ABSTRACT
This chapter explores that the non-organic nature of experimental eco-cities is one of the main reasons why eco-city projects often fail from a sustainability perspective and are unable to meet their ambitious ecological, social and economic targets. It contributes to contemporary debates on the nature and dynamics of urban experiments by developing the concept of de-composed urbanism, whose characteristics are illustrated using Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as a metaphor for experiments generated by the forced union of different, decaying parts. The chapter explores the Masdar City project by looking specifically at the planning dynamics through which the Masdarian experiment has been implemented. It argues that the experimental nature of Masdar City reveals why and how the city has failed to keep its environmental and social promises, thereby undermining its sustainability potential. The chapter also focuses on in-depth empirical research undertaken in Abu Dhabi from September 2010 to May 2011.
