Forget Neom, Malaysia's BiodiverCity is ultimate futuristic city goals

Forget Saudi Arabia’s Neom, Malaysia's new project is the ultimate futuristic city goal, Dezeen reported.

Three man-made islands off the coast of Penang Island, Malaysia, will be connected by an autonomous transportation network as part of BIG's Biodiversity master plan.

In partnership with Ramboll and regional architect Hijjas, BIG is creating the massive land reclamation project for the Penang State Government, which will span 1821 hectares.

Each island is designed to resemble a lilypad and will have mixed-use areas, 242 hectares of parks, 4.6 km of public beaches, and a waterfront that stretches 25 miles.

The objective of BiodiverCity is to establish Penang Island as a "global destination" that promotes sustainable cultural and economic development while safeguarding the island's natural habitats and coastal zones' biodiversity. 

Buildings in BiodiverCity will mostly be made of bamboo, Malaysian lumber, and "green concrete," which is aggregated with recycled materials, according to BIG.

Each of the island districts is predicted to house 15,000–18,000 people, and they will all be dependent on waste management, renewable energy, and locally sourced water supplies.

Additionally, they will be connected by an autonomous network of land, air, and sea transportation, prioritising walkers and cyclists and creating a car-free environment in BiodiverCity.

A network of biological corridors known as buffers, which span between 50 and 100 metres and are used as parks and natural reserves to promote biodiversity, would surround the buildings and districts.