In the 1970s, an enterprising WWII veteran named Leon Smith envisioned a combination restaurant, shopping center, and hotel in the shape of a giant igloo in Alaska. Alone and by hand, he constructed the massive dome structure out of wood and covered it with urethane foam. Tragically, his vision was never fully realized.

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"Urban Planning in the 3rd Dimension:

How do you move 80,000+ people daily through a narrow valley already packed with a river, a highway, and dense housing?

Wuppertal found the answer back in 1901: The Schwebebahn.

While modern cities are struggling with "induced demand" and the nightmare of widening roads, this 120-year-old suspension railway proves that efficiency lies in utilizing space that's already there.

Why it's a planning masterpiece:

1. Zero Road Space: It operates entirely above the Wupper river and existing streets.

2. Grade Separation: No traffic jams, no intersections, just constant flow.

3. Sustainable Legacy: Proof that bold, long-term sustainable infrastructure beats "quick fixes".

Ofcourse, it has some minor disadvantages like Inflexibility, Maintenance & Noise, but the aesthetic value & the Whimsical Wonder this thing inspires is quite breathtaking"

📸 Dr. Philip de Pous (@vive.earth)

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