baylma

Baylma is a fictional term used in speculative literature and design discourse to denote a modular, self-sustaining urban habitat optimized for climate resilience. The concept centers on integrated systems that produce energy, recycle water, and grow food within walkable districts arranged around shared infrastructure.

Origins: The term emerged in fictional settings and later in real-world design workshops as a hypothetical model to compare strategies for urban self-sufficiency. Its etymology is not standardized; it is typically treated as a coined term rather than a word rooted in a specific language.

Design principles: Baylma envisions modular neighborhood units that can expand or shrink; local energy generation via renewables; centralized water capture and recycling; urban agriculture and green corridors; autonomous mobility with low-emission transit; governance that favors participatory planning and adaptive management.

Applications: In fiction, Baylma is used to explore trade-offs between autonomy and interdependence, resilience to climate shocks, and social equity. In professional contexts, it functions as a thought experiment to assess resilience metrics and planning workflows.

Limitations: As a fictional construct, Baylma has no official standard, and implementations depend on author or designer's goals. Critics argue that oversimplification of political and economic dynamics can obscure real-world challenges.

See also: sustainable city, urban resilience, eco-village, modular design, resilient infrastructure.