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Top Five Best Planned Cities on the Planet

Washington DC

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​The world is full of captivating cities, but the ones that are perhaps the most fascinating are the ones that were well planned, as they were born from many different inspirations and built with a purpose in mind. There are various reasons why the cities were built, but they all share one thing in common. They were all designed by the most talented architects and city planners. Here is our rundown of the top five planned cities on the planet.

Washington DC, USA

The famous and prosperous Washington DC we all know today was originally designed from its inception. It was in 1791 that President Washington commissioned French-born architect and city planner, Pierre Charles L’Enfant to design a new capital city. He drew inspiration from the designs of Amsterdam, Milan, Paris and Karlsruhe, in Germany. Washington is the epicentre of the US Government and it contains many iconic buildings and structures, such as the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Also, Washington is home to the Old Stone House, which is the city’s oldest unchanged building dating back to 1765. With so many wonderful monuments, Washington is an attractive travel destination and a truly great planned city.

Brasilia, Brazil

Everyone is very familiar with Rio and Sao Paulo, but Brasilia was founded in 1960 to serve as the new capital of Brazil. It was planned and developed by Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, with the intention of moving the capital from Rio de Janeiro, to a more central location. With its elegant bird-like shape, the city is one of the most distinct and uniquely designed cities in the world. It is divided into numbered zones for specific activities, such as one area for hotels and another for banking. Astonishingly, Brasilia is the largest city in the world that did not exist at the beginning of the 20th century. Also, the city was one of the main hosts for the 2014 World Cup.

Wolfsburg, Germany

Wolfsburg is the richest city in Germany, due to its thriving automotive industry. It is famous for being the location for the Volkswagen headquarters, and it is one of the few German cities established in the 20th century. It was founded in 1938, built to house workers of the Volkswagen factories. It has since grown into a very unique city in Germany, as it features new and modern attractions, such as the museum-theme park dedicated to automobiles. The city is home to the famous Wolfsburg Castle, which gives the city its name, and the structure has become the embodiment of the city’s culture.

Canberra, Australia

Despite having a population of just under 400,000, Canberra is Australia’s capital city. It is home to an array of vibrant national events, such as Floriade, an entertainment festival also known as “Australia’s Celebration of Spring”. American architect, Walter Burley Griffin was selected to design the city in 1913, after he won the Federal Capital design competition. The city faced some difficulties during the World Wars and The Great Depression, but it emerged as a prosperous city after WWII. Canberra has become nationally significant, as it is home to Parliament and various other national institutions, including the National Library of Australia. In 2013, several events were held in Canberra, celebrating 100th anniversary of the naming of the city.

Meydan City, Dubai

With many innovative attractions, Meydan City is a new development under construction in Dubai, UAE, costing around $2.2 billion. Launched on the eve of the 2007 Dubai World Cup horse race, the whole city will cover more than 40,000 square feet on a land size of around 15,000 feet. Its main attraction is the Meydan Racecourse, which will be able to accommodate an incredible 60,000 spectators. Also, included in the development is a 9-hole golf course, with a 5-star trackside hotel, which is the first of its kind. The whole city covers five million square metres, which is twice the size of Monaco. Despite being held back by the financial crash and various construction delays, the city is set to provide the ultimate sports and entertainment package.

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