Reimagining China's Ambitious “Sky City”: A Cautionary Tale
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Chapter 1: A Vision of Sky City
About ten years ago, a pioneering Chinese firm, renowned for its pre-fabricated skyscrapers, announced plans to construct the tallest building in the world within a mere 90 days. Dubbed “Sky City,” this colossal structure was designed to be so expansive that its inhabitants would seldom need to venture outside—a true city in the skies. The company's modular construction approach was hailed as a potential solution to the escalating housing crisis. However, it soon became apparent that Sky City was addressing the wrong issue, ultimately remaining unbuilt… or did it?
The Origins of Sky City
The enterprise behind Sky City, Broad Sustainable Building (BSB), has a commendable history of delivering numerous high-rise buildings swiftly utilizing prefabricated elements. They gained widespread attention in 2011 by erecting a 30-story tower in just 15 days, following a record of constructing a 15-story hotel in merely six days the previous year.
Sky City represented an ambitious endeavor: an entire mini-metropolis encapsulated within a single edifice. With a staggering area of approximately 1.05 million square meters and a height of 838 meters (2,749 feet), it was designed to accommodate around 30,000 residents across its 202 stories. The plans included a shopping center, educational facilities, workplaces, a hospital, a rooftop garden, an amusement park, sports amenities, and a hotel with a capacity for 1,000 guests.
With an anticipated price tag of $1.46 billion, or $1,500 per square meter, Sky City was projected to be significantly more economical than similar megastructures. This affordability was largely attributed to its groundbreaking construction methods, which would see 95% of the building assembled off-site in factories.
While the land was being readied and foundations laid, prefabricated segments of the structure—essentially steel and concrete blocks—were being constructed off-site, ready to be transported and assembled on-site like building blocks. After the main structure's completion, an additional four months would be needed for interior finishing.
At its core, Sky City aimed to showcase how innovative construction practices could render housing more accessible to the general populace. So what ultimately transpired with Sky City?
An Eye-Opener in Ham Wood - YouTube
This video provides a thought-provoking look at the potential of innovative construction technologies and urban planning, drawing parallels with the Sky City vision.
What Went Wrong?
Construction commenced with ground preparation and foundation work, but the project quickly became entangled in disputes. Ultimately, local authorities denied the necessary building permit due to environmental concerns. Consequently, BSB was unable to proceed with construction, and the site’s foundation was left to become a makeshift fish pond. The idea of Sky City faded into the background, dismissed by many as a mere publicity stunt. However, that is not the complete story.
The company did manage to realize a version of Sky City, albeit only the lower section, at a different location. Known as “Mini Sky City,” this 57-story, 204-meter complex was completed in just 19 days. It consists of 800 apartments and office space for 4,000 individuals. This version was intended to test the construction techniques required for its larger counterpart. Regrettably, since the original Sky City remains unrealized, “Mini Sky City” is the closest we will ever get to experiencing this grand vision.
The Misguided Approach
Modular construction techniques and 3D-printed homes have a history filled with unfulfilled promises and setbacks. So far, these approaches have struggled to gain traction on a larger scale, partly due to the unique building codes at each site, which complicate the "mass production" of housing.
Furthermore, while these methods hold the promise of reducing housing expenses, they often only address the issue marginally, as they are tackling the wrong problem. In many regions, housing prices have become detached from actual construction costs. As previously discussed, housing affordability is fundamentally a supply and demand challenge, and the incremental cost of building plays a minor role in this.
The key to addressing high housing prices lies less in technical advancements and more in political solutions. This involves modifying zoning laws and transitioning property taxes to Land Value Taxes, thereby allowing the market to meet housing demands effectively. Nonetheless, while modular construction technologies are undoubtedly innovative and may find their place in specific contexts, Sky City’s aspirations might have been overly ambitious.
'Art of Life' Award Winning Documentary - YouTube
This award-winning documentary highlights the importance of sustainable living and urban development, echoing the themes present in the Sky City narrative.