Tower City, another concept from the 2010 eVolo Skyscraper Competition, re-envisions the city of Marseilles as a stacked skyscraper that sits on stilts above the water. Rather than letting cities spread out as population increases, a the design calls for a new city to be created out on the water, complete with work, housing, transportation and amenities. The futuristic development is based on a stacked framework built using recycled building materials from the old city.
Designed by Deric Fourie, Dan Bernos, Michael Menuet, Pablo del Amo, Tower City in Marseilles received a Special Mention in the 2010 eVolo Skyscraper Competition. Marseilles as it is currently stands is the second largest city in France with a population of around 1,600,000 and an urban density of 3,500 per sq. km. As a port town, there is ample water surrounding the city, but as it has grown, less and less land is available.
The intention of the designers was to create a more dense urban center, and place the city out on the water in order to let the land regenerate. This would allow the inhabitants of the city close access to nature, trees, and open space rather than being completely surrounded by urban sprawl for miles and miles. Additionally, residents have even quicker access to the water for recreation or travel. Although designed originally for Marseilles, this skyscraper concept could be applied for any coastal city.
The new city would be built above the water so as to not disturb the marine ecosystem. Constructed in a 3D grid, the skyscraper city would still contain all the necessities of city life – places to work and live, modes of transportation, schools, shopping and every day life amenities as well as recreation. By condensing the city into a smaller, compact space, the city itself becomes more efficient, and as a bonus, a ton of additional land would be available for open space. The city would be built from the ruins of the old city, powered by renewable energy, and would include port facilities, garden and open space.
