Yotropicolis City: Roman concrete and Icelandic Probiotics
Yotropicolis is a visionary city of the future, designed as a living garden that thrives beyond traditional notions of revenue and economic success. This unique city, imagined for years but only now realized, is built entirely from Roman concrete and incorporates Icelandic probiotics. Its design is a direct response to the hedonistic, capitalist landscapes marked by pandemic pressures and societal shifts, creating an environment that balances methodical urban planning with playful, therapeutic spaces.
Inspired by Çatalhöyük in Turkey—often regarded as the world's first city—Yotropicolis features buildings constructed from probiotic-infused Roman concrete that function as carbon sponges. The density of the structures allows inhabitants to traverse the city by walking on the rooftops, bypassing conventional streets.
The cultural richness of Yotropicolis is evident in its vivid figurines and murals which reflect a commitment to easing human suffering through inclusive, though not mass, culture. The city deliberately avoids corporate influences: there are no businesses pushing branded lifestyles. Instead, residents live sustainably, rejecting marketing and materialism to foster a vibrant arts community.
One of the city's most striking features is a vast palace made from a diverse array of woods including cedar, cypress, juniper, boxwood, mulberry, pistachio wood, and tamarisk. This palace houses artifacts and treasures which hold no monetary value but serve as objects of public enjoyment and artistic inspiration. Inhabitants own nothing, and use of these items is communal yet surprisingly rare.
Yotropicolis boasts botanical superhighways where flowering city vines transform into elevated walkways when rooftops become crowded. The city is self-sustaining, and a communal spirit prevails. The primary concern of its people is the well-being of their neighbors and the environment. In this anti-hero city, recognition and accolades are unnecessary. The youth are celebrated as future guardians, and while in broader society adults may often feel undervalued, in Yotropicolis, they are deeply appreciated. Homelessness is nonexistent; everyone has a place to belong.
Yotropicolis represents an idealistic vision where respect for all life forms, from humans to animals and trees, is ingrained in the city's ethos. Aggressors face immediate consequences, metaphorically receiving "concrete boots." Aging is celebrated, with elders revered for their stories and wisdom. The people of Yotropicolis embrace the natural cycle of life, valuing the aging process and the inevitability of death, finding beauty and continuity in it all.
