t that we are already suffering energy shortages. To maintain our current growth rate, we must opt for sustainable development. In Dongtan we want to demonstrate what can be done in terms of renewable energy, clean transport systems and sustainable lifestyles. The model was designed so that it could be extended to the rest of Chongming, serving as a prototype for the whole country."
Standing on the site of the new town, Alejandro Gutierrez, Arup's senior architect, explains: "Dongtan will be compact, inspired by traditional Chinese towns in which water plays an important part. Social factors are essential. It will have a diverse population, affordable housing, at least 30,000 jobs on the spot, schools and a hospital, to ensure it is not dependent on Shanghai."
The most original feature of Dongtan is its eco-friendly design. It will have an ecological footprint (the total area of land required to sustain an individual) of two hectares per person, three times less than Shanghai, London or Paris.
Dongtan is surrounded by miles of wetland, vital for birds migrating between Australia and Siberia. It is determined to preserve the quality of its air, so motor vehicles must be carbon-neutral and the plans provide for the construction of hydrogen filling stations for fuel cells.
To meet the town planners' requirements, Arup has even designed small, lightweight vehicles that consume little energy and travel almost bumper-to-bumper, taking up little room on the roads. Dongtan aims to be energy self-sufficient, meeting all its requirements with renewable sources - solar, wind and biomass.
However, the design team realises that it will have to overcome many obstacles before achieving its ideal. "Even if, with the right design and materials, you manage to build homes that operate at only two-thirds of current energy levels, individual behaviour may completely upset your plans," says Gutierrez. "That is why we need a combination of rules, outreach and price incentives to educate the occupants and halt excessive consumption."
Once the authorities give the green light to Arup's master plan this year, things should happen quickly, with the town scheduled to be built in less than four years.
So, can we look forward to hundreds or even thousands of Dongtans in other parts of the world? Peter Head, Arup's director, is sure it is possible. The materials and design would be different, but the underlying principles and method would be the same. Providing, he adds, that people believe in this sort of project and support it wholeheartedly, as is the case in China.