arcologies
Enclosed urban ecosystems
Arcologies are hypothetical self-contained megastructures designed to house entire communities with minimal environmental impact—combining architecture and ecology.
The concept envisions massive buildings or complexes that integrate living spaces, workplaces, and food production into a single efficient system: The sci-fi novel imagined a future where most humans lived in arcologies.
The term appears frequently in science fiction and speculative urban planning but no true arcology has been built.
Construction above the base
- domeRounded vault forming roof
- towerTall slender edifice
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- complexHaving many interconnected parts
framework · edifice · colossal · monolithic · engineering · high-rise · infrastructure · construction
One who retires replicants
- cyberpunkDystopian tech-noir fiction
- utopiaImagined perfect society
- dystopiaImaginary terrible society
- sci-fiFuturistic fiction, abbreviated
megacity · Coruscant · orbital · worldbuilding · speculative · futuristic · post-apocalyptic · terraforming
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- floraPlants of a region
fauna · symbiotic · microclimate · biosphere · greenhouse · hydroponic · aquaponic · pollination
System with feedback control
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- renewableCapable of restoration
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
- energy-efficientUsing minimal power
solar-powered · zero-waste · recycling · composting · geothermal · biophilic · green · permaculture
Combining different functions
- compactTightly packed together
- high-densityClosely packed together
- pedestrianOne traveling afoot
- car-freeProhibiting motor vehicles
zoning · land-use · public-transport · walkable · population · concentrated · efficient · centralized
superstructure
Construction above the base
complex · framework · edifice · colossal · monolithic · engineering · high-rise · infrastructure · construction · enclosed
Blade Runner
One who retires replicants
- cyberpunkDystopian tech-noir fiction
- utopiaImagined perfect society
- dystopiaImaginary terrible society
sci-fi · megacity · Coruscant · orbital · worldbuilding · speculative · futuristic · post-apocalyptic · terraforming · interstellar
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
flora · fauna · symbiotic · microclimate · biosphere · greenhouse · hydroponic · aquaponic · pollination
closed-loop
System with feedback control
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- renewableCapable of restoration
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
energy-efficient · solar-powered · zero-waste · recycling · composting · geothermal · biophilic · green · permaculture · resource-efficient
mixed-use
Combining different functions
- compactTightly packed together
- high-densityClosely packed together
- pedestrianOne traveling afoot
car-free · zoning · land-use · public-transport · walkable · population · concentrated · efficient · centralized · amenities
arcologiesurban sprawl
Uncontrolled peripheral development
suburban sprawl · sprawling suburbs · sprawl · exurbs · suburbs