Skyscrapers Forest for Desert Regions

A cluster of tree shaped high-rise skyscrapers can create a micro-climate for a more livable urban environment in desert climates.

The idea of this concept by Daffonchio & Associates Architects, is to create a ‘forest’ of towers that are designed to cast permanent shadows on the ground below, encouraging the growth of lush vegetation. The shading of the actual buildings throughout the day would also be maximized not only by their own shape but also by the adjacent buildings. The system can grow organically across the desert.

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The first shelters were built to protect Man from Nature. Human technology has become so powerful that the building of cities should be used to protect Nature from Man. We propose to solve the increasing reality of desertification through architecture. We are experiencing an accelerated growth of cities modeled after European and North American examples irrespective of climatic context.

New materials, combined with parametric design, will allow us to build ultra-lightweight mega-structures. Real time data mapping combined with Artificial Intelligence will allow hyper efficient transport and other urban services. We propose a high-rise mega structure which can be scaled indefinitely and can change a climate by means of its shape, size and technology.

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The typical skyscraper typology sees the floor-plates decrease in area as one progresses towards the top of the building. This does not make sense for buildings located in the desert climates. Our intervention proposes to invert the typical skyscraper, having the largest surface area at the top of the building. This would maximize shading of the building throughout the day and harness the energy from the extreme desert sun through vast solar disks.

The majority of the building mass being located at a higher altitude would encourage the formation of orographic clouds. Atmospheric water generators are incorporated into the design to extract water from the humid air surrounding the clouds.

Images credit Daffonchio & Associates Architects

source Daffonchio & Associates Architects