Most futuristic-looking cities in the world?

[Blue3]

What are some of the most futuristic-looking cities in the world?



Here's one I was recently looking at... Astana

[Cranberry]

Depends on what you would call "futuristic" - different people have different connotations with that term, so probably everyone will have a different image in mind.

Keep in mind though with cities like Astana, those are usually no more than playgrounds of autocratic despots (which are quite common in post-Soviet -Stan countries), with the "futuristic" part being the only one shown to Western visitors (that applies to Russia and China as well). The largest part of the population does not live in parts of the city like that at all, and you cannot possibly call some of those areas "futuristic", see for example this:

 (This picture is from Atyrau on the Kazachi Caspian Sea coast, so not technically Astana; but you probably wouldn't need to look far to find similar in Astana)

[Blue3]

Oh, I know that, but that shouldn't disqualify those cities.

[jaichind]

Well, obviously there is Dubai

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Detroit.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

We still consider 'futuristic' to mean 'what they thought the future looked like in 1956' which is amusing.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Depends on what you would call "futuristic" - different people have different connotations with that term, so probably everyone will have a different image in mind.

Keep in mind though with cities like Astana, those are usually no more than playgrounds of autocratic despots (which are quite common in post-Soviet -Stan countries), with the "futuristic" part being the only one shown to Western visitors (that applies to Russia and China as well). The largest part of the population does not live in parts of the city like that at all, and you cannot possibly call some of those areas "futuristic", see for example this:

 (This picture is from Atyrau on the Kazachi Caspian Sea coast, so not technically Astana; but you probably wouldn't need to look far to find similar in Astana)

Considering the extreme and growing degree of inequality that will probably define the near future, I'd say that makes these cities very 'futuristic'.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Detroit.

Unbeatable answer.

We still consider 'futuristic' to mean 'what they thought the future looked like in 1956' which is amusing.

That too.

Ah, and, nothing in France.

And, well, it's hard to see something that exists in present to embody the 'future'. Brazilia...

[Meclazine for Israel]

Sinagpore looks amazing with the new hotel and botanical gardens.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

And, well, it's hard to see something that exists in present to embody the 'future'. Brazilia...

Robert Hughes weighs in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he4C7gWEpEU

[Nhoj]

Depends on what you would call "futuristic" - different people have different connotations with that term, so probably everyone will have a different image in mind.

Keep in mind though with cities like Astana, those are usually no more than playgrounds of autocratic despots (which are quite common in post-Soviet -Stan countries), with the "futuristic" part being the only one shown to Western visitors (that applies to Russia and China as well). The largest part of the population does not live in parts of the city like that at all, and you cannot possibly call some of those areas "futuristic", see for example this:

 (This picture is from Atyrau on the Kazachi Caspian Sea coast, so not technically Astana; but you probably wouldn't need to look far to find similar in Astana)

Eh you are unlikely to find a building that old in Astana. But yes I imagine that there is some rough commie blocks there.

Anyways for the question hate it or not Dubai probably qualifies. Several Chinese cities work as well.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Sinagpore looks amazing with the new hotel and botanical gardens.

If so 'future' isn't really esthetic...



And building hanging gardens would définitely be a bad sign...

Anyways for the question hate it or not Dubai probably qualifies. Several Chinese cities work as well.

This is preeeeeeseeeeennnnt!

[IceAgeComing]

(This picture is from Atyrau on the Kazachi Caspian Sea coast, so not technically Astana; but you probably wouldn't need to look far to find similar in Astana)

You'd probably struggle to find something exactly like that in Astana, if only because Astana was basically built from scratch to be a purpose built capital city just because Nazarbayev wanted a different capital city; although Almaty (the former Kazakh capital) is built on a fault line and apparently they can't expand it much more.  From what I know, Astana is basically empty; they built it to house a lot more people than currently live there. 

Did a course on the International Politics of Central Asia when I was at uni, generally interesting part of the world.  Apparently Almaty is meant to be a nice place to visit; although I think I'll wait until I've got a bit of money before venturing that far out.

[ag]

(This picture is from Atyrau on the Kazachi Caspian Sea coast, so not technically Astana; but you probably wouldn't need to look far to find similar in Astana)

You'd probably struggle to find something exactly like that in Astana, if only because Astana was basically built from scratch to be a purpose built capital city just because Nazarbayev wanted a different capital city;

Not quite true. Akmolinsk/Tselinograd/Akmola/Astana does have some history.  Officially, it was founded in 1830.  There are still Soviet streets like this over there



And even pre-Soviet places like this (apparently, the building currently houses Ukrainian embassy)



and



There are still quite decrepit looking parts



Most of it I take from this pretty good overall survey of the surviving pre-Nazarbayev Astana over here (in Russian, but the pictures talk for themselves):

http://varandej.livejournal.com/456406.html

[Gunnar Larsson]

The planners must have loved Sim City...

[Stranger in a strange land]

And, well, it's hard to see something that exists in present to embody the 'future'. Brazilia...

Robert Hughes weighs in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he4C7gWEpEU

This all makes perfect sense: Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

And, well, it's hard to see something that exists in present to embody the 'future'. Brazilia...

Robert Hughes weighs in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he4C7gWEpEU

This all makes perfect sense: Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be.

Yeah, add a little 'futuristic' music, and...

Vaaah-Vaaah

...you suddenly propulsed, to the future!