International Journal of Architecture and Infrastructure Planning
From Fiction to Reality: Feasibility Study of Arcologies like Peach Trees in ContemporaryUrban Contexts
1. Master’s in urban and regional planning 2 nd year, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India
2. Research Scholar, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India
Abstract
The concept of arcologies—self-contained vertical cities that integrate housing, workspaces, and amenities within a singular megastructure—has emerged as a potential solution for urban planners and architects, echoing both the utopian ambitions and the critiques of high-density urbanism. Drawing from both speculative fiction and real-world high-density developments such as the Kowloon Walled City and Marina Bay Sands, this study examines arcologies through the multidisciplinary lenses of architecture, urban governance, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic dynamics. The research evaluates whether arcologies can provide sustainable housing solutions without replicating the governance failures, socio-economic inequalities, and environmental risks associated with past high-density experiments. The analysis also emphasizes the infrastructure demands, community planning, and policy frameworks required to transform arcologies from conceptual utopias to functional urban realities. Through a comparative case study method and a SWOT analysis, the paper identifies key enablers and barriers to arcology implementation. Ultimately, the study seeks to contribute to the discourse on future urban forms by contextualizing arcologies as both a cautionary and innovative pathway for sustainable urban development.
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