If older science fiction designs are any indicator, the city of today should look like a bundle of broken Christmas tree lights during the middle of a Peyote trip. Here's a sampling of fantastic retrofuturistic metropolises and architecture by Japanese artists from the 1960s-1980s. Given our technological advances, there's really no reason we shouldn't all be living in giant spider mechs by now. Pop on some Yellow Magic Orchestra (a personal favorite around here) and dream of a future where all sidewalks are tubular.
Ichiro Tsuruta (1985)
Kazuho Itoh (1980)
Tatsushi Morimoto (1980s)
Nayoyuki Kato (1980)
Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1980)
Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1981)
Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1968)
Naoki Yasuda (1980s)
Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1982)
Jinsei Choh (1980s)
Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1980)
Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1981)
You can see more at 50 Watts' Space Teriyaki series, Journey Round My Skull, and Pink Tentacle. And for more retrofuturistic Japanese design, see the artwork of Tadanori Yokoo (possibly NSFW). This Flickr collection of cosmic vinyl art should also satisfy your cravings for old school galactic weirdness.
[Via Nerdcore]