Bariloche: Argentina’s Green Utopia of the Late 21st Century

THIS PROJECT PREDICTS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURES OF THOUSANDS OF CITIES AND TOWNS WORLDWIDE. THIS WEEK, WE HIGHLIGHT THE FUTURE OF THE ARGENTINIAN CITY OF BARILOCHE AS IT LURCHES TOWARD 'GREEN UTOPIANISM' BY THE LATE 21st CENTURY.

Bariloche, nestled in Argentina’s Lake District against the snow-capped Andes, is already a postcard-perfect place. But what if this charming Patagonian town became more than just a tourist stop? What if Bariloche embraced its natural surroundings not just for scenery, but as a foundation for a radical green economy and society—a truly regenerative, eco-friendly town of the future?

Let’s start with energy. Bariloche has enormous potential for micro-hydro, wind, and solar power, especially given its alpine rivers, steady winds, and generous sunshine. By transitioning to community-owned renewable energy cooperatives, the town could ditch fossil fuels entirely and create green jobs in the process. Energy wouldn't be just about power—it would become a shared local resource, owned by the people, not corporations.

Then there’s mobility. Imagine a car-free city center, with electric cable cars, bike-sharing programs, and old-fashioned wooden boats ferrying people across Lake Nahuel Huapi. Tourists and locals alike could glide through Bariloche without the roar of engines or the stink of diesel. Goods could be delivered by electric cargo trikes, and the roads reclaimed for trees, gardens, and footpaths.

Bariloche could also become a hub for ecological education and regenerative tourism. Schools could partner with Indigenous Mapuche knowledge keepers, ecologists, and climate scientists to build a curriculum rooted in the land. Visitors wouldn’t just come to ski or hike—they’d come to learn how to build eco-houses out of local timber and volcanic clay, how to harvest wild herbs without damaging the land, or how to track the health of glacier-fed watersheds.

Food is another pillar. Bariloche could embrace permaculture and agroecology, turning urban spaces into gardens and nearby fields into polycultural farms. Rather than import packaged foods from Buenos Aires, the town could thrive on seasonal, local crops, wild berries, honey, forest mushrooms, trout, and native herbs. A slow-food economy would replace fast food and mega-marts.

But most importantly, Bariloche’s transformation would depend on building a green society, not just green infrastructure. That means local assemblies making decisions, youth councils imagining the future, artists and activists shaping public life. It means honoring the Mapuche view of the land as sacred—not a resource to be exploited, but a being to live with in mutual care.

If Bariloche can take this leap—from tourist town to model of eco-civilization—it could inspire not just other towns in Argentina, but mountain communities around the world. A Patagonia not of postcards and consumerism, but of resilience, equity, and ecological reverence.