Overview

Former Walmart executive and e-commerce billionaire Marc Lore has revealed an incredibly ambitious plan to create a utopia megacity from scratch somewhere in the U.S. desert. Named Telosa, the city will support up to 5 million residents. Lore claims that it will set global standards for urban living, expand human potential, and become a blueprint for future generations. Could this be what all the cities of tomorrow look like? 

The science and other stuff to know

To make this utopian dream a reality, Lore has put his best foot forward in terms of innovation, destination, and sustainability. The city’s design and infrastructure will allow citizens to access their workplaces, schools, and amenities within 15 minutes of their residences. 

Pedestrians will also be prioritized throughout the metropolis, with transportation made up of cyclists, autonomous cars, what looks like a suspended monorail, and possibly even eVTOL air taxis.

While details of the project are still light, the digital renders by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) depict an idyllic city with farms and greenery-filled buildings that boast energy-efficient design features, like solar panels and rainwater collection sites. A large tower, dubbed Equitism Tower, will be built in a central park and also integrate lots of greenery. 

According to BIG, the idea is to build Telosa in phases. The initial stage comes with an estimated cost of $25 billion and consists of a 1,500-acre (607-hectare) site housing 50,000 residents. The population would then grow in size to over five million in four decades. Ultimately, the entire project will cost over $400 billion.

So what?

On Telosa’s official website, Lore explains that the new city will be based on the concept of “equitism” — an economic system in which residents have a stake in the city’s land. He added that the mission of Telosa is to create a more equitable and sustainable future for everyone.

So, if Lore’s dream comes to reality, residents in Telosa city will live in a transparent society where everyone is allowed to participate in the decision-making and budgeting process of the metropolis. If Lore can really make it happen, this would be a major step forward when it comes to city design, sustainability, and how society manages and organizes itself when it comes to equity.

What next?

Although the location for this futuristic megacity hasn’t been chosen yet, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Texas, and the Appalachian region are all possible targets. Funding for the project is expected to come from various sources, including private investors, philanthropists, federal and state grants, and subsidies.

While Telosa’s construction plans are still in the works, building a futuristic sustainable city from scratch is possible, considering similar projects have succeeded in the past. For example, this project draws comparisons to Saudi Arabia’s planned smart megacity of Neom, which is being built on the coasts of the Red Sea — it has an estimated cost of $689 billion.