20 January, 2025

Innovations That Could Change the Future in the Metropolitan Area

ᴵⁿ ᵗᶦᵐᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᶜˡᶦᵐᵃᵗᵉ ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ https://climateclock.world/

Instead of seeing city-center a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)  airports as "impossible," think of them as the next frontier in mobility—one that requires bold investment, smart design, and an iterative approach. Placing vertiports on top of buildings is one of the most practical and forward-thinking solutions. Here’s why it works and how it can be implemented effectively:

Why Building-Topped Vertiports Make Sense

  • Efficient Use of Space: In crowded urban areas, rooftops are underutilized real estate. A vertiport adds functionality without taking up valuable ground-level space.
  • Proximity to Users: High-rise buildings in city centers are often near businesses, residences, and transit hubs, reducing travel time for passengers.
  • Integration with Urban Mobility: Vertiports can connect directly to elevators, parking garages, or subway stations, creating seamless travel experiences.

Real-World Examples

  • Volocopter: Testing vertiports on buildings in cities like Singapore.
  • Joby Aviation: Exploring partnerships with urban planners to integrate vertiports with existing infrastructure.
  • Skyports Infrastructure: Designing rooftop vertiports for London and other major cities.

By combining your rooftop idea with cutting-edge tech, we can transform city skylines into hubs of futuristic transportation. Paromlinska, being near Importanne Centar, is centrally located and well-connected to public transit. It could serve as a major hub for urban air mobility in Zagreb. Imagine passengers seamlessly transferring from trams or trains below to VTOL aircraft above—pure urban innovation!


Visual representation of the futuristic rooftop vertiport concept near Zagreb city Center!

As of 2021, China has 17 cities with populations exceeding 10 million. This significant number of megacities highlights China's rapid urbanization and economic growth over recent decades.

Large-scale urban redevelopment and relocation projects are relatively common in China, especially in rapidly growing cities. The government often undertakes these projects to modernize infrastructure, improve living standards, and address issues like overcrowding, aging buildings, and poor sanitation. Here's how it ties into the problem of pests like cockroaches and rats:


Why Relocate Entire Neighborhoods?

  1. Urban Renewal:

    • Many old neighborhoods, especially in inner-city areas, consist of poorly maintained buildings with outdated infrastructure.
    • These areas often become breeding grounds for pests like rats and cockroaches due to inadequate waste management and sanitation.
  2. Health and Hygiene:

    • Replacing dilapidated housing with modern buildings that meet stricter hygiene standards significantly reduces pest problems.
    • Improved urban planning allows for better waste disposal systems, pest control, and public health measures.
  3. Economic Growth and Aesthetics:

    • Redevelopment projects create modern business districts, high-rise apartments, and green spaces, which boost the local economy and improve the city's appearance.

How Are People Relocated?

  • Compensation and Resettlement: Residents are often compensated with cash or offered housing in new developments.
  • Challenges: While some welcome the improvements, others may resist relocation due to cultural ties, inadequate compensation, or loss of community.
  • Efficiency: Large-scale relocations are enabled by China's centralized governance, allowing decisions and projects to be implemented quickly.

Impact on Pests

  1. Short-Term Spike in Pests:

    • Demolition of old neighborhoods can temporarily displace rats and cockroaches, pushing them into surrounding areas.
    • Careful pest control measures are required during the transition.
  2. Long-Term Solutions:

    • Modern buildings with sealed walls, proper ventilation, and waste disposal systems make it harder for pests to thrive.
    • Organized urban layouts allow for easier pest control and sanitation.

This approach is part of China's rapid modernization, but it also comes with social, economic, and environmental challenges. 

I think it's necessary, as long 
they keep up with the highest 
standards, like no concrete, 
zero carbon waste, neighborhoods 
full of greenery. Large-scale 
urban redevelopment and 
relocation projects in 
EU - impossible, or what?

Large-scale urban redevelopment and relocation projects in the EU can be incredibly complex, but they’re not impossible. These projects often face challenges such as political resistance, legal hurdles, public opposition, and financial constraints. However, in recent years, there have been examples of ambitious urban transformations, driven by factors like climate change, sustainability goals, population growth, and the need for modernization of infrastructure.

Some key factors to consider when evaluating the feasibility of these projects include:

  1. Political Will and Public Support: Successful large-scale projects often depend on strong political backing and public consensus. Governments need to align with local communities and stakeholders, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the costs and social impacts.

  2. Legal and Regulatory Framework: The EU has a complex set of regulations on zoning, environmental impact assessments, and housing laws. Any major redevelopment must comply with local, national, and EU-wide laws, which can slow down or complicate efforts.

  3. Funding: Large-scale urban projects often require substantial investment. Public-private partnerships, EU funding, and national budgets are typically involved, but securing financing can be a long process, especially for projects that aim to address social and environmental issues.

  4. Sustainability Goals: With the EU’s Green Deal, there's an increasing push for projects to be sustainable and climate-friendly. Redevelopment projects that incorporate renewable energy, green spaces, and resilient infrastructure are more likely to succeed and align with EU policies.

  5. Innovation and Technology: New technologies like modular housing, smart cities, and green building practices can help reduce costs and timeframes for large projects, making them more viable.

While these projects are challenging, with the right conditions and strategic planning, they can be both feasible and necessary for the future of urban environments in the EU. Examples include regeneration projects in cities like Hamburg, Barcelona, and Paris, which have undertaken large-scale transformations.

What about Croatia? 
People need to feel 
the new Millennium, 
not just hear hammering 
pounding!

Croatia faces its own set of challenges when it comes to large-scale urban redevelopment and relocation projects, but there are certainly opportunities for a fresh, modern approach that could make people feel the shift into the new millennium. The key is balancing the preservation of Croatia’s rich heritage with forward-thinking projects that prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and the well-being of its citizens.

Some thoughts on what Croatia could do:

  1. Sustainability and Climate Resilience: Given Croatia's vulnerability to climate change and the EU's strong push for green initiatives, large-scale urban redevelopment could focus on creating eco-friendly cities. Incorporating green roofs, renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and flood protection would make the projects not just feel modern but also vital for the future.

  2. Smart Cities: Zagreb and other cities could develop smart city infrastructures, using technologies to improve urban life—smart lighting, waste management, and digital services. This would allow citizens to feel they’re living in a 21st-century environment, fostering innovation while improving quality of life.

  3. Cultural and Community Involvement: It’s crucial that people aren’t just passive recipients of development but are actively involved in the process. Engaging citizens through consultations and participatory design can ensure that redevelopment reflects their desires and needs. By incorporating local culture and identity into modern designs, people would be more likely to embrace change.

  4. Public Spaces and Green Areas: A focus on creating vibrant public spaces, parks, and pedestrian zones could transform how citizens experience their cities. Urban redevelopment can include the creation of cultural and recreational hubs, promoting a sense of community and well-being.

  5. Urban Mobility: Modernizing public transport systems and encouraging cycling and walking would not only reduce traffic and pollution but also foster a sense of connection and ease of movement. This could be complemented by the development of vertical transport hubs, like the rooftop vertiport you envision near Paromlinska.

  6. Affordable Housing and Inclusivity: With Croatia's relatively high urbanization rate, redevelopment can address the need for affordable housing, ensuring that all social groups can benefit from modern urban spaces. Redevelopment could also include job creation and social services, improving overall quality of life.

Large-scale redevelopment should not just be about “hammering and pounding”—it should be about making cities feel like a place people can be proud of, where technology, culture, sustainability, and community intersect. By leveraging EU funding and aligning with European urban policies, Croatia can move into the new millennium in a way that makes people feel the difference, not just see it.





"In developing ideas for this article, I explored various perspectives, including those generated with the assistance of AI tools like ChatGPT, which helped inspire some of the key concepts discussed here."

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