Special Mention
2010 Skyscraper Competition

Thomas Favre-Bulle, Mathieu Hefti, Simon Potier
Switzerland

An interactive engine for the design of reactive architecture.

Many skyscraper projects are pixelated stacks of boxes. Typological Organizer is a robust architectural ‘engine’ that refers to such projects but also adds both complexity handling and real-time reactivity capability. The engine does this by setting up an automated process of spatialization driven by internal typological parameters and external environmental factors.

Topologies
For the specific purpose of this project, we chose to work on a purely housing program, but the process can be easily expanded to other program types, such as offices or commercial. The housing types are described as topological networks, with geometrical dimensions and formalized qualities. Each functional room (could be foyer, bedroom, great room, etc.) is a node in the network with specific given dimensions and desirable circulation connections. Each one can also be given qualitative connections to the exterior, like orientation sensitivity, wet connection to core or terrace adjunction.

Spatialization
The spatialization of the thus typologically-defined network uses a dynamic particle/spring physical simulation. A Java library has been specifically written for the purpose of the project, integrating open source content in the matter of physical simulation. Read the rest of this entry »

Special Mention
2010 Skyscraper Competition

Violeta Sabaliauskaite, Lukas Gadeikis
Lithuania / United Kingdom

Entering 21st century, massive city mazes and high speed is everyday reality and frequently changing our working and living location has become almost a necessity. The SKY-BRIDGE is designed for speeding up this changeability. This is an alternative network of transportation with integrated settlement capability. The SKY-BRIDGE is the idea taken from our ancestors. A Combination of transport networks and skyscrapers follows the basic logic how settlements were created – along rivers and roads with free movement of its dwellers.

Nowadays, migration is much more intensive than in ancient times. Two thirds of the US population move every 5 years. More than one million people move out of the US yearly. The most active age group is 18-34 year olds. The main reason for their movement is change in location of work and education. But still we live far away from work. Londoners spend around 225 hours per year commuting to work. The numbers are rising all around the world as the current migration trend is towards cities. Today more than half of the world population is living in cities, and as building activity increases there is more pressure on poor and overcrowded transport system. Read the rest of this entry »

Special Mention
2010 Skyscraper Competition

Rocky Marchant, Ergin Birinci
United Kingdom

Damascus was voted the Arab Capital of Culture in 2008, and is also the capital of Syria. In it’s past it has been the capital of empires and located at the centre of the silk route and has always been a hive of trading. Because of this it is very proud of it’s historical context and is trying to improve it’s cultural and business facilities. 

The site chosen is at the centre of the New City, at the junction of the business and cultural axis. Because of this there is a great desire for development in this area. Having a train station and university as a neighbor emphasizes the demand for development, especially as at the moment there is no clear connection between the station, the university and the sports facilities Read the rest of this entry »

Special Mention
2010 Skyscraper Competition

Anton Markus Pasing
Germany

Preface
“The sky switches on daylight for us – or the shower. We are small gods, mere gods of the machine which is our highest. Our universe is a huge motor, and yet we are dying of boredom. In the midst of fullness, there is an insidious dragon gnawing at our hearts.” — D.H. Lawrence

About
The basic idea of Natwalk 2.0 is based on the assumption that as highly developed descendents of our species, machines will more readily understand the significance of an ecological renewal than we human beings. Moreover, they act with an ethical and social conscience. The origin of the machines is knowingly left in the dark. Read the rest of this entry »

Special Mention
2010 Skyscraper Competition

Nikola Stojkovic, Rajan Garic
Serbia

Compress is a specially designed dynamic system which provides instant space for variety of use.

Environmental, social and economic disturbances cause significant fluctuation among people. Many are left in danger and the need for shelter comes only second after basic necessities. In such case architecture plays important part in reducing the effects and providing basis for restoring continuity. This project examines the possibilities of creating First Aid Skyscraper (called Compress), easily transported in standard shipping containers and deployed all over the world. Location for this project can be anywhere from Haiti to Afghanistan. It is designed as first building on site after accidents. It shares almost military aesthetics and is intended to be in the front rows. As such it can respond to any need and provide first aid, accommodation or shelter for scientific research. Read the rest of this entry »

Artist Jim Kazanjian from Portland, Oregon created a hallucinated and surreal world with rich black and white photographs that tell the story of the relationship between man, architecture, and nature. 

Project submitted to the 2007 Skyscraper Competition

The main concept of this project is to create a green open core for four towers with different architectural programs. The four skyscrapers integrate with the landscape as legs peeling from the ground that offer a variety of cultural and recreational spaces. The green core is equipped with water recollection systems, terraces, and gardens. Read the rest of this entry »

Project submitted to the 2007 Skyscraper Competition

The Skyarch is a new type of skyscraper in which two arches intersect at 90 degrees. Skyarchs can be built to link cities and different neighborhoods within a city. Read the rest of this entry »

Project submitted to the 2006 Skyscraper Competition
Designed by: Alex C. Remigio

Skyscraper of the 21^st Century is a human habitat in the sky made possible by an architectural structure. Our proposal is a living place for retreat and utilities. It is an integrated space for work that motivates career advancement and productivity. It is a mix use of bank, hotel, convention center, library and a museum. It is a hub for recreation like cinemas, fitness, sports, aquatics, and nature park leisure. This structure will sum up the whole package complex. Read the rest of this entry »

Project submitted to the 2006 Skyscraper Competition
Designed by: Yaroslav Usov

This multifunctional complex is located on the coast of Himkinskoe in Moscow, Russia. The main design element is the displacement of the floor plates which are arranged as a spiral staircase. The main idea is to create pockets or public areas to be used for different types activities. Many of these spaces will be used as private gardens and public parks. The building is also equipped with the latest technologies for water recollection and harvesting of solar and wind power. Read the rest of this entry »