flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Could a virtual 'city-forest' help solve population density challenges?

Sustainability

Could a virtual 'city-forest' help solve population density challenges?

The project will house 200,000 people.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | April 28, 2020
The Link exterior with drones

All renderings courtesy Luca Curci Architects

Luca Curci Architects, an Italian architecture firm, has designed a project that combines vertical expansion with economic innovation to solve the challenge of population density.

Dubbed The Link, the plant-covered project would absorb CO2 and produce oxygen for cleaner air and increased biodiversity. The Link comprises four interconnected main towers, each equipped with green areas on every level, 100% green transport systems, and natural light and ventilation.

The tallest building will rise an ambitious 300 floors and 1,200 meters and include apartments, villas, common areas and services, and green areas with private and public gardens. Another tower will rise between 650 and 850 meters and include offices, government departments, healthcare facilities, and education institutions ranging from  early education to universities.

 

The Link plant-covered facade

 

Other features among the interconnected towers will include areas more oriented to lifestyle amenities such as hotels, wellness and spa centers, sport centers, shopping malls, bookshops, and leisure attractions.

 

See Also: This will be the largest Living Building in the world

 

Over 120,000 trees and 2 million plants of over 150 species will cover the interconnected buildings, helping to reduce indoor and outdoor temperatures. Farming will also be incorporated, enabling communities to produce their own food and be self-sufficient. Each building will include water baths, markets, and spiritual and cultural hubs. Drone ports connected with the upper garden-squares of each tower will allow the building's to be reached by air while the basement will be equipped with external and internal docks for pedestrians and public electric transports.

 

The Link interior resident space

 

An urban operating system equipped with AI will be able to manage the global city temperature, levels of CO2, and humidity. The system will also control the global lighting system and will store extra energy produced by solar panels and other renewable energy sources.

The Link, while still just a concept, will be presented in several cities around the world with the goal of starting a conversation with institutions and private investors.

 

The Link public space/common area

 

The Link aerial

 

Related Stories

Sustainability | Mar 31, 2020

Passive house standard becoming increasingly popular for multifamily housing development

Residents reap healthier indoor environment, lower utility bills.

Plumbing | Mar 13, 2020

Pioneer Industries launches new website

Pioneer Industries launches new website

Sustainability | Mar 12, 2020

Containing CO2 during construction

New tools make it easier to measure embodied carbon in materials before they get used for construction.

Sustainability | Mar 2, 2020

City of Buffalo to launch the largest environmental impact bond in the country

EIBs offer a novel approach to pay for high-impact projects based in part on the environmental, social, and/ or economic outcomes they generate.

Architects | Mar 2, 2020

Two ‘firsts’ for Sasaki and LEO A DALY

Following an industry trend, the firms hire chiefs of technology and sustainability, respectively.

Sustainability | Feb 26, 2020

Sustainability in a material world

The concepts of embodied carbon, zero waste, and deconstruction and reuse often run on parallel tracks.

Sustainability | Feb 12, 2020

KPF unveils The Pinnacle at Central Wharf, a high-performance, resilient tower

The project will reconnect Downtown Boston to the waterfront.

Sustainability | Feb 6, 2020

Passive House picks up steam

Passive solutions that reduce a building’s energy consumption could get more viable as cities toughen CO2 emissions limits.

Contractors | Jan 20, 2020

Wellness is for builders, not just for buildings

New research on wellness in the construction sector highlights interventions that could be effective in addressing dehydration, weight management, poor air quality, and stress. 

Green | Jan 10, 2020

How the new EC3 tool raises the bar on collective action

Nearly 50 AEC industry organizations partnered to develop the groundbreaking Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021