Layer City: Redesign Skyscrapers

Abstract

My thesis is dealing with the urban construction---skyscrapers,nowadays, the urban fabric is pronominally skyscraper driven in major cities. I started my paper from my own city experience. While the skyscraper in New York City is a passive existence to fulfill density demand, most of the world’s big cities are building skyscraper purposefully other than functionally. This is the main reason that causes rampant consumerism within City of Beijing. Culture heritages are now gradually replaced by decorative buildings in order to obtain the title of “metropolis”. Skyscraper is more a political measure. The concept of metropolis is developed from tribe, where in the ancient times people gathered together to exchange stuff and communicate with others. Therefore, city has nothing to do with skyscraper, building skyscraper is just one of many solutions to solve the density problem. Furthermore, skyscraper is causing chaos and disconnecting us from urban fabric by vertically heighten us above the cityscape, which further on disconnecting culture connectivity that sustains a healthy city. In order to fully realize the relationship between architecture culture and humanity, it’s necessary to utilize certain features that are overlooked in current cities, such as horizontality compactness interacting with streetscapes, façade development depth, and enhance horizontal circulation between skyscrapers. Therefore, by adding multiple layers to skyscraper not only enhance communication within the city, but also provide buildings sufficient sunlight, through my research, I am looking to redesign skyscrapers to create a better living experience in the future.