Arup, or: How to design and build a green city.
Image credit: shinilapt.co.kr Dongtan is the name of an environmentally sustainable city designed by Arup Partners in Beijing. The enclave is expected to hold a population of 8,000 by 2010; 500,000 by 2050. Building height range is between 3 to 8 stories, this is justified by various environmental reasons, to be added to Alexander's own [blogspot.com]. Illustration credit: Bryan Christie Design "Buildings in Dongtan will be only three to eight stories tall, Dong says. It’s the optimal height for delivering services such as water and heat. For example, the best way to regulate the temperature of a building in a temperate climate like Shanghai’s is to have double-pane windows with louvered shades that automatically open and close to provide sunlight in winter and shade in summer. But the powerful winds encountered high up on a skyscraper would cause such louvers to break before long. Moreover, rooftop solar panels can heat most of the water required for a low-rise, but they