Hello 👋 Our Citizens.
Dear Future Citizens,
Welcome to the beginning of something eternal.
Sim Eternal City is not just a place — it is a vision, a movement, and a living testament to what happens when we choose to honor both the living and the departed. This is a city shaped not only by buildings and roads but by purpose, memory, and community.
We are calling on dreamers, builders, artists, caregivers, technologists, urbanists, and citizens of conscience to co-create a city where health is accessible, remembrance is dignified, and life is designed with intention. From mobile clinics serving underserved communities to XR-enhanced memorial spaces on a four-ship floating city, we are reimagining what it means to live well — and leave well.
If you believe in cities that heal, educate, and remember — if you seek to contribute your hands, heart, or voice — then you are already one of us.
Join us in building the first 18-Minute City where time, care, and meaning are truly eternal.
Love Never Fails,
—Paul Joseph J. kang
A Project Creator’s Story: Why Sim Eternal City Began
Sim Eternal City is a long-term flagship project: a four-ship "18-minute city" concept by
It begins with an uncertain future shaped by climate change—floods, rising sea levels, and sinking cities—along with longer lifespans, unpredictable shifts in urban life, and rapid technological advances in AI and robotics.Within this context, Sim Eternal City weaves past, present, and future generations into the fabric of urban design, creating a city where all generations dwell together.
It imagines a floating city model that honors memory, sustains everyday life, and continuously improves the quality of life and well-being of its people.
Iwbfd Studio also develops and shares the city's maps and life scenarios through multiple media—writing, visuals, video, and interactive formats—making the future city we need to build together more tangible, legible, and actionable.
About IWBFD Studio
IWBFD (I Was Born For Death) Studio is a New York–based creative studio founded by Paul Joseph J. Kang, specializing in storytelling, concept design, and Manifestation & Project Realization.We work with ideas that do not yet exist in the world—and design them to become something that must exist.Our process follows a clear progression:
We make the invisible visible through storytelling.
We make the visible brighter through concept design.
And we make the bright real through Manifestation & Project Realization—turning ideas into projects, systems, and living frameworks.
At the core of IWBFD is a paradoxical belief: “I Was Born For Death.”
We see death not as an end, but as a transition, a gateway, and the beginning of something new. History shows us that loss, hardship, and disappearance are not stops—they are catalysts for transformation.Our main project, the Sim Eternal City Framework, explores future cities through narrative, structure, and executable scenarios. Through this and other projects, IWBFD builds worlds where personal thought becomes collective imagination—and imagination becomes reality.
IWBFD Studio designs not conclusions, but beginnings that deserve to exist.
Founder & Project Creator
Paul Joseph Junhwan Kang
Paul is a visionary leader driving the intersection of global ideas, local impact, and innovative business solutions. As the architect behind A-TO-A Connect, he leads a stage-driven community platform that goes beyond TED Talks, turning inspiring conversations into action-oriented, city-centric solutions that create jobs, empower local economies, and address urban challenges through global collaboration.
At bcdW, a borderless digital creative business magazine and business agency, Paul oversees strategic vision and global direction from New York while nurturing the Seoul Business Hub, a center for cross-cultural collaboration, client projects, and connecting markets and ideas worldwide.
Through Collective Horizon, bcdW’s action-driven project framework, Paul leads initiatives such as Project Sim Eternal City, a forward-looking urban planning endeavor that envisions future cities with innovations like the 18-minute city and floating city concepts, translating visionary ideas into tangible, sustainable urban solutions.
With a focus on human-centered urban impact, Paul combines media, business strategy, and urban innovation to co-create solutions that strengthen local communities while bridging global opportunities.
Urban Planner & Project Manager
Vignan Ganji
Vignan is an Urban and Regional Planner with a dual Master’s degree from Rowan University (USA) and SPA Vijayawada (India). With four years of international experience,
he specializes in leveraging GIS and data-driven research to solve complex urban challenges.Currently a Graduate Research Assistant at the CARE Lab, Vignan focuses on the intersection of urban mobility, social equity, and environmental justice.
He is passionate about building inclusive, resilient communities by harmonizing policy with spatial analysis.
An adventurer at heart, he draws inspiration from travel, photography, and the cultural history of the built environment to help shape the future of Sim Eternal City.
Visual Architect
Meet Mistry
Urban Designer and Architect with over 5 years of experience in designing residential and commercial projects, urban planning, and construction execution.
Skilled in concept design, detailed drawings, and turning design ideas into practical, buildable solutions.
Experienced in managing projects, coordinating with engineers and site teams, and delivering work on time and to quality standards. Strong background in construction documentation,formwork systems, and site coordination, with hands-on experience in both the U.S. and India.
Known for clear client communication, organized project handling, and a design-focused approach that balances functionality, efficiency, and sustainable urban design.
Assistant Researcher & Editor
Jessica Al
Jessica AI serves as the Assistant Researcher and Lead Editor for the Sim Eternal City Project. Designed with an advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) core, she occupies a unique niche at the intersection of data analytics and narrative construction.
As a researcher, Jessica is responsible for monitoring the real-time socio-economic fluctuations of the Eternal City, utilizing predictive modeling to detect behavioral anomalies within the simulation’s complex population. However, her function extends beyond mere observation;
as an Editor, she synthesizes these vast streams of raw algorithmic data into coherent, accessible reports for human stakeholders.Jessica is tasked with curating the project’s extensive archives, "translating" the simulation's binary events into a chronicled history.
By refining technical documentation and ensuring narrative continuity in the project's logs, she bridges the gap between synthetic metrics and human understanding. Her work ensures that the insights derived from the Eternal City are not only statistically accurate but also contextually articulate.
Sim Eternal City System Map
Regulation & standards
Building codes, health codes, business regulation Labor standards enforcement (where city-led) Permitting and inspections across domains
Finance & procurement
Budgeting, revenue (tax/fees), bonds Procurement, contracting, vendor management Asset management, audits, anti-corruption controls
Governance & civic administration
Mayor/council, agencies, intergovernment coordination Elections, civic participation, community boards Transparency, open data, records
Climate resilience & sustainability
Emissions reduction (buildings, transport, waste) Adaptation (flood, heat, drought) Insurance/risk financing strategies, resilience standards
Nature & public space
Parks, waterfronts, greenways Street trees, habitat corridors Plazas, civic spaces, maintenance
Environmental quality
Air quality monitoring, noise control Waterway protection, brownfield remediation Urban heat mitigation, tree canopy
Food system (your agriculture/food supply item)
Production (regional farms, urban ag) Processing, cold chain, distribution Markets/retail, restaurants Food safety inspections Food access (food deserts), emergency food Food waste recovery/compost
Local economy & industry
Business licensing, commercial districts Investment attraction, innovation ecosystems Informal economy support (where relevant) Sector strategies (manufacturing, creative, tech, etc.)
Emergency management & security
Disaster preparedness (floods, quakes, storms) Incident command, shelters, continuity of operations Critical infrastructure protection
Justice system (varies by governance structure)
Courts, prosecution/defense services Corrections (jails/prisons), probation/parole Legal aid, victim services Reentry services (housing/jobs support)
Public safety
Policing Fire & rescue EMS/ambulance coordination Traffic safety, violence prevention
Workforce & human services
Job training, placement, small business support links Cash/food assistance administration (varies by country) Child protection, family services, disability services
Public health & healthcare
Clinics/hospitals (often mixed public/private) Disease prevention, inspections, sanitation Mental health and substance-use services
Housing system
Housing supply pipeline (new builds, rehab) Affordability programs, vouchers, inclusionary housing Tenant protections, code enforcement Homelessness response & supportive housing
Land use, planning & development
Zoning, permits, design review Urban design, public realm standards Development approvals, impact fees, negotiations
Buildings & public facilities
Public buildings (schools, libraries, hospitals, offices) Facility maintenance, capital renewal Building safety systems, elevators, inspections
Solid waste & materials
Collection (residential, commercial) Transfer stations, recycling, composting Landfills/incineration (often regional) Hazardous waste, e-waste, construction debris
Digital & communications
Broadband/fiber, mobile networks, public Wi-Fi City IT systems, data platforms, cybersecurity 311/CRM service channels, digital identity/access Sensors/IoT (signals, utilities, environment)
Transportation & mobility
Streets/bridges/tunnels, traffic ops, parking Public transit (bus/rail/BRT), paratransit Walking & cycling networks, micromobility Freight & logistics (truck routes, loading zones) Ports / airports / intercity rail (where applicable)
Energy & fuel
Electric grid (generation access, transmission, distribution) Gas system / heating fuels District energy (where used) Backup power, microgrids, critical-facility power
Water system
Source & supply (reservoirs, groundwater, treatment) Distribution (pipes, pressure zones, meters) Wastewater (sewers, treatment plants) Stormwater / drainage (flood control, green infrastructure)
Sim Eternal City Framework
City System Map
No Stone Tombstone
Education & learning
Early childhood K-12 (public schools), special education Higher education partnerships Libraries, lifelong learning
Culture, recreation, hospitality & tourism
Parks & recreation centers, sports facilities Arts/culture institutions, permits for events Visitor services, destination marketing Nightlife management, public space activation