What would a sustainable mega-city look like if it were to be built from the ground up using all modern construction methods, materials, and technologies" In the West, we haven?t had an opportunity to find that out yet, since the most desirable land has already been developed and tearing it down to start over just wouldn’t be feasible. In places that are rapidly urbanizing, however, governments and developers are teaming up to rethink how cities should be planned in the 21st century. Songdo, South Korea is one example of a currently in-progress city, and China is working on Xiongan, a new city set to be three times the size of New York.

Set to be built on across four man-made islands in Iskandar, Malaysia, “Forest City” will soon join the ranks of these modern meccas. Designed by Sasaki Associates, this $40.9 billion (USD) master plan will connect major economic centers of the region and act as a ?hub of commerce and culture.? Renderings depict lush, compact, and highly walkable mixed-use developments where residents can enjoy all the perks of a modern urban lifestyle while surrounded by a relaxing island vibe.
Forest City is strategically located on the southern end of Malaysia ? adjacent to the booming nation-state of Singapore ? and will house financial institutions, tech companies, and biotech research facilities among other industries in hopes of creating an estimated 220,000 new jobs. The developers aim to infuse the city with a broad array of...