Toyota has hired Bjarke Ingels’ practice BIG to design a prototype “city of the future” built and staffed by robots. BIG is the architect behind Google’s Mountain View and London HQs, along with Thomas Heatherwick.

The city, planned for a 175-acre site at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan, will be tested in a computer simulation before construction which is slated to start early next year.

Toyota said it would invite its staff and their families, researchers, retired couples, retailers, visiting scientists and industry partners to populate the “living laboratory” which it has dubbed the “Woven City”.

…