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Bitcoin

City

Project Data

Year

2022

Status

On Going

Scale

14,000,000 m2 / 150,694,745.83 ft2

Typology

Urban Design

Location

El Salvador

Client

Consultants

Burohappold

Team

Fernando Romero, Romain Thijsen, Emma Noordman, Gerardo Arrieta, Alejandra Soto, German Sandoval, Daniel Flores, Libia Castilla, Alex Bazán, Adriana Merchant, Yaduit Díaz, Joseph Torres, Kimberlym Uribe, Lydia Zenteno, Kiara Castilla, Luis Hernández, Lina Triviño, Guillermo Calderón, Juan Jose Santos, Juan David Osorio.

Under the visionary leadership of President Nayib Bukele, the Republic of El Salvador is embarking on an ambitious undertaking – the creation of Bitcoin City, a futuristic metropolis rising on the Gulf of Fonseca on the southern coast of the country. Strategically located near a new state-of-the-art international airport designed by renowned architect Fernando Romero, Bitcoin City is poised to serve as a hub for the burgeoning Bitcoin economy.

Attracting entrepreneurs, businesses, and visitors from around the world, this city will showcase how decentralized finance and technological innovation can foster sustainable urban development. The design of Bitcoin City is deeply rooted in the core principles of the Bitcoin philosophy – integrity, decentralization, security, privacy, and inclusion. Every aspect of the city, from the public transportation network to the distribution of essential services, has been meticulously planned to embody these values and provide residents with a seamless, sustainable way of life.

Embracing the “15-minute city” concept, Bitcoin City will be built around the idea that all necessary amenities should be accessible within a 15-minute walk or 5-minute bike ride. An extensive network of electric public transit, including trolleybuses, buses, and minibuses, will connect the various neighborhoods, ensuring efficient and low-emission mobility for all. The use of private vehicles will be minimized, as the city’s layout and infrastructure will prioritize pedestrians and cyclists.

The sustainability commitment is evident in the strategic approach to the diverse vegetation on the site, featuring 52 tree species in a low deciduous jungle. Prioritizing responsible development, the project integrates the preservation of unique biodiversity, including abundant shrub-stage individuals and habitat-specific species indicative of a young regeneration status.

The centerpiece of city is the BitCoin Plaza & Museum, a public amenity and touristic attraction that replicates the form of a coin and floats above the innermost ringway of the metropolis. Incorporating outdoor amphitheaters, stepped seating, and immersive indoor-outdoor gallery space, the Museum-Plaza will be a 24-hour buzzing hub and a welcoming destination for all ages and user groups.

Another key feature is the Mirador, a panoramic viewing platform atop a nearby volcano that celebrates the abundance of the land from the volcano above to the sea below, while also providing an incredible bird’s-eye view of the burgeoning Bitcoin City metropolis.

As El Salvador embarks on this ambitious endeavor, the world will be watching closely. Bitcoin City represents a daring leap into the unknown, a gamble that could forever alter the trajectory of the nation and serve as a model for other countries seeking to harness the potential of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.

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