Octavia research on how to design a city

Did some more research, I am happy with the overall shape of the city, it also looks a bit like a spider, which was purely accidental :)

windmills design research

Well windmills aren't very exciting, and the sketches are generic, but an idea did spark at the end and my whole city design is based on it, so I'm happy :)

Octavia overall design

Bit stylised but wanted it to be quick.
The reason behind this design is the height of the city. The shape collects the winds and directs them in the middle where the futuristic looking "windmill" transforms them into electricity.
Another perk for this shape is collecting rain water and the condensation of the trees, again gathered in the middle and filtered before send through the pipes.
My problem at the moment are the houses? Any suggestions?

New Octavia thumbnails

Based on my research I published yesterday, I did some thumbnails. I think they make much more sense than my previous ones.
1. Is a overview of Octavia with the buildings and houses.
2. Is a close up on the roof top water gathering trees.
3. A close-up on the "community building" and its entrance.
4. Is a more stylised version of the city.
Feedback is more than welcome :)

Octavia research

After watching the incredibly inspirational 2001: space odyssey today and reading an interesting article about concept design, i think i finally understood what Phil means when he said I need to design a city, not build it (finally, an epiphany)!
I looked into some key points and am including the scan from my neat moleskine:

Water for the city is gathered by rooftop "parks" with plastic bags around the tree branches. The water towers are collecting it and also filter it in a very basic way - rocks, sand and layers of charcoal. Also there are drains around the rooftop for rain water, again filtered in the same way.

Energy/Electricity - i thought of two ways an isolated city like Octavia can gather energy - capturing lightnings, implying the city is very technically developed, or wind energy. Second option seemed more plausible as i don't see the city as very futuristic and "techy". 

Transportation - cable cars, simple as that. Public transport is electricity based while individuals have manual cable systems of transportation and lifts to move around the city.

Religion? - i think it is more to do with the spiritual side of the citizens. Since they are high up in the air, between two mountains i can imagine they are quite spiritual. Air as the symbol of intelligence, the people of Octavia have a different understanding of " up and down" (a long and humble curtsey to 2001 space odyssey). They can use lifts to move up and down around the city, they spend a lot of their time hanging in mid air and height is something usual for them. 

Houses - hanging tents of course, citizens are growing ivy from their houses that stop them from moving in the wind.

Also I recalled two artists i heard about a few years ago - Dan Havel and Dean Ruck who created a "black hole" house which inspired me for the design for the temple in Octavia. Also there are houses built into the mountains surrounding the city, connected with it by ropes and ladders.

Overall design - the city resembles a scaffolding and the crossed levels and ropes hanging from it vaguely resemble a spider web.

First thumbnail of this new city design is at the bottom of the attached page.

I will do some digital drawings tomorrow, feedback will be welcome.

Octavia thumbnail

Just a quick one, the colours just refused to work so I turned them down almost completely.

3 point perspective exercises