The competed land between Croatia and Serbia known as Liberland will be built on a basis of being environment-friendly and self- sustainable. The overall main design by Raya Ani, director of RAW-NYC, was to minimize pollution through renewable energy and to save space in Liberland. In addition to the overall development of the land, the design team also included non-designers, such as economists.
In order to save space, Ani states that the land will be developed by piling up in multiple layers, comprising of smaller and compact arranged buildings allowing sunlight to reach the street. Therefore, fully maximizing the usage of land in a limited space.
To address the issues of pollution, Ani’s design included the use of platforms integrated with a genetically engineered version of algae by planting them on a horizontal surface layer. The algae do not need sunlight to grow, and can produce energy that can be converted into power for the land. In addition, the design also comprises of addressing solar power, which utilize a waste-to-energy system that transforms organic waste to biogas for cooking. It also includes burning thrown waste to produce electricity.
The land is designed to provide accessibilities for ease of transportation around the neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are gathered around transit,with recreation areas which require no more than 10-minute walk from public transit. The land focuses on being car-free which only comprise of bike and pedestrian paths.
The integration of green walls and roofs on the buildings will aid in reducing rainwater runoff and to reduce temperature during heat waves. To address the issues of a floodplain, parks are designed along the edges of the city.
Economists were also introduced by the design team to facilitate the function of the city. The Economists proposed that the land would have three economic hubs-sustainability,media, and technology and promote entrepreneurship through a national crowdfunding site. In an economic sense, Ani proposed that the Liberland must be able to self-sustain and to prove its capabilities to neighboring countries.
According to Ani, the urban planning design might not be built according to what she foresees in the future. In order for this urban planning to work, it requires a long time to be accepted by individuals and this affects the development of the micronation. However, it could happen on a smaller scale, for example, with a single building powered by algae.
These designs that are proposed by Ani are in accordance with the president, Vit Jedlicka’s main vision that says “It was always our plan to keep Liberland as green as possible.”
(426 words)
No comments:
Post a Comment