South Korea is Building a $35 Billion City To Produce Cars

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 $35 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, the chairman of Gale International, the developer behind the IBD.

When completed by 2020, the district will span 100 million square feet.

Take a look at the IBD’s plan below.

In Songdo City, South Korea, Gale International is building the International Business District (IBD) on reclaimed land along the Yellow Sea.

From the first planning stage, the developers aimed to make the district eco-friendly. One strategy was designing the area to reduce the need for cars.

BD features a mixed-use urban plan, meaning its retail, office space, parks, medical facilities, and schools are all close to housing. Most non-residential buildings are walking distance from everything else.

Apartment buildings and businesses were built 12 minutes within bus or subway stops.

Fifteen miles of bike lanes go through the district, connecting to a larger 90-mile network in Songdo City.

Reference :

businessinsider.sg