Cities and homes

          The city is one of the most unique of man’s creations. It is at once a functional living environment as well as an extension of our attitudes and perspectives. Mind takes form in the city; and in turn, the urban environments we create condition mind.

          People have been planning cities for a long time, and in countless forms. Within the work of the Rocky Mountain Futurevisions project, we explore a particular variety of futuristic cities and homes. The images you see could be that of an experimental community of the near future, or a concept for an exclusive resort-city. They could be images of an utopian futuropolis, or a lone technological outpost rebuilding a post-apocalyptic world. You may see pictured here, redeveloped urban areas, small eco-villages, or modular floating cities. The images function as eye-candy which we hope allow you to dream and imagine the forms that could take place within city structures.

          The cities of the futurevisions project are usually radial in layout. The radial design is popular among many futurists for it's simplicity and design geared toward efficient use of space. The cities would be highly planned and designed with ease of transportation, as well as beauty and functionality in mind. The city should convey to all who inhabit it a feeling of creativity and empowerment. The city should be an optimistic environment that provides the support and resources necessary to people allowing personal fulfillment and equitable contribution. There would also be a greater emphasis within these environments on life-long learning. In many ways, the entire city could function as a sort of university of life, with programs and continual tutoring going on much in the way of a “free university.” The city of the future will almost certainly be a “smart city.” Technologies would be implemented to respond to the inhabitants within. Communities that are more connected and creative will become stronger and more vital places in which to live and grow.

          The city does indeed form the foundation and structure to which much of what we are and what we do is attached. It is the stage where we play out all the various components of our lives. Within this project, we generally work within the mental framework of imagining cities of a better tomorrow. The images sometimes convey a retro-futuristic style. This is not to imply how a real future city might actually look, but as an artistic expression of a sense of optimism toward the future. These designs are, after all, the design of one man. Real cities are designed by many different minds and reflect that.

          Within the boundaries of the city, transportation would be primarily public. The energy systems would be low-impact, renewable, self contained and highly efficient. The central complex of the city would be a place for research, activity of all kinds, and leisure. the middle bands could be areas for agriculture and parks, while the outer band would resemble garden-cities. In the outer residential band, homes would be spaced appropriately to maximize privacy for each area.

          The cities depicted here take a decidedly idealistic-looking route, and stand as strong visual anchors for imagining a better tomorrow. This imagery is designed with the hope to encourage an optimistic perspective in the mind of the viewer. If you could improve the city in which you live today, what changes could you imagine?