CAR-FREE ESTATE: 360 GREEN SURROUND. TOWARDS A SHARED AUTONOMOUS LANDSCAPE 2050 [ 0 PRIVATE VEHICLES, 100% SHARED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ]

Abstract

This thesis centers around the issue that cars are problematic. Since the advent of the automobile, we have been building cities around cars and as a result placed pedestrian and cyclists at the backseat. The automobile indeed has its advantages of comfort and efficiency, but it has overtaken our landscape and our lives with its disadvantages blatantly outweighing its advantages. Fast forward to 2050, we project a future mobility landscape that is more idealistic, green, and sustainable than the present one. The design project takes inspirational basis from the rising trends of a sharing economy and autonomous vehicles. The creation of walkable cities warrants large changes to the urban landscape for the automobile takes up urban space which total up to an astounding amount. Thus, the reversal of urban scars that the automobile has scarred our landscape will involve a huge amount of effort. This calls for huge recalibration and reclamation of mobility space in many urban cities. It is time for us to rethink and recalibrate our relationship with automobiles, reclaim our streets to create car-free walkable cities and live healthier and more vibrant lives. It is vital that we reimagine a new transportation landscape, where it is an ideal scenario of 100% shared autonomous vehicles, and 0 private vehicles which allows for a maximum possible amount of freed up car space. Only by envisioning and embracing this scenario can we use this imagery to slowly change our perception and relationship with the automobile, and create truly walkable cities.