THE LINK City-Forest Designed by Luca Curci Architects

[Environment & Sustainability News]

During the Movement Control Order (MCO) here in Malaysia, I had the opportunity to watch numerous live stream and Zoom conferences where industry personalities shared their opinions regarding the industry, market and what they were doing or would be doing once the MCO is lifted.

In one of the live sessions on social media, I noticed that many of the participants were using the words “disposable” over and over again as a measure to regain consumer confidence in their products/ services. Hence, I asked if the participants if their businesses would be practising any sustainability efforts (pertaining to how they would safeguard the environment) and to my horror, all mentioned that now is not the time to even consider the environment over the “safety” of their patrons/ consumers.

This really irked me as I believed those to be very irresponsible statements indeed. What sort of world will we be leaving for our children and grandchildren if we flooded the earth with discarded disposable items during this pandemic. (Granted, I know that things like masks, gloves and PPE cannot be reused and must be disposed off correctly, however these businesses were not in the medical field or even remotely associated with it.)

I decided not to argue with the participants who were clearly on the defensive over my audacity to even mention conservation during this time of crisis. However, after the live session ended, one of the participants did comment on my comment saying that they will look into the matter.

I’m not advocating sacrificing safety over environmental sustainability, however, I strongly believe that there should be a balance.

During the MCO, we don’t receive as many event/ press conferences invites as compared to normal days. However, this bit of news from Italy (which has been badly affected by Covid-19) did pique my interest! Perhaps, this is what sustainable cities in the future will look like!

Architecture firm Luca Curci Architects debuted a new living concept entitled “THE LINK”, a vertical city for 200,000 people. The project aims to rise above the challenge of population density by successfully combining vertical expansion with economic innovation. A self-sustainable city-forest, that will absorb CO2, produce oxygen for cleaner air and increase urban biodiversity. With interconnected communities’ programs. No suburbs. Less poverty oriented.

With its 300 floors THE LINK will reach the maximum height of 1200 meters. The project combines sustainability with population density, and it aims to build up a zero-energy city-building. The cityforest is made of 4 main towers, connected one each other, equipped with green areas on each level, natural light and ventilation. 100% green transport systems. The vertical city allows its residents to get into a healthier lifestyle, in connection with natural elements, re-thinking the traditional concept of community and society.

Using an urban operating system with an AI (Artificial Intelligence), the vertical city will be able to manage the global city temperature, levels of CO2 and humidity, will control the global lighting system, and will storage extra energy produced by solar panels and other renewable energy resources.

“The first smart city “conscious oriented”, that will prevent urban sprawl, produce and storage energy, improve air quality, increase urban biodiversity, and create a healthier lifestyle”. Arch. Luca Curci

Half of humanity, 3.5 billion people, lives in cities today and 5 billion people are projected to live in cities by 2030. The world’s cities occupy just 3 per cent of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per cent of carbon emissions.

Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies, communities, and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history.

Urban sprawl, the rapid expansion of the geographic extent of cities and towns, is often characterized by low-density residential housing, single-use zoning, and is increasing reliance on the private automobile for transportation. Urban sprawl has been correlated with increased energy use, pollution, and traffic congestion and a decline in community distinctiveness and cohesiveness.

The suburbanization of poverty is one of the most important demographic trends of the last 50 years. Poverty rates across the suburban landscape have increased by 50 percent since 1990.

THE LINK city-forest with a multi-level vertical urban planning, will prevent urban sprawl while bringing trees, shrubs, and plants closer to everyday life.

THE LINK urban system is planned to incorporate smart city technologies and to connect more than 200,000 people, with a total volume of 14.500.000 cubic meters, and green areas of over 1.200.000 square meters. Dividing the city in functional areas.

The city-building consists of 4 buildings, each of them with different destinations. The tallest building with its 1200 meters of height and 300 floors, will host apartments, villas, common areas and services, with green areas, private and public gardens.

The main residential tower is connected to the other three buildings, from 650 to 850 meters of high, that will host offices, government departments, healthcare facilities and educational institutions, including all levels of schools and universities.

The interconnected system also will work as a tourist destination, more oriented to the lifestyle amenities such as hotels, wellness and spa centers, sport centers, shopping malls, bookshops, and leisure attractions.

THE LINK will host more than 120,000 trees and 2 million plants of over 150 species, improving the air quality, absorbing CO2 and improving the biodiversity of living species.

“THE LINK vertical city-forest is a sustainable ecosystem for living and working”, said Arch Luca Curci

The vertical city-forest, with a high-density forestation is designed to reduce indoor and outdoor temperatures, absorb CO2 and dust while producing oxygen for cleaner air. Several renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar panels are also incorporated. Energy storage solutions.

Food production and farming integrated and follow a zero-waste policy. Healthier lifestyle.

Farming is integrated with social space and will enable communities to provide their own food and be self-sufficient. Every building will include a community framework for living, including water baths, markets, spiritual and cultural hubs.

It is possible to reach THE LINK by land or by air. The basement is equipped with external and internal docks for pedestrians and public electric transports. Moreover, the tower is provided with droneports connected with the upper garden-squares of each tower and vertical linking installations.

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Using an urban operating system with an AI (Artificial Intelligence), THE LINK vertical city will be connected with each side of itself, from apartments to offices, from common to green areas. The operating system will be able to manage the global city temperature, levels of CO2 and humidity thanks to an innovative cooling system, will control the global lighting system, and will storage extra energy produced by solar panels and other renewable energy resources, enabling advanced analytics and reporting across city-wide functions.

THE LINK vertical city-forest will be the first smart city “conscious oriented”, that will prevent urban sprawl, produce and storage energy, improve air quality, increase urban biodiversity and create a healthier lifestyle.

THE LINK will be presented in several cities of the world, with the aim of opening a dialogue with institutions and private investors.