From Heaven on Earth to Smart Cities: How Utopianism Shifted from Social Structures to Digital Built Environments in the 21st Century

dc.contributor.authorYusufoglu, Cihanen
dc.contributor.committeechairEmmons, Paul F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberStaub, Alexandraen
dc.contributor.committeememberAl, Stefan Johannesen
dc.contributor.committeememberSanchez, Thomas W.en
dc.contributor.departmentArchitectureen
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-21T08:01:57Zen
dc.date.available2025-06-21T08:01:57Zen
dc.date.issued2025-06-20en
dc.description.abstractgeneralFuture cities are largely mentioned with utopia in the 21st century. Yet, many also think that utopias are pre-21st-century texts or designs. In the early 21st century, the concept of a digital city began to be connected to utopian ideas. Smart city, sustainable city,15-minute city, and many more city forms use "utopian" as an adjective. However, there has been limited research into the utopian features of ideal cities and societies that are proposed in these new technological marvels. Utopian thought is primarily associated with digital cities in multiple aspects, including mobility, security, sustainability, and digitalization. Nevertheless, studies often overlook the connection between the smart city concept that surfaced in the early 21st century and classic utopias. Furthermore, new communities within digital cities have not received sufficient investigation. In classic utopian philosophy, utopias encompass much more than mere technological achievements, as they include ideal societies that extend beyond just technical designs. This dissertation explores the evolution of utopianism in the 21st century and examines how utopian thinking has transitioned from virtuous cities to smart cities, focusing on The Line in Saudi Arabia and Telosa in the United States.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:41405en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/135556en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectUtopiaen
dc.subjectIdeal cityen
dc.subjectSmart cityen
dc.subjectThe Lineen
dc.subjectTelosaen
dc.titleFrom Heaven on Earth to Smart Cities: How Utopianism Shifted from Social Structures to Digital Built Environments in the 21st Centuryen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineArchitecture and Design Researchen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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