This award winning proposal for a vertical arcology in Hong Kong addresses sustainability on two levels: environmentally and socially. This competition entry was a joint effort between myself and an old friend from school, Keelan Hanks.

The structural rings create the foundation; carrying loads, acting as primary circulation, and providing water movement and energy collection. The rings are connected to the interior and exterior of each floor plate, which are equipped with 3D printers on a track system. The printers allow residents to determine programmatic and spatial configurations that can be altered at any time based on need. The rings are reinforced with a structural facade wrapping the tower and providing C02 mitigation and wind-energy collection.

Taking cues from successful urban neighborhoods, the tower is divided into several strategically composed “Vertical Neighborhoods” which reflect the diversity of the traditional street and provide all essential services. Each vertical neighborhood starts with a large public plaza surrounded by shops, businesses, and service industry offerings. As one moves vertically from this urban center, program becomes less dense and more residential; mimicking the gradient of a metropolis becoming individual suburbs and offering the ability to live, work, and play without leaving your neighborhood. Each micro-community benefits from the next: creating a socially sustainable network.