Will the GTA Ever Build Atop its Transportation Hubs?

Since transportation has been a top priority for commuters in every city, all over the world, for as long as we can remember, it was only a matter of time before architects drew up a design that builds directly over major transportation hubs.

With the technologically advanced New York City in mind, Chad Kellogg and Matt Bowles of AMLGM have conceptualized a residential tower that would maximize use of space while providing residents with the utmost convenience.

The Urban Alloy is a mixed-use housing tower that aims to bring into fruition the idea of connecting all the boroughs without disrupting street-level life. As one of the busiest and most populated cities of the world, New York’s livability remains highly attractive, however, limited real estate in the area has inflated the value of homes, making it impossible for many to afford the costs attributed with the lust-worthy Manhattan lifestyle. In AMLGM’s vision, developers will attain air rights above the existing infrastructure.

This revolutionary idea has already gained international recognition for its capacity to integrate communities and create new living space where it is sorely in need, winning first in Metropolis’ Living Cities Residential Tower Competition, as well as receiving an honourable mention in the eVolo Skyscraper Competition 2014. The design was also praised for its avant-garde skin concept that has a range of programmatic options to control the different angles of the unique geometrical structure. The multiple flexible systems are programmed into the structure to respond to the specific environmental conditions by deploying a grid that follows the geometric direction of the surface; meaning every angle responds with programmed solar shading in accordance to how much daylight is being transmitted in the specific area.

According to the architects, “Urban Alloy is the symbiotic re-purposing of the air rights above transportation corridors in New York,” as noted on the official site, “Urbanist’s have long touted the benefits of greater housing density near public transportation hubs – Urban Alloy proposes the advancement of this idea by locating the system directly on the intersections between surface and elevated train lines.”

Connecting the boroughs by building over top New York’s main transit routes means that residents will have ultimate access to anywhere in the city! Undeniably one of the coolest designs we’ve seen lately, we’re wondering how long it will take to see this idea actualize.

All info and images via AMLGMlabs.com