The City of the Future Present
- Nicolás Rueda
- Jul 11
- 3 min read
Woven City: The Toyota Miracle
An environment where life and science intertwine
One hundred years ago, Toyota founder Sakichi Toyoda decided to alleviate his mother's countless hours of labor on a handloom. He revolutionized the textile industry with numerous inventions that dramatically improved people's lives. From looms to automobiles, and now Woven City, the philosophy of "for others" remains the driving force behind his initiatives.
In 2021, construction began on the world's most advanced city. From looms to mobile vehicles, it now seeks to transform itself into a mobility company. Toyota redefines the meaning of "movement" by optimizing the movement of people, goods, information, and energy.
With a vision focused on inspiring a world where the expansion of mobility redefines what's possible, a mission to pave the way for the next generation of movement in a testing ground that empowers innovation, and a goal to drive the future of movement and improve well-being for all.
Initial Investment
Overlooking Mount Fuji, the project has an initial investment of US$1 billion and will have an initial population of 160 by 2025. By 2026, the project is expected to house more than 2,000 people.
The city, designed in collaboration with architect Bjarke Ingels, is located in Susono, Japan. It covers an area of 70 hectares, which housed a former Toyota factory, and is now part of the most ambitious project in the company's history.
Woven City is a laboratory where people will live their “everyday lives” with the support of AI. Through experiences through inventions and prototypes of
Sustainability
The city is equipped with hydrogen fuel cells. Its energy matrix is based on alternative sources. Green roofs and walls feature solar cells to generate photovoltaic electricity, minimizing the environmental impact.
The homes, built with recyclable materials and wood in keeping with Japanese tradition, feature sensors to detect parameters that, when integrated with cutting-edge devices and supported by AI, have the power to establish indicators related to the health and well-being of residents in real time. As for food, much of it will be grown using hydroponic techniques.
Connectivity
All points of the city are connected by 3x3 squares, generating a natural and efficient flow.
Thanks to the possibility of distortion, the woven grid system extends throughout the city while accommodating a variety of scales, programs, and outdoor areas.
Mobility
Its four pillars are: People, Goods, Information, and Energy. These are integrated through autonomous, pollution-free electric ground and air vehicles, powered by artificial intelligence, designed to make residents' lives easier and more enjoyable.
Ground transportation will be partially automated, with the aim of avoiding the congestion typical of conventional cities and providing designated spaces for private vehicles.
To achieve this, paths are used that allow travel at 3 speed levels:
High-speed rail line for autonomous vehicles.
Medium-speed lane, for vehicles such as bicycles, segways, electric scooters, etc.
Pedestrian path.
Underground logistics
The city has a network of tunnels where autonomous robots operate, traveling through the three spatial dimensions, delivering goods to each building located on the surface. This supply system is designed to meet demand based on "just in time" principles, minimizing wait times and waste in the city.
Research and Development
In Woven City, people are classified into two groups: Inventors (Toyota Group, Startups, Institutes and Companies) and Weavers (residents and visitors).
Woven City empowers inventors with its urban test track, designed to foster invention and accelerate development. This environment frees inventors from the constraints of conventional innovation methods by observing how their products and services integrate into the weavers' everyday lives. With opportunities to gain continuous, high-quality feedback at any stage of the product development cycle, inventors can expand their understanding of how these innovations will address current mobility challenges on a larger scale.
Integration
Woven in English. From both an urban and scientific perspective, fabrics intertwine and connect at sensitive points. Toyota brings concepts from the past and applies them to the present, complementing supply logistics, mobility, artificial intelligence, energy sustainability, and the integration of people with different ethnicities and abilities, available for the development of new disciplines, in harmony with a healthy and safe lifestyle. The result: a more advanced society.
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Authors:
Nicolas M. Rueda
Lucas R. García
