilient infrastructure, extreme weather events and other climate-related challenges could still pose significant threats. The cost of constantly adapting infrastructure to new technologies and environmental conditions could be prohibitive for some cities, especially in developing regions.
• Cultural and Ethical Concerns
• The global spread of similar technologies and architectural styles could lead to a loss of unique cultural identities in cities. The deployment of AI and surveillance technologies raises ethical questions about control, autonomy, and the rights of individuals.
• Governance and Regulation
• Keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancement can be challenging for regulatory bodies, leading to potential gaps in governance. Smart city technologies could lead to the centralization of power in the hands of a few tech companies or government entities, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.
• Psychological and Social Impacts
• The fast-paced, highly connected urban environment might contribute to stress and mental health issues. Increased reliance on technology for social interactions might lead to reduced face-to-face interactions, contributing to social isolation.
• Conclusion
• The future city of 2125 represents an ambitious vision where technology, sustainability, social inclusivity, resilience, and cultural heritage converge to create vibrant, livable urban environments. Drawing from theoretical insights of various urban thinkers, this vision emphasizes the need for holistic and integrated approaches to urban planning that prioritize the well-being of both the environment and its inhabitants. As we move towards this future, continuous innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainable development will be crucial in realizing the ideal city of tomorrow.
• PDF and links assigned to read.
• Sir Banister Fletcher
• Neuromancer
• Manfredo Tafuri: Architecture and Utopia
• Lucio Barbera: The City in the Evolutionary Age
• This is what the cities of the future could look like | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Initial bibliography and arguments:

Christopher Alexander, A city is not a tree, Sustasis Press (1965/2015): The text distinguish the use of two mathematical structures, trees and semi-lattices, to describe the urban environment. In particular, Alexander recognizes in the tree structure the key to the failure of many artificial cities, at the same time indicating in the semi-lattice structure the main of spontaneous or natural settlements. >City: not a tree (a semi-lattices).

Arne Naess. The Shallow and the Deep, Long-Range Ecology Movement. A Summary, Inquiry n. 16, (1973): The book is based on one of Naess conferences in 1972. In reality, as a basic and behavioral philosophy, deep ecology was well known to the Hopi or Lakota shamans, to other native cultures or to some philosophies of Asian origin, but Naess he was the first to define it in Western scientific-philosophical terms. In that article which became famous, Naess distinguishes between a “superficial” ecology, which fights for the conservation of nature, which however remains a resource at the service of man, and a “deep” ecology, which supports the intrinsic value of natural realities. If everything that exists is interrelated, that is, if “everything depends on everything”, the human being is no longer separated from the natural world but is only a part of it, which interacts with the others and towards which he must take an empathetic attitude. >City: a “deep” ecology with empathetic attitude.

Jacopo Fiore, Trees are not enough (nor are semi-lattices) A probabilistic reading of the inadequacy of trees and semi-grids for the description of urban structures, L’Architettura delle Città – The Journal of the Scientific Society “Ludovico Quaroni”, Nuova Cultura, 2021: Although these limits have already been highlighted in the literature, we have tried to use an approach as close as possible to the set theory language used by Alexander himself, using probabilistic and combinatorial calculus tools. The results of the work are anticipated by an exposition of how it is possible to describe with the theory of sets the elements of the urban environment that are of primary importance in modeling the problem. Quantitative are followed by a discussion of possible alternative approaches to the urban planning problem presented in the literature. [Luı Bettencourt, The uses of big data in cities, Big data, 2 (2014). Ruiqi Li et Al., Simple spatial scaling rules behind complex cities, “Nature Communications”, 8 (2017)]. >City:  not a tree, trees are not enough (nor are semi-lattices).
Shannon Mattern, A City Is Not a Computer. Other Urban Intelligence, (2021): The book reveals how cities encompass myriad forms of local and indigenous intelligences and knowledge institutions, arguing that these resources are a vital supplement and corrective to increasingly prevalent algorithmic models. >City: not a computer.

Georgina Voss, Systems Ultra: Making Sense of Technology in a Complex World (2023): “Money too, is made up and can only derive its power from collective social forces. As the anthropologist Lana Swartz explains: “We accept money – it is only valuable – because we have a shared sense of what institutions authorize it, who will accept it and where, and that they will accept it tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. When we exchange money, we agree not only on its quantity but its meaning. If you exist outside approved social norms, it’s not a given that the institutions of money will recognize you. It is not given that you will be able to get paid. Systems Ultra — Georgina Voss (gsvoss.com) > City: a system ultra in a complex world