Careful planning and focus on mass transit and bikes, this newly designed city in South Korea is far less reliant on traditional dirty modes of transportation like cars.
The International Business District (IBD) in Songdo, South Korea. Gale International When residents of the International Business District (IBD) in Songdo, South Korea go to work, pick up their kids from school, or shop for groceries, driving is optional. That’s because the $40 billion district — currently a work-in-progress about the size of downtown Boston — was designed to eliminate the need for cars. A project that began in 2002, the area prioritizes mass transit, like buses, subways, and bikes, instead of road traffic, according to Stan Gale, chairman of Gale International, the developer behind the IBD. When completed by 2020, the district will span 100 million square feet. It’s located on the northwest side of South Korea. Take a look at the IBD’s plan below. 1/19 In Songdo City, South Korea, Gale International is building the International Business District (IBD) on reclaimed land along the Yellow Sea. Consenti Associates 2/19 From the first planning stage, the developers aimed to make the district eco-friendly. Gale International 3/19 One strategy was designing the area to reduce the need for cars. Gale International 4/19 BD features a mixed-use urban plan, meaning its retail, office space, parks, medical facilities, and schools are […]
