It’s Wednesday, August 27.
Where does the name “Wednesday” come from?
In English, the name is derived from Old English word Wōdnesdæg.
In Middle English Wednesdei, 'day of Woden', reflecting the religion practised by the Anglo-Saxons, the English equivalent to the Norse god Odin.
A daily dose of wonder + design
Today’s feature is a futuristic city that feels both exciting and slightly dubious.
Is Telosa a City From Scratch, or Just a Mirage?
This proposed utopia of 5 million people was first announced in 2021.
Renderings of Telosa, the proposed “city of the future” designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), show off dazzling details.
It includes a vast wooden mobility hub that looks like a futuristic amphitheater, a sprawling silver sports village, and a skyline punctuated by gleaming timber towers.
A new city that sets a new standard
First teased on X in 2021, the city is the vision of entrepreneur Marc Lore, who imagines Telosa rising out of the American desert. Architecture firm BIG’s website suggests Nevada, as a utopian model for how we might live, move, and govern.
By 2050, the plan claims, five million people could call it home. The first residents? Supposedly by 2030.
Renderings show this circular transit hub as a major anchor point for the city.
The latest visuals highlight a circular mobility hub, four stacked tiers of wood ringed by chrome rails where so-called “Ground to Air” vehicles zip by, cars that can glide on wheels, ride the rails, or even take to the skies.
Nearby, the Equitism Tower, a lattice-like timber beacon, anchors the city’s central spine. Elevated institutes, greenery-draped streets, and photovoltaic roofs round out the dream.
The expressive silver building in this rendering borders the city's "sports village"
The city’s autonomy is meant to blend into the fabric of the society.
A Mirage on the Horizon?
Telosa joins a long list of futuristic city proposals: Malaysia’s BiodiverCity, Saudi Arabia’s Neom, and the ill-fated Akon City in Senegal. These projects dazzle with glossy renderings but often falter under the weight of cost, politics, or reality.
🐦 Birds that build better than architects
The bowerbird of Australia spends weeks constructing elaborate, decorated “bachelor pads” out of sticks, shells, berries, even bits of plastic. Females stroll through like judges on a reality show, choosing a mate based on taste and color coordination.
We’d say the house looks pretty darn good for a bird. Image CC by JJ Harrison
What If It Never Died?
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” — Albert Einstein
