New capital cities: A timeless mega-project of intercontinental presence

Abstract

Mega-projects are projects that require immense resources to create. This includes all different aspects; funding, labour, etc. These projects are meant to create a massive effect on the city or national level through providing job opportunities during construction as well as after completion. Moreover, these projects usually have an intercontinental effect that echoes worldwide and may affect other projects, cities or even countries either positively or negatively. Mega-projects are not restricted to certain project typologies; in fact they range from Olympic cities to water dams and channels. We can even claim that the first mega-project was the great pyramid. Mega-projects can also be linked to mega-events thus achieving more international acknowledgement. This paper discusses the creation of new capital cities as a mega-project typology. It analyzes different examples worldwide where a new capital city was created to act as a mega-project that would create ripples of economic and urban development through a country. The capitals of Brazil, Kazakhstan and Egypt are studied to display the authors view of them as mega-projects that have the same function but span across time, space and cultures.