The entertainment industry would have us believe that in the future we’ll all dress in silver jump suits, eat our meals in pill form and commute to work by jet pack. As yet, our day-to-day existence has failed to resemble an episode of The Jetsons, but a futuristic, space age city is taking shape on our doorstep.
Masdar City, which is being constructed next to Abu Dhabi International Airport, might not be serviced by cyborgs, and has a distinct lack of matter transportation machines, but it is trailblazing the cause of how urban developments can be built without accelerating the destruction of the planet.
When it’s eventually finished, Masdar City should be home to 40,000 residents living in a pedestrian-friendly, self-enclosed city that relies entirely on sustainable energy and hi-tech, carbon-neutral gadgetry. However, this utopia is at least 15 years from completion, and, at present, Masdar resembles your average building site. But there are a few parts of the project that are open for business, and a new family-focused street fair and organic market aims to showcase what’s finished so far.
The first of the monthly fairs, named Market@Masdar, is taking place on April 29 from 10am-5pm, when visitors will be given a glimpse into how well the scheme is advancing. Alan Frost, director of Masdar City, says, ‘Masdar City is open to the public, and is a living example of what Abu Dhabi can achieve and its commitment to sustainable living. We want to encourage people to begin sharing the Masdar experience and to be part of the historic development in creating one of the world’s most sustainable cities.’
At the outdoor fair, which will run on the last Friday of every month, except from May to September because of the punishing summer heat, visitors will be able to wander through a farmers’ market, stocking up on locally grown organic veg, buy organic beauty and spa products, and check out stalls selling jewellery, and arts and craft products made out of recycled goods. The event is also firmly aimed at children, with face painting, henna designs and games taking place to keep younger environmentalists entertained.
Fun aside, the fair has a serious purpose, which is to show how Masdar is using pioneering techniques and hi-tech gadgetry to achieve its goals. With this in mind, visitors can view some of the pilot environmental schemes, such as a geothermal cooling plant and a 10-megawatt solar panel farm. And, although Masdar is sadly jet pack-free, you can take a ride on Masdar City’s Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) system – futuristic electric pods that will take you from the car park to the centre of the city. You can also visit the Masdar Institute, which has been open for almost a year, where students research and test clean technology and renewable energies.
And Frost says visitors will be impressed with the way the city is taking shape. ‘Overall, we’re very happy with the way Masdar is progressing. We opened the Masdar Institute to our students in September, and they’d already spent a year studying off site, so our first students will graduate next year,’ he says. ‘Before Christmas we began the second phase of the institute, and our first commercial building – which will be shops and offices – is also under construction’ So get along and see for yourself. Shiny jump suits are optional.
For more information, visit www.masdar.ae
