Experimental architecture firm ZNera Space has proposed a conceptual abstract design which has a massive five-story circular structure around the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai. The Burj stands at a staggering 829.8 meters (2,723 feet), which is almost double the height of the Empire State Building.
Downtown Circle concept envisions community, luxury, and futuristic urban planning brought to life on paper by mesmerizing illustrations created in collaboration with Pictown which specialises in architectural drawings.
According to CNN, ZNera Space’s principal architects, Najmus Chowdry and Nils Remess, envision Downtown Circle as a horizontal stroke against Dubai’s vertiginous, futuristic skyline of seemingly endless skyscrapers.
A futuristic design
Downtown Circle may be a radical and exceptional design, it is — for now — practically and financially doubtful, Chowdry and Remess admit.
“It was meant to be a conversation starter,” said Chowdry to CNN. “Something that could trigger people to rethink urban development, to rethink city congestion … We are promising the sustainable city.”
“We were working on very important aspects that raise the discussion about how we are planning cities,” added Remess. “The reason we picked the Burj Khalifa was because it is in a very dense urban area, and we want to address the issues that accompany dense city populations.”
The structure is intended to sit 550 meters (1,804 feet) above street level. It would have a circumference of more than three kilometers (1.8 miles). The ring would be supported by five huge pillars – which could serve a unique purpose.
“We wanted to create a microclimate in Downtown and create a sort of envelope around the area to control the temperature and make it more liveable in hot weather,” said Chowdry. “You can use those vertical [pillars] as urban air purifiers.”
The structure of the pillars could incorporate an innovative smog-filtering design created by ZNera Space. The design was shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival 2018 award in the category of “Experimental Future Project.”
The proposed Downtown Circle would wed residential space amongst commercial, corporate, and cultural zones to form a comprehensive “self-sustained city within a city,” said Remess. “If you live there, you can reach your office, or you can reach your park, or you can reach your home in a 15-to-20-minute walk. In Dubai, it’s hard to do that.”
