From Masdar City, Abu Dhabi to Florya, Istanbul: What Can We Learn from Smart Cities?

Abstract

Masdar City is one of the first smart city models that emerged as an ambitious project, aiming to become the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste city, weaving technology into its urban fabric. Today, the project remains unfinished and is largely a ghost town, neglecting the most crucial component of a city: people. Learning from Masdar City, how can we design more people-centric smart cities? This paper proposes a future city model for a site in Florya, Istanbul. We explore how urban planning can benefit from “smart” initiatives that promote social connection through volunteering, supporting local production, and prioritising pedestrian-friendly mobility. Future cities do not have to be technological utopias but offer a reasonable interpretation of community needs to build a just and equitable future.