An architectural proposal by a New York City firm, Clouds Architecture Office, aims to redefine skyscraper construction with a design that is literally out of this world. The firm has unveiled plans for the Analemma Tower, an unprecedented structure that will be suspended from an orbiting asteroid approximately 31,068 miles (50,000 km) above Earth.
Building from the Sky Down
In a departure from traditional construction methods, the Analemma Tower will be built from the sky down, instead of the ground up. This radical design utilizes the Universal Orbital Support System (UOSS), which involves attaching a high-strength cable to an asteroid and lowering it towards Earth. The skyscraper will hang from this cable, defying conventional notions of gravity-bound architecture.
The proposed orbital path of the Analemma Tower will allow it to move in a figure-eight pattern between the northern and southern hemispheres daily. This unique trajectory will take residents on a global tour, passing over major cities like New York City, Havana, Atlanta, and Panama City within a 24-hour cycle. The slowest part of the tower’s journey is calibrated to occur over New York City, providing a longer window of interaction with this iconic metropolis.
The tower is designed to be a self-sustaining entity, with solar panels installed at its uppermost levels to harness the sun’s energy. Water will be sourced from cloud condensation and rainwater, collected and purified to ensure a steady supply for residents. The skyscraper will be divided into sections with designated functions, including business, residential areas, gardens, worship spaces, and entertainment zones.
Constructed in Dubai, Operated in Orbit
Initial construction of the Analemma Tower is proposed to take place in Dubai, a city renowned for its expertise in building tall structures at a fraction of the cost of New York City. Once completed, the tower will be transported to its final orbital position, tethered to the asteroid, and set into its geosynchronous orbit.
The feasibility of this ambitious project hinges on several technological advancements. Clouds Architecture Office draws parallels to recent space missions to undermine the viability of their concept. The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission, which successfully landed on a comet in 2015, and NASA’s upcoming asteroid retrieval mission scheduled for 2021, demonstrate the potential to capture and manipulate asteroids.
Living conditions in the Analemma Tower will vary dramatically depending on the altitude. The lower sections of the tower, closer to the Earth’s surface, will house business and entertainment facilities, while residential areas will be located higher up. At extreme elevations, the tower will encounter near-vacuum conditions and frigid temperatures, necessitating innovative solutions such as shape-shifting windows to cope with pressure and temperature differentials.
The architects at Clouds Architecture Office envision Analemma Tower as more than just a skyscraper; it represents a future where urban living transcends Earth’s surface. By elevating human habitats into orbit, they aim to reduce the environmental impact of urban sprawl and provide a novel solution to natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
The design of Analemma Tower also includes provisions for farming and agriculture, ensuring that residents can sustain themselves with fresh produce. The topmost sections of the tower will even accommodate a place for final rest, integrating all aspects of life into this vertical community.
The success of the Analemma Tower could pave the way for further advancements in space-based construction. As humanity looks toward colonizing other planets, such innovative designs will become increasingly relevant. With significant investments in space travel and technology, exemplified by NASA’s Artemis program aiming to return humans to the Moon and eventually Mars, the dream of floating skyscrapers may soon transition from science fiction to reality.