Reshaping cities and certainty, the Future City Awards announced 38 future solution projects.
When technological revolutions reshape daily life, cities need a certain kind of strength more than ever.
On April 18th, the final results of the "Future City Awards 2024" were officially announced. The theme of this year's awards was "Confidence and the City". The project solicitation was launched on July 31st, 2024, and the organizing committee received a total of over 160 application projects from more than 50 cities across the country. Based on the basic evaluation quadrants of "Smart, Sustainable, Friendly, and Local", 96 application projects passed the initial screening by the organizing committee and entered the preliminary evaluation. 38 projects were short - listed for the annual awards, and 21 projects won 12 annual awards.
The 38 projects short - listed for the annual awards came from 12 cities: Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Taizhou, Shaoxing, Dalian, Luoyang, and Zhenjiang. Among them, Beijing and Shenzhen had the most short - listed projects, with 10 each. Next was Chengdu with 5, Wuxi with 4, Shanghai with 2, and the remaining cities had 1 each.
The 21 projects that won the annual awards came from 10 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou, Dalian, Zhenjiang, Shaoxing, Taizhou, and Luoyang. Among them, Shenzhen had the largest number of winning projects, with 6; followed by Beijing with 5, and Shanghai and Chengdu with 2 each. The remaining 6 cities each had 1 winning project.
Academician Wu Zhiqiang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the President of the World Urban Planning Education Network (WUPEN), and the Chairman of the Jury of the Future City Awards 2024, said that we are in an era full of challenges and opportunities. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things have injected new vitality into our cities. The future city is not only a space for technological integration but also a harmonious symbiosis of humans and nature, humans and society, history and the future. The short - listed and winning projects of this year's Future City Awards cover multiple fields such as smart cities, low - carbon sustainability, digital consumption, urban renewal, and new - quality productivity parks, reflecting the outstanding practices of Chinese cities in technological innovation and sustainable development. At the same time, they also provide valuable experience for global urban development. Each of these projects embodies wisdom and hard work, makes breakthroughs in technology, and represents in - depth thinking and practice about the future of cities. They can serve as beacons, providing reference samples for more cities to find future solutions and making cities smarter and more humane.
(The event site)
01
Cities Move towards Long - term Operation and Diverse Symbiosis
The Award - winning Projects Provide Solutions for the Future Development of Cities
The rapid development of technology is changing people's lifestyles and living spaces, reshaping the relationship between humans and society, and humans and the environment. As the main field for aggregating technological power and gathering residents, cities are facing a huge transformation from development logic to spatial form.
Lu Ming, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a specially - appointed professor at the Antai College of Economics and Management of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, believes that with economic growth, changes in lifestyles, and generational changes, people's needs are undergoing some significant changes. The development of cities, in essence, is to respond to people's needs and provide services for people born in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s simultaneously.
While responding to people's diverse needs, cities also need to solve problems in multiple aspects such as growth, development, housing, and consumption, and provide future - oriented solutions.
The event site
From the perspective of the overall development of cities, cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai have carried out active explorations. Urban development has shifted from focusing on incremental growth and rapid turnover to emphasizing development quality and long - term operation.
More and more cities are beginning to gather strength for the transformation of the urban development model by issuing policies to attract talents and support industries.
At the project level, in recent years, a large number of projects applying new concepts, technologies, and applications have emerged, becoming specific "experimental fields for the future".
Long Ying, a researcher, tenured professor, and doctoral supervisor at the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University, said that current Chinese cities are at a crossroads. On the one hand, residents have a great demand for improving the quality of urban space. On the other hand, a series of disruptive technologies have had a profound impact on cities. The planning of future urban space is no longer the "logic of accommodating people" under the plan but the "logic of attracting people".
In order to find and discover outstanding projects and models in the fields of urban planning, construction, operation, and governance for the future, promote social attention, stimulate public participation, and encourage urban decision - makers to adopt innovative technologies and sustainable methods to provide more diverse and feasible development solutions for cities, the Future City Awards started soliciting excellent projects nationwide in 2023.
This year's Future City Awards received applications from over 160 projects from more than 50 cities across the country. Based on the four basic evaluation quadrants of "Smart, Sustainable, Friendly, and Local" and a total of 39 dimensions of evaluation criteria, after professional scoring and ranking by 21 annual jurors and the support of AI technology from AIWUS 2.0, 12 single - item annual awards in 5 major units, including the Solution Unit, Space Evolution Unit, Future Consumption Unit, City Unit, and Special Unit, were scientifically and objectively selected.
The event site
The evaluation criteria based on the four basic quadrants of smart, sustainable, friendly, and local not only comprehensively consider the application of new technologies in space, forward - looking nature, functionality, innovation, practicality, and economic and social benefits but also fully take into account multi - dimensional care for "people" such as citizen participation, interactivity, inclusiveness, local culture, and diverse co - construction.
Bian Lanchun, a professor at the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University and the Dean of the China Urban Research Institute of Tsinghua University, said that in 2024, the future has already arrived. Perhaps the real key is not only to what extent the technological revolution led by artificial intelligence will change our lives but also to what extent social progress can reshape the rules of future urban life.
Ma Xiaowei, the co - founder of the DLC London Design Centre and the founder of the Tomorrow's City Forum, believes that today's emerging technologies are reshaping our perception of the world. The future city is the carrier and practice of our expectations for an ideal society. The depiction and exploration of the future city will give us a chance to find a sense of certainty and meaning of existence in an increasingly uncertain world.
The Future City Awards aim to promote "people - centered" urban development, guide global ecological partners to pay attention to the hotspots and trends in the intelligent transformation of cities, focus on the application and empowerment of smart city solutions, and explore sustainable and replicable strategies and cooperation models.
The 38 short - listed projects of this year's awards jointly demonstrate the new directions and possibilities of China's urban development and provide specific references for the future of cities.
Mao Mingrui, the director of the Beijing Community Research Center, said that the Future City Awards are not only an award for urban innovators but also a declaration of humanity's reshaping of their homeland with wisdom.
List of award - winning projects
02
38 Projects Short - listed for the Future City Awards
21 Award - winning Projects Won 12 Annual Single - item Awards
Xu Leiqing, a professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, the director of the Urban Renewal Center of the National Institute of Modernization, and a member of the Community Construction Committee of the Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban - Rural Development, said that the criticism and dreams of current urban life are the most fascinating part of the Future City Awards. Its innovation and practicality also make it the most - watched urban award.
The event site
The Future City Awards 2024 have a total of five units: the Solution Unit, Space Evolution Unit, Future Consumption Unit, City Unit, and Special Unit, with 12 annual single - item awards under them.
There were a total of 11 projects short - listed for the "Solution Unit", and 5 projects won single - item awards.
There were 8 short - listed projects in the "Space Evolution Unit", and all 8 projects won awards.
There were a total of 5 short - listed projects in the Future Consumption Unit, and 2 projects won single - item awards. Among them, the Digital - Driven Consumption Award was established for the first time but was also vacant for the first time. The review experts believe that this award aims to discover which newly emerged products and technologies can have a positive and active driving effect on consumption in the current market environment. There were deviations in the positioning and understanding of the projects in the applications this time.
The City Unit had the most application projects, nearly 40. Finally, 12 projects were short - listed, and 6 projects won the final annual single - item awards.
There were 2 projects short - listed for the "Annual Future City Sample" in the Special Unit, and 1 project won the Annual Future City Sample Award.
The event site
Solution Unit:
Winning projects for the Urban Smart Application Award: LibCity - Market: Digital City AI Model Supermarket; Tongzhou District Smart Garden AI Sentinel Platform
Urban Smart Application Award: It aims to recognize solutions that have achieved remarkable results in applying artificial intelligence in urban management and services. It includes technologies and applications directly related to urban management, such as smart transportation, intelligent security, and the urban brain, to promote cities to improve management efficiency and service levels through smart applications. Focus: A total of 11 dimensions, focusing on digital innovation, problem - solving, and the scope of benefits.
Low - carbon Sustainable Application Award: Digital Carbon Neutral "Five - Side Integration" Application Solution Based on 5G Industrial Internet; Comprehensive Solution for New - energy Logistics Vehicles of DiDi Chuxing to Promote Low - carbon Transportation
Low - carbon Sustainable Application Award: It aims to recognize solutions that have outstanding performance in promoting low - carbon development and environmental sustainability. The selection scope covers energy conservation and emission reduction, the use of clean energy, green buildings, ecological protection, etc., to encourage cities to achieve environmental friendliness and sustainable development through innovative practices such as artificial intelligence. Focus: A total of 9 dimensions, focusing on digital innovation, low - carbon sustainable development, and cost - effectiveness.
Digital Life Application Award: Beikeyunshi Smart Construction Site Solution
Digital Life Application Award: It aims to recognize innovative applications and solutions that improve the quality of citizens' lives. It includes technologies and applications directly related to citizens' lives, such as smart homes, smart community services, and digital health, to encourage cities to improve the convenience and happiness of life through digital means such as artificial intelligence. Focus: A total of 6 dimensions, focusing on the impact of user experience and technological innovation.
The event site
Space Evolution Unit
Future Public Space Award: Car - free Day in Shekou Community - Exploration of Community Self - governance Based on Public Space; Shanghai Naive Utopia; Nanshan Headquarters of Zero One Academy
Future Public Space Award: It aims to recognize outstanding practices in the design and application of urban public spaces, improve the functionality, aesthetics, and experience of public spaces, and make people the main body of the space. Focus: A total of 7 dimensions, focusing on functionality and forward - looking nature to promote the development of future spaces.
Future Residential Area Award: Hongyan Future Community in Shangyu, Shaoxing; Xinhai Future Community in Jiaojiang, Taizhou
Future Residential Area Award: It aims to recognize residential areas that, on the basis of traditional functions, can combine residents' needs, spatial characteristics, and local culture, and use intelligent means to innovate lifestyles and provide more forward - looking and imaginative living spaces. Focus: A total of 7 dimensions, focusing on promoting the sustainable development of residential spaces through innovative ideas and intelligent means.
Future Office Space Award: Tus - Design Building; Vanke Chengdu High - tech Innovation and Integration Center
Future Office Space Award: It aims to recognize outstanding practices that reshape office spaces, improve work efficiency, work experience, and happiness through innovative design, space technology application, and sustainable development means. Focus: A total of 6 dimensions, focusing on innovative design and technology application.
