1925: Art Deco + 2025: AI Deco = 2125: A? Deco Three Ages of Beauty — One Yet to Shape Our Cities, Structures and Codes

Contents of the competition

What if the cities of tomorrow float on the sea? How can the elegance of the past and the intelligence of today shape a new urban future? Kitakyushu embodies a unique urban narrative spanning nearly a century of design and innovation. The Moji Retro District, with its timeless Art Deco architecture, reflects a rich heritage of craftsmanship and elegance. The Kokura Central Zone stands as a living laboratory of AI-driven smart city technologies and adaptive urban infrastructure. The Hibikinada Offshore Zone represents an open frontier, a site for bold experimentation with floating urbanism and sustainable living on the sea.
As rising seas threaten millions worldwide, we must rethink where and how we live. Kitakyushu’s rich past and smart present form the foundation for a radical future, one where beauty, technology, and resilience merge on water. We challenge you to imagine, design, and build, not just buildings, but new ways of living, connecting, and thriving.
Your ideas could transform Kitakyushu and inspire cities across the globe. Join a global dialogue on climate adaptation, urban innovation, and the aesthetics of the future. Your design will be part of a movement tackling some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

“Design is the bridge between imagination and reality.” Your vision for 2125 starts here.

Your Challenge
Design a visionary urban area that connects below key themes for a new district that
1) pays tribute to the artistic and human scale of the past
2) harnesses the potential of contemporary AI and data systems
3) boldly imagines floating neighborhoods on the sea as a response to climate change and global
flood risks

Key Themes
Heritage and Ornamentation
How can Art Deco’s legacy inform contemporary urban aesthetics?
Intelligent Infrastructure
What role will AI and smart technologies play in future urban life?
Speculative Futures
How can floating architecture and maritime urbanism redefine the boundaries of the city in
2125 and beyond?

Competition Site
Hibikinada Offshore Zone: innovative floating solutions connected to the mainland
Participants should consider the spatial and symbolic relationship between
1) The Moji Retro District (1925)
2) The Kokura Central Zone (2025)
3) Hibikinada Offshore Zone (2125)

Organized by
NPO Asian Institute of Low Carbon Design (AILCD)

The University of Kitakyushu (Japan)

Theme
1925: Art Deco + 2025: AI Deco = 2125: A? Deco Three Ages of Beauty — One Yet to Shape Our Cities, Structures and Codes