Move over, off-brand Cookie Monster. The Times Square of the future features mountains, redwoods, a beach and its own stadium. This Honorable Mention from the 2015 eVolo Skyscraper Competition imagines a Times Square where overpopulation necessitates some sci-fi thinking.
The submission, titled “Times Squared 3015,” was created by Blake Freitas, Grace Chen and Alexi Kararavokiris. The design capitalizes on the principle that good designers maximize a limited footprint by building up.
Rising over a mile into the sky (5,687 feet, to be precise), the structure encompasses “vertical farming, beach, mountain range, stadium, redwood forest, housing, and offices – destinations that are normally farther apart [and] are now stacked vertically.” The designers envision “a series of L-shaped ‘living’ clusters — the city fabric — that surround and integrate with the natural environment.”
One of the most exciting innovations is the transportation system, which utilizes a massive central core subway/elevator system. From there, “local” stops can be made using secondary escalators and stairs.
A leading architecture and design journal, eVolo explores technological advances, sustainability and innovative design for the 21st Century.
The contest was created in 2006 to recognize innovators in the concept of vertical living. The publication has received more than 6,000 project proposals that envision the future of building high. Contestants showcase “novel use of technology, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations” and “challenge the way we understand vertical architecture and its relationship with the natural and built environments.”
Next year’s competition guidelines have yet to be announced, but you can check out more top submissions for 2015’s contest here.
What do you envision for the NYC of the future? Tweet @bbhnyc and we might feature your idea in a future story.
