"CITY OF TOMORROW" BERKELEY SQUARE BY DEBBIE FLEVOTOMOU ARCHITECTS
The term “city of tomorrow” no longer describes a future concept but rather a fast approaching reality. We see this as clean air, easy access to the city within 15 minutes and modern technology to gather and process data with the aim to produce, utilise and disseminate information to improve its citizens lives. Technologically advanced, it is first and foremost a city, a place where people live, work and play by either walking or cycling from their homes.
Here, businesses grow and thrive and architecture and the environment give the city its personality; making it a desirable, vibrant and attractive place to be. The climate crisis and global Covid-19 pandemic combined to accelerate the consideration and implementation of the concept. In July 2020, The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group published a framework for cities to "build back better" using the 15 minutes concept, highlighting the community engagement.
The City of Tomorrow is a necessity if our national targets for decarbonisation are to be achieved, in a way that improves and enriches life in our existing cities. Many questions need to be considered when forming an evolving city plan. This includes road usage for less cars, more cycling lanes, more gardens and public realm areas, buildings’ energy consumption targets, the generation and storage of energy, and the infrastructure that will underpin it all. In all of this, it is of vital importance that the city remains or develops into a place that people love to visit, explore, walk, cycle, work and conduct their business. It needs to be a vibrant place where people, information and services interact seamlessly, supported by infrastructure and elevated and nurtured by nature.
We have developed a masterplan for our local area, Berkeley Square, Mayfair; a good example of a locality with many and diverse constraints. As a conservation area with numerous listed buildings and limited space for new developments, it offers a great case study for challenging the status quo to deliver the city of tomorrow. What do you think? Let us know!
2nd Floor, Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 6BD
020 7887 1305 | info@debbieflevotomou.com
