The apparent lack of geographic/ecological thinking that goes into the siting of these projects at a larger scale is also worrisome. Though in some cases (say, Masdar), perhaps that lack is integral to the existence of the project — one can hardly expect to the sheik of Abu Dhabi to weigh whether expanding a city into the desert without adequate ecosystem resources is wise or not, as he has few other options.  Which is where the ethical responsibility to make such judgments perhaps lies with the designer who accepts such a project.  Which, in turn, leads one to wonder about the judgment of a firm that accepts a commission to build a model ‘eco-city’ on the “the last extant wetlands outside Shanghai”.

[via things magazine]