City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg by Ruxuan Zheng

City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg by Ruxuan Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Gwobr Arian A' Design Award in Cynllunio Trefol Competition Category.

ArianCynllunio Trefol· 2026

City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg

by Ruxuan Zheng

Client: Ruxuan Zheng

Gwobr Arian A' Design Award Winner in Cynllunio Trefol Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg

Mae City on the Loop yn ail-ddychmygu arfordir sy'n agored i lifogydd yn Brooklyn fel ymyl trefol di-dor sy'n addasu i lefelau môr cynyddol. Wedi'i adeiladu dros seilwaith presennol, mae'r dyluniad yn cyflwyno tai uwch, rheilffordd ysgafn, a rhaglenni cyhoeddus sy'n gwrthsefyll llifogydd mewn tri cham. Mae graddiant tir-môr yn disodli ffiniau caled, gan alluogi pensaernïaeth, ecoleg, a bywyd cymunedol i ryngweithio. Mae'r ddolen yn gweithredu fel strwythur gofodol a system addasol ar yr un pryd, gan esblygu gyda newidiadau amgylcheddol a chynnig fframwaith ar gyfer llywodraethu deallus, ymatebol i'r hinsawdd yn y dyfodol.

The Recognition

About the Gwobr Arian A' Design Award

Mae City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg yn enillydd Gwobr Arian A' Design Award, cydnabyddiaeth hynod fawreddog a roddir i ddyluniadau o'r radd uchaf, hardd a thrawiadol. Mae enillwyr Arian yn weithiau tra disglair a hynod greadigol sydd yn darlunio arbenigedd, dawn a chraffter rhagorol eu dylunwyr. Disgwylir i City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg fod yn waith gwych ac esiampl, yn nodedig o broffesiynol ac yn ddwfn arloesol. Mae'r dyluniad buddugol hwn o Wobr Arian A' Design Award yn ddyfais hynod nodedig a edmygir sydd yn elwa ac yn symud ymlaen ffiniau celf, gwyddoniaeth, dylunio a thechnoleg. Mae City on the Loop Defnydd Cymysg yn greadigaeth y cenfigennir wrthi yn eang, sydd yn deffro dyheadau, yn cyflwyno teimladau cadarnhaol ac yn cynnau rhyfeddod a syndod.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: City on the Loop reimagines Canarsie Pier as a dynamic coastal system that adapts to rising sea levels. Through a phased loop structure built along a land–sea gradient, the project integrates housing, infrastructure, and ecology into a resilient urban edge. It transforms the shoreline from a barrier into a platform for coexistence, with future potential for AI-assisted adaptation and growth.
Dimensions & Packaging: The design was developed through phased urban modeling, sectional prototyping, and spatial iteration to explore adaptive growth along coastal gradients. Ecological, social, and infrastructural systems were layered using loop-based logic, allowing the project to evolve as both a physical structure and a future-responsive framework.
Tags: Architecture; Urban Design; Coastal Resilience; Housing; Ecological Systems; New York City
Production Technology: This design was developed through iterative digital modeling, combining GIS mapping, ecological data, and layered analysis of coastal conditions. Renderings and animations were produced using 3D visualization tools to simulate the gradient between land and sea. The process emphasized feedback loops—testing urban form against resilience, housing demand, and public accessibility.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was reconciling ecological resilience with urban density. Historically, the site has been cut off by the Belt Parkway; socially, the community faces limited waterfront access. Externally, sea-level projections and flood laws required strict compliance, while production constraints limited material choices. Information gaps on long-term climate data challenged our modeling. Overcoming these, we created a looped edge that balances housing, ecology, and public life.
Research: This is applied design research aimed at rethinking coastal urban edges. The objective was to create housing integrated with resilient infrastructure. Methodology combined GIS mapping, site surveys, 3D simulations, and projected sea-level rise and flood data. Results show a looped edge that strengthens housing, ecology, and access. Insights suggest design can influence real estate, community life, and climate adaptation.
Inspiration: Inspired by the contradictions of the Belt Parkway—both connective and divisive—this project explores how infrastructure can shift from separation to integration. It draws from tidal landscapes, looped mobility, and phased urbanism to envision a future where architecture mediates between ecological forces, human needs, and evolving coastlines.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2019 in New York as an academic studio research in Syracuse University. It has been continuously refined and expanded through independent work until June 2025, when it was exhibited at the UTOPIA exhibition.
Operation Flow: The design works like a continuous walkway that rises above the highway and bends along the shoreline. As people move through it, the structure shifts from housing to public spaces to green wetlands. Key moments include crossing the elevated loop, stepping down to the water, and meeting open plazas. By blending living, nature, and access, it turns a barrier into a shared edge, making the coast safer, more open, and more resilient for everyday use.
Team Members: Ruxuan Zheng