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A recent visionary proposal from London-based architecture firm Weston Williamson + Partners is highlighting the importance of cooperative transportation and land development planning. This conceptual plan for Hong Kong — dubbed Arcology Skyscraper — would see three towers with heights of up to 440 metres rise adjacent to Victoria Harbour, joined at the base by a sculptural podium, all set atop a section of the proposed 142-kilometre extension of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
According to a recent post on Dezeen, the three towers would house a mix of residential, retail, and commercial uses, with a combined floor area of approximately 250,000 square metres, or around 2.7 million square feet. The towers would be divided with commercial space housed on the lower levels and residential uses above. At street level, the development would be tied into the existing urban fabric via a public plaza.
The massive size of the development coupled with its mix of uses lend themselves to the name of the conceptual proposal, a portmanteau of the words 'architecture' and 'ecology.' The proposal lives up to its name with a blend of residential and commercial density, public space, and the proposed high-speed rail line below. The towers would also have several green features, including a series of outdoor 'sky gardens.'
Several conceptual 'arcology' proposals have been tabled over the years as architects look to the future of the urban habitat. While many arcology plans call for self-contained cities — some of which would rely on yet-to-be-developed technology — this plan uses a realistic vision to stress the importance of transit-minded urban planning. Despite this, there appears to be no official plan in play to realize the design.
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