Sacyr's Blog

As well as designing cranes and studying gear systems in detail, Da Vinci sketched out plans of what an ideal city would look like without sanitation or transport problems. We analyse how the influence of this Italian Renaissance genius lives on in urban planning 500 years later.

Jorge Nieto tackles the sustainable city concept from a point of view that gives vital importance to relationships with others and the environment. 

The engineer and inventor Henry Bessemer revolutionised steel production thanks to an air-based iron decarbonization system. He was able to cut costs and manufacture a stronger and lighter steel on a large scale. A breakthrough that fueled the expansion of the railroad and marked the birth of modern cities.

Beyond parks and green spaces, biophilic design integrates architecture and nature into buildings from a dual perspective, improving the health of citizens, as well as opening the way to more sustainable cities. But what is the scientific basis for this trend?

Smart cities are gaining momentum in Latin American capitals. Projects such as the networks of sensors in Santiago de Chile or the creation of the world's largest urban cable car network in La Paz (Bolivia) provide a double opportunity. They offer the chance to take a leap forward and catch up with more developed countries in terms of energy efficiency and environmental care, but also to finally be able to bring running water and other basic supplies to millions of inhabitants of these large cities.