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What Might be Dystopia in Urban Planning?

What Might be Dystopia in Urban Planning?

 In urban planning, dystopia refers to city designs that threaten the quality of life, exclude people, and view spaces solely as areas for work or transit. These designs often hinder social interactions, increase isolation in the absence of green spaces, and create poorly planned areas that exacerbate escape routes, negatively impacting people. Dystopian cities can be seen as spaces that act more like adversaries than friendly environments for humans.

Edge of Tomorrow" - Dystopian City Slums, Marina Pomigalova

      Model of 1925 Plan Voisin by Le Corbusier to replace the Marais district of Paris. (Daily Beast)

Here are some elements that typically characterize a dystopian approach to urban planning:

1. Extreme Density 

- Mega-skyscrapers or “hive cities” with small, cramped living spaces and little regard for residents' comfort or mental well-being.

Example: Dense population in China.

(Mike, 2020b)


2. Lack of Green Spaces

- Limited or non-existent parks, green areas, or natural scenery, leading to a concrete jungle feel and further detachment from nature. Controlled, simulated environments for those who can’t access or afford natural spaces, with controlled air quality, artificial lighting, and limited views of the sky.

Example: The dense urban areas in Beijing struggle with pollution and the urban heat island effect due to limited green space.Living in such areas can feel of being trapped.


(Green Spaces – Urban Green Spaces, n.d.)

3. Social and Economic Segregation

- Clear separation between wealthy and impoverished areas, often leading to "forbidden zones" where lower-income residents cannot enter affluent areas and vice versa. Companies may control certain districts, creating monopolies on food, housing, healthcare, etc., that prioritize corporate profit over residents' well-being.

Example: The skyrocketing prices of expensive places in San Francisco due to technology has caused people to move out of the city center, and this worsens socio-economic segregation.


(Sarkar & Sarkar, 2024)

4. Urban Alienation

- A highly homogeneous, impersonal urban design where neighborhoods have no distinct character or cultural identity.






References:

  1. Brussat, V. a. P. B. D. (2018, November 8). More on ‘Making Dystopia.’ Architecture Here and There. https://architecturehereandthere.com/2018/11/07/more-on-making-dystopia/
  2. Lemme, N. (n.d.). Killing Individuality: Urban design in Dystopian Fiction. Pressbooks. https://openbooks.library.umass.edu/writing-the-world-2020/chapter/killing-individuality-urban-design-in-dystopian-fiction-by-naeva-lemme/
  3. Mike, C. (2020b, November 1). China Population Density Maps (Downloadable Maps) | China Mike. China Mike. https://www.china-mike.com/china-travel-tips/tourist-maps/china-population-maps/
  4. Green spaces – Urban green spaces. (n.d.). https://chinaenv.colgate.edu/greenspaces/urban-green-spaces-in-china/
  5. Sarkar, T., & Sarkar, T. (2024, September 30). San Francisco Travel Association Predicts Skyrocketing Growth in Tourists Arrivals with 23.22 Million Visitors Along with Rapid Increase in Hotel and Meetings Industry - Travel And Tour World. Travel and Tour World. https://www.travelandtourworld.com.tr/news/article/san-francisco-travel-association-predicts-skyrocketing-growth-in-tourists-arrivals-with-23-22-million-visitors-along-with-rapid-increase-in-hotel-and-meetings-industry/
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