Construction begins on 'Chinese Masdar'

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Abu Dhabi's delayed Masdar project will need to get its skates on if it is to be the first high-tech sustainable city in the world – as a new development in China is hot on its heels.

The Wuxi Sino Swedish Eco-City, designed by Swedish firm Tengbom, will be a 2.4km² development at the heart of the Taihu New City, an 150km² city with a planned population of 850,000.

Tengbom released the master plan for the city in April, and agreements were signed this month between the Chinese government and Swedish Secretary of State Elisabeth Falermo during her visit to Shanghai and Wuxi. Work began on the project earlier this year, with a 2014 estimated completion date.

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The eco-city will be home to some 20,000 people, and will benefit from energy efficient transport, solar water heating and solar energy and waste recycling systems. Shanghai vice mayor Fang Wei added this month that the technologies and systems will be used by Taihu City in its entirity.

Tengbom recently unveiled their plans at the Shanghai Expo, and will giving a presentation at Construction Week’s sustainability conference on 28th September at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi.