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Ring City
TIAGO BARROS + FILIPE TABOADA

Ring City

The project Ring City was a recently submitted entry for the International Ideas Competition New York CityVision organized by CityVision magazine.


Ring City envisions a new networked city that is juxtaposed onto the existing structure of New York City. This networked city consists of multiple rings that are supported by the surrounded buildings. New York City is therefore given the opportunity to grow horizontally in a totally enhanced grid system that defies gravity.


High-res images will be provided upon request.


PROJECT DESCRIPTION


The Past can exist without a Future but certainly there is no Future without a Past. The Future will always be a consequence of habitants choices, attitudes, politics, rules and city planning. The Past has set the ground rules that allowed and forced New York City to be what it is today: A vertical structure that represent the pillars for the next city to come.


Ring City is a new construction concept juxtaposed onto the existing vertical structure, literally using the existing tall constructions as structures to support its ring-shaped buildings. This new concept allows the city to expand horizontally while continuing its typical vertical growth.


This new concept consists of an innovative horizontal construction methodology, a series of rings with different radius built at different levels. At times, the rings overlap with each other and end up creating a new network system. These rings are supported by the surrounded buildings and use its cores to provide a vertical link to the street level.


Each ring is made of a self-supporting structure with a multipurpose void in its interior. The interior space is to be programmed at will and even changed from time to time according to the needs of its inhabitants. Magnetic strips are attached to the rings structure. These magnetic strips are the tracks for the transportation pods that provide access to its occupants through the entire length and space of each ring. These moving objects allow their users to arrive to any destiny within the ring.


Ring City becomes a new city with a park and passageway at the roof level, creating new outstanding views over the city. The roofs also have the function to capture, clean and reuse rain water. The gas emissions in New York City would be significantly reduced with the help of Ring City’s green roof areas. A new Future built on the existing Past.

Project credits

Architects

Project data

Project Year
2012
Category
Cities
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