Abstract:
The rise of the skyscraper was not driven by programmatic needs or artistic
desires, but rather economic conditions coupled with turn-of-the-century
technological innovations. As it evolved, systems were developed and
modernized to make buildings more tall. The skyscraper and its systems reached
its evolutionary plateau in the 1950s when mechanized systems transformed the
building type into air-tight homogenous structures, maximizing efficiency and
economy. This was based on an office culture that today, due to innovations in
communications technology, is growing ever more obsolete. However, as cities
continue to grow, skyscrapers are increasingly residential.
This thesis reconceived the skyscraper as a mixed use skyscraper - a dynamic
network of communities in the sky. The design process prioritized the community
by focusing upon the internal social and spatial systems of the skyscraper - two
systems that are essential to fostering a community yet do not currently exist as
design considerations.
The influence of this prioritization also redefined the currently parasitic
relationship of the skyscraper to the city into a symbiotic one: the living
skyscraper becomes part of an urban food chain, dependent on the environment
to insure its own survival, and on the city to provide identity and culture. The
design exploration thoughtfully integrates systems as a result of a social agenda,
creating a dialogue that raises questions and aspirations about the social validity
and potential of the skyscraper as it exists today.
