Border City
eVolo 2019 Skyscraper Competition / Team Members: Nico Hsu, Theradej Nasueb
Concept
The project tackles the contemporary political and social issues of the illegal immigration in the United States. What if a new type of space can emerge between the borders of the United States (U.S.) and Mexico, a border city that does not belong to either of the country? What if the world no longer needs “country” to differentiate human race? The project discusses the possibility of having a new discourse for human society and how architecture space can break the boundary of our long lasting established social system.
Immigration
Immigration is a heated topic within the U.S. and many countries around the world. Trump Administration promised to build a wall to separate two nations and prevent immigration, however, this idea lacks complexity. The wall does not prevent people from immigrating, and it does not have any other values except for being a physical barrier. An alternative solution is to create an implied barrier where barrier itself is an inhabitable space.
The City
The concept of the city is a self-sustaining structure that spans the border of U.S. and Mexico, Border City. Border City is a modulation of high-rise structures that spans the length of the border, connecting the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The city aims to support future population growth by creating a unified space for people to work, live, and play. As such, work areas are designed to be congregated on the ground level and lower levels of the high-rise structure. The ground level is dedicated to agricultural activities. Bottom half portion of the structure is reserved for office related activities while the top half portion is reserved for living related activities. Play areas can be spread throughout as needed.
Formal Qualities
The modular high-rise structure is inspired by the Roman Aqueduct. The arch form is ideal for long span in which two hyperloop zones are placed at the mid-level and top level to transport people and goods along the border. Mid-level hyperloop is dedicated to local transports while the top level is for long range transports. At the ground level, the structure is flanked by two rivers that can be used by ships to transport people and goods between west coast and east coast.
The project tackles the contemporary political and social issues of the illegal immigration in the United States. What if a new type of space can emerge between the borders of the United States (U.S.) and Mexico, a border city that does not belong to either of the country? What if the world no longer needs “country” to differentiate human race? The project discusses the possibility of having a new discourse for human society and how architecture space can break the boundary of our long lasting established social system.
Immigration
Immigration is a heated topic within the U.S. and many countries around the world. Trump Administration promised to build a wall to separate two nations and prevent immigration, however, this idea lacks complexity. The wall does not prevent people from immigrating, and it does not have any other values except for being a physical barrier. An alternative solution is to create an implied barrier where barrier itself is an inhabitable space.
The City
The concept of the city is a self-sustaining structure that spans the border of U.S. and Mexico, Border City. Border City is a modulation of high-rise structures that spans the length of the border, connecting the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The city aims to support future population growth by creating a unified space for people to work, live, and play. As such, work areas are designed to be congregated on the ground level and lower levels of the high-rise structure. The ground level is dedicated to agricultural activities. Bottom half portion of the structure is reserved for office related activities while the top half portion is reserved for living related activities. Play areas can be spread throughout as needed.
Formal Qualities
The modular high-rise structure is inspired by the Roman Aqueduct. The arch form is ideal for long span in which two hyperloop zones are placed at the mid-level and top level to transport people and goods along the border. Mid-level hyperloop is dedicated to local transports while the top level is for long range transports. At the ground level, the structure is flanked by two rivers that can be used by ships to transport people and goods between west coast and east coast.