This Finnish capital is known for many things: the world’s
first three-dimensional zoning plan that extends underground,
data transparency between the government and residents,
mobility innovation, apps that help the blind navigate
and free Wi-Fi zones across the entire city.Must-visit: Oodi. Opened in December 2018, this is
Helsinki’s new central library that can be found in the
Töölönlahti neighbourhood. Go for the robot librarians but stay
for the cutting-edge facilities like studios for music and video
production, cinema and workshops containing 3D printers and
laser cutters that are all free of charge for the public to use.
HELSINKI, FINLAND
Curitiba might be the eighth most populous city in Brazil,
but it’s also the planet’s most sustainable one with over 52
square metres of green space per capita (the city won the
Global Sustainable City Award back in 2010)! Frequently
praised for its highly-livable conditions, this capital of
the Paraná province is also famous for pioneering
the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT).Must-visit: The Botanical Garden of Curitiba.
Nothing beats a stroll around the French Garden, a
picnic by the ponds or visiting the photogenic Greenhouse
Conservatory made of iron and glass on a sunny day!CURITIBA, BRAZIL
Dubbed the smartest city in the world, Songdo International
Business District was built and designed from scratch on
a reclaimed land near the Yellow Sea off Incheon. The
US$40 billion (about RM167 billion) city might only finish
its development in 2020, but for now, the district is already
filled with buildings that are LEED-certified and a central
garbage disposal system where waste from offices and homes
are ‘sucked’ out via underground tubes to be processed and
reused as sources of energy for the community.Must-visit: Songdo Central Park. Inspired by
the one in New York, this park that uses indigenous
plants was a filming location for PSY’s international hit
Gangnam Style and is generally a nice place for a stroll.Vibrant and creative are the words that come to mind
when we think of this city by the bay – it is home to the
famed Silicon Valley, America’s technological hub, after
all. Glistening skyscrapers and gorgeous skyline aside,
this tech-rich city is making small steps to transform. For
example, later this year, it will be replacing its old Parisian-
style green public toilets with new spaceship-like pods called
AmeniTrees which will be equipped with a water-recycling
system that can collect rain for different uses.Must-visit: Amazon Go’s cashier-less convenience
stores. Reason? Well, you just know you want to.
Where to find it: 300 California Street, San Francisco,
CA 94104, USA. 575 Market St Ste 150, San Francisco, CA
94105, USA. 98 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94104, USASAN FRANCISCO, USA SONGDO, SOUTH KOREA
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