PREVIEW

A futuristic utopia nestled at the base of an active volcano is preparing to welcome its first inhabitants. Conceived by automobile giant Toyota, Woven City is located just miles away from Japan's iconic Mount Fuji. Under development since 2021, the project is being billed as a groundbreaking 'mass experiment’. The city is envisioned as a 'living laboratory' where Toyota plans to pilot its cutting-edge renewable energy and autonomous vehicle technologies. The first 2,000 residents are set to move in by the end of the year as part of an £8 billion study to understand patterns in driver and pedestrian behaviour. Once inside the town, the participants will live inside stunning new "smart homes" running almost entirely on hydrogen making the city as eco-friendly as possible. Each residence will be kitted out with solar-panel rooftops, AI tech to monitor health inside the home and all vehicles and buildings will be connected through data and sensors. Constructed largely from wood, the homes will incorporate robotics to aid in daily activities, fostering greater independence among the inhabitants. The city layout includes three distinct street types: pedestrian zones, lanes for high-speed traffic, and areas catering to slower, mixed-use mobility. Toyota will move 2,000 'lab rats' into the Woven City, ranging from families to retired couples and retailers to scientists before more residents are invited to join.