Last week, billionaire Marc Lore announced plans to build Telosa, a sustainable megacity in the American desert with an investment of 400 billion USD. The ambitious 60,703-hectare project aims to be environmentally friendly architecture, sustainable energy production and water supply system in drought conditions. Residents of the city will be able to travel from home to work, school and facilities within 15 minutes. Although planners are still scouting construction sites, some potential targets include Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Texas and the Appalachian region.
The announcement was accompanied by a series of digital renderings by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the architecture firm Lore hired to bring the project to life. The images reveal apartment buildings covered in greenery and residents enjoying spacious open spaces. Telosa will only allow vehicles powered by renewable energy and pedestrians will be given priority.
A rendering of the skyscraper, called the Equitism Tower, which is being described as a "lighthouse for the city." It will feature an elevated water storage system, an aeroponic farm, and a roof covered with photovoltaic panels to generate energy.
Phase 1 of Telosa will serve 50,000 residents at an estimated cost of $25 billion, expected to welcome its first residents in 2030. The target population is 5 million, maintained within 40 years. Construction budget will come from various sources including private investors, philanthropic organizations, state and federal governments, and economic development grants.
In addition to innovative urban design, the project also promises transparent governance and a new social model. Residents of Telosa City will have the right to participate in decision-making and budgeting. They will also be able to share in land ownership.
This is not the first new city that BIG has designed and planned. In January 2020, Japanese carmaker Toyota also assigned BIG to plan a 2,000-person city at the foot of Mount Fuji. Smaller in area than Telosa, the project, called Woven City, will serve as a testbed for self-driving cars, smart technology, and life-support robots.
