It’s a new kind of architecture for a new kind of city—with sustainability at its core. “Creating net-zero cities that provide food, energy, and water security is no longer a choice—it has become a necessity,” says Baharash Bagherian, CEO of urbplanning. So the developer is creating Nexgen, the world’s first climate-positive metropolis in Cairo. And as they attempt to turn the eco-friendly vision into reality, team members are being encouraged to create holistic solutions that deliver on multiple levels. One example: making the 580-hectare (1,433-acre) site extremely walkable—helping cut carbon emissions while promoting mental health. Energy modeling, microclimate analysis, and solar radiation analysis helped guide those decisions. And those tools, in turn, informed later choices, like restricting vehicular access to the city’s ring road and integrating alternative mobility methods—such as an autonomous electric vehicle shuttle system. “Great sustainable design always focuses on ...