The Green Citizens of Quepos

This project explores the far future urban possibilities of cities & towns across the world as they strive to tackle the severe environmental obstacles of the evolving 21st century. As a component of this, today we focus below on the future of Quepos, Costa Rica -- where citizens co-design their urban environs with talking plant comrades

Near the lush rainforest escarpments of future Costa Rica, a group of botany students in the coastal city of Quepos develop a groundbreaking AI system capable of interpreting the subtle signals emitted by tropical plants. These AI programs are designed to analyze data from sensors embedded in the soil, attached to leaves, and positioned to observe the minute changes in plant behavior. The AI listens to the plants, interpreting their electrical impulses, chemical signals, and even the rhythmic sway of their leaves as a form of communication. They carefully note , also, changes in the plants wider environs and how they react when specific individual humans say specific things in their direction.

The AI programs learn that plants have a sophisticated language, a deep and intricate way of conveying their needs, desires, and observations of the world around them. The plants, which had always seemed passive and voiceless, now speak of their experiences—how they sense the air, how they feel the earth's vibrations, and how they interact with the sun. The AI translates these signals into human language, revealing a world where plants have long been aware of their surroundings and have been silently observing the impact of human activity on their environment.

What the Plants Say About the Future Urban Design of Quepos

The plants begin to share their thoughts on the changes they sense in the environment around Quepos, a small coastal town on the edge of the rainforest. They speak of the encroachment of urban development and express concern over the loss of biodiversity as forests are cleared for buildings and roads. However, they also convey a vision for the future—one where Quepos can evolve into a city that harmonizes with nature rather than replaces it.

The plants propose an urban design where Quepos becomes a floral, vegetated city where plants and humans coexist as sentient, conversing citizens. They envision buildings designed to be living structures, with walls covered in greenery, roofs that are gardens, and public spaces filled with native plants. The plants imagine a city where their needs are considered in every aspect of planning, from the layout of streets that allow for ample sunlight and air to the integration of water systems that nourish both flora and fauna. They see Quepos as a city where humans and plants share knowledge, with plants guiding humans in creating an environment that is resilient, sustainable, and thriving for all forms of life.