Editors’ Choice
2023 Skyscraper Competition

CannonDesign
Chris Soria, Sharon Mathew, Steffany Brady, Stefania Ingaramo, Aimee Platt, Chun-Tien Kuo, Brandon Geiger
United States

A Brave New World
The year 4023 presents a new reality for our planet and our human race. The irreversible effects of a warming planet have taken its toll on our ecosystem. Land has given way to water, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of the Earth’s total surface area. The remaining land is no longer capable of sustaining a global population. Humans adapted by reinventing today’s cityscapes in the form of floating micro communities. The physical transformation of our world also led to new societal realizations. Through this evolution, we learned that our wellbeing is inextricably connected to the actions of our global neighbors.  And while each micro community is successful in meeting the basic needs of its residents, we understood that healthcare could not live within individual communities and equitably meet the needs of a connected, global community. Further, the social role and responsibility of healthcare in 4023 is asked to stretch well beyond what we know it as today. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2023 Skyscraper Competition

Kael Samake, Saijeeni Elangko, Faye Bonifacio
Canada

The Sahel is a geographic region that runs across the African continent. It is the border between the Sahara Desert to the north and the tropics to the south.
The indigenous baobab tree is the heart of African tradition and folklore. Referred to as the Teydouma in a local dialect for its femininity, the tree provides protection and education to the local communities and has become a symbol of life for the people who live among it.
The Teydouma tower draws inspiration from the baobab and intends to provide food and water, shelter, a place for the community to gather, and educational opportunities for the Sahelian communities. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors’ Choice
2023 Skyscraper Competition

Ho Sze Yin
Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a densely populated city. As of 2023, the population density of Hong Kong has amounted to 110.98 times more than that of the world’s average. Moreover, its total population is forecasted to increase by 7% to 8.1 million by the year of 2030. However, most of the developable lands are already urbanized. Therefore, land supply shortage for new development has become a major problem.

In response, the HKSAR government has put-forth the proposal of a Northern Metropolis Development Strategies (NMDS) as part of the 2030+ Development Plan. It explores the possibility in acquiring additional land for housing in the Northern New Territories, where these lands mainly consisted of natural reserves, fish ponds, farmlands and small indigenous villages. It is important that while developing these rural villages, the natural and environmental conservations, and the preservation/ integration of the qualities of village life could be thoroughly addressed.

The new tower development in these rural villages faces two main challenges:

1. The negotiation between high-density housing and the conservation of natural ecology;
2. The integration of “village qualities” with communal and environmental responsiveness within the tower.

As a result, Tower Village is proposed for redeveloping rural villages in response to the 2030+ Development Plan. Read the rest of this entry »