Architecture

          The architecture of the Futurevisions Project is again inspired by many visions of an brighter future. The clean surfaces and rounded lines reflect an optimism that seems to have been forgotten in our sometimes jaded culture. The inspiration draws from a wide range of style. From the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Deaton, to the look of EPCOT and Tomorrowland. Some of the designs are actually quite tame, while others are space-age. It is in this mixture of style that the futurevisions project reflects an integration of yesterday and tomorrow with today.

        Throughout the city, the architecture would be designed with energy efficiency as a primary focus. Most buildings would utilize passive-solar technology as well as active photovoltaic collecting materials in the buildings design itself. In hot climates, one of the most basic and effective ways to build a green city would be to orient it in the right direction, towards prevailing winds and away from solar heat gain. Most of the buildings would also be of a non-reflecting light color. The reason for this color scheme is that cities of today are tremendous heat generators. In the sun, black surfaces can become up to 40 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the most reflective white surfaces. Cool, reflective building surfaces can reduce this effect, save energy and make interior spaces cleaner and healthier. Similar to the materials surrounding swimming pools, the cities of the future could minimize heat through design to again minimize the environmental impacts of cities.

          Vegetation is also crucial in cooling cities, first by providing shade for buildings, ground surfaces and pedestrians, and secondly by reducing urban temperatures through a process known as evapotranspiration. Trees placed strategically next to buildings, homes, and paved areas, for example, minimize heat buildup in those areas and make air conditioning more effective by blocking direct sunlight and heat gain.