What on earth is this thing?

In order to present a diverse range of ideas from a diverse range of participants, we've created an experimental web interface which uses content to build a virtual future city, where each building or icon represents an idea, image or story. Holding your mouse over an icon will display a brief summary of that element. Clicking an element will zoom you to that building, and the relevant content will load and be displayed. Have a play - we're in the process of refining the concept. The current site includes nearly a hundred quotes, stories and articles, with more being added frequently.

Buildings and icons within our future city are positioned according to the type of sustainable future they describe. The X axis represents where they sit on a continuum from nature to technology: buildings at the far left represent ideas which emphasise sustainability through natural systems, a 'back to nature' approach and modifying human society to work within natural parameters. Buildings to the right contain visions of the future which emphasise technological solutions to environmental and social issues.

The Y-axis describes the way in which these approaches might be implemented, ranging from an organic, DIY, participatory approach at the bottom, through to a regulated, legislated and automated vision of sustainability at the top.