Cooperative city

If Phase I is the raw, improvised transition out of industrial collapse, Phase IIof Eric Hunting’s Living Cityrepresents the mature, harmonious destination. Set in a much more distant future, this illustration visualizes an era where humanity has finally abandoned its war against the environment, learning instead to collaborate seamlessly with ecological systems.

The visual language of this world brings the concepts of visionary Belgian architect Luc Schuiten to life.

The urban landscape is no longer built against nature, but shapes itself in resemblance to plant and tree life. Towering superstructures combine timeless, classical architectural elements with biomimetic designs mimicked directly from the natural world.

Crucially, this physical evolution reflects a profound sociopolitical shift: society has completely outgrown the concept of individual (corporate) ownership. The urban landscape is a shared infrastructure belonging entirely to the commons, a massive, living superstructure that elegantly houses all the diverse, interconnected functions of a thriving modern civilization.

The outcome

Concept sketch

The final illustration