ThisisThesis

A. What am I going to do?

I will be advocating and designing for a different type of tower - one that  s  p  a  n  s  the skies - connecting the many towers that currently stand alone to one another and to the rest of the city.

B. Why am I doing it?/what question am I trying to answer?

1. Can cities be contained/maintained and improved to prevent other cities from growing elsewhere?

2, Can a new building typology (that I hope to argue for in my thesis) intersect/interact with the city in such a way that it improves its connectivity, helps it to expand without need for more land, in addition to reducing traffic + congestion at street level?

C. How am I going to do it?/what am I going to learn about? (Methods)

My intentions are to further my understanding of Skyscrapers in their varying contexts. In gathering all relevant information (ranging from historical instances, to the pros and cons of tower design, to innovations and trends of this building typology) I hope to help support and inform my thesis (design) intervention. To do this, I will probably need to create a 'Universal Timeline' as reference to historical occurrences and innovations in tower design.

There are many books (among other documentation) on skyscraper/tower design and construction. The structural element will play a major role in the designing of a new type of tower that possibly spans rather than stands so having access to books on structural innovations will be key, in addition to a member of my readers being from the Building Technology Department. Also of importance, will be the understanding of building codes and setbacks/property rights, city planning and infrastructures and air rights. I could also be specific to a site – however I think it best to create an imaginary/abstracted scenario based off of different conditions in different cities. In this way I will learn about and be able to present different solutions/condition responses – demonstrating the adaptable nature of the building typology (in its many forms) that I will be advocating for in my thesis.

D. Why is it important?

Evidence has shown that with current trends in city growth, design and construction, many of these cities will most likely become completely unsustainable – eventually leading to collapse or turmoil promoting the rise of other cities elsewhere.

From another standpoint, cities are becoming increasingly congested and asocial – the sense of community that once existed is near invisible and it is believed that this is partially due to the rapid growth of cities and the building typology. Being stuck in a cubicle on the 49th floor of your typical skyscraper isn’t a very interactive experience, particularly when you take the elevator back down, take the metro and get into bed only to repeat this the next day. Proximity and therefore connectivity are key to rejuvenating these city centers.

Lastly, with the demand for land on the rise and its availability depleting, we are left posing the question of where can/should we build next? Reclamation isn’t a viable or ideal solution any more! Nor is the cutting down of rainforests, or building on virgin lands. We need to turn to the skies – but with a different attitude; not piercing it but floating in it.