[imagesource:Bjarke Ingels Group]
Toyota’s bold vision for the future, Woven City, is transforming from concept to reality on the site of a former car factory in Japan.
This groundbreaking “living laboratory” located at the base of Mount Fuji is nearly ready to welcome its first residents, blending innovation with everyday life in ways that were once the stuff of science fiction.
At CES this week, the Japanese auto giant shared an exciting update on the $10 billion project. Construction of “Phase 1” is now complete, paving the way for the city’s official launch in 2025. Designed to be more than just a place to live, Woven City will be a dynamic hub where residents will actively participate in testing cutting-edge technologies that could shape the cities of tomorrow.
“Woven City is more than just a place to live, work, and play,” Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said during the press conference at CES, reported The Verge:
“Woven City is a place where people can invent and develop all kinds of new products and ideas. It’s a living laboratory where the residents are willing participants, giving inventors the opportunity to freely test their ideas in a secure, real-life setting.”
Toyota first announced Woven City at CES in 2021, describing it as a “prototype city of the future” or the world’s first urban incubator pushing forward the development and progress of mobility. It is a place where they can test autonomous vehicles, innovative street design, smart home technology, robotics, and new mobility products on a population of real people who would live there full time.
Move-in day is fast approaching for Toyota’s revolutionary Woven City. At the beginning of 2025, the futuristic community will welcome its first 100 residents—all employees of Toyota or its subsidiary, Woven by Toyota. These pioneers will be the first to experience life in this “prototype city of the future,” where groundbreaking technologies are seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
As the community evolves, its doors will open to include “external inventors and their families,” carefully selected to contribute to this bold experiment in urban living. By the end of the first phase, Woven City will be home to 360 residents, setting the stage for a new era of innovation and collaboration.
Toyota dubs these first residents “Weavers,” adding that they are people who “share a passion for the ‘expansion of mobility’ and a commitment to building a more flourishing society. Through their participation in co-creation activities, Weavers will contribute to realizing the full potential of Woven City.”
The first “inventors” confirmed for Woven City are mostly in the food services business, including a vending machine company and a startup that wants to explore “the potential value of coffee through futuristic cafe experiences.”
Also on the roster, Toyoda pitched high-powered motorised wheelchairs for people with disabilities who want to experience the thrill of racing, as well as personal drones that follow joggers for added security, and “pet robots” for elderly people.
The long-term vision for Woven City extends well beyond its initial phase. Through phases 2 and beyond, Toyota aims to expand the city’s capacity to accommodate up to 2,000 full-time residents, including housing, facilities, and infrastructure powered by the company’s cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell technology.
For now, the site remains private, but Toyota has big plans to open its doors to the public. By 2026, curious visitors will have the chance to witness this groundbreaking “city of the future” firsthand, offering a glimpse into what urban living could look like in the decades ahead.
[source:theverge]
