City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran by Ruxuan Zheng

City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran by Ruxuan Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Perak in Desain Perencanaan Kota dan Perkotaan Competition Category.

PerakPerencanaan Kota· 2026

City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran

by Ruxuan Zheng

Client: Ruxuan Zheng

A' Design Award Perak Winner in Perencanaan Kota Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran

City on the Loop menafsirkan ulang garis pantai rawan banjir di Brooklyn sebagai tepian kota yang berkesinambungan dan mampu beradaptasi terhadap kenaikan permukaan air laut. Dibangun di atas infrastruktur yang telah ada, rancangan ini menghadirkan hunian yang ditinggikan, jalur kereta ringan, serta program publik yang tangguh terhadap banjir dalam tiga tahap. Gradien darat–laut menggantikan batas-batas yang kaku, sehingga arsitektur, ekologi, dan kehidupan komunitas dapat saling berinteraksi. Loop ini berperan sekaligus sebagai struktur spasial dan sistem adaptif, yang berkembang seiring perubahan lingkungan dan menawarkan kerangka bagi tata kelola cerdas yang responsif terhadap iklim di masa depan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Perak

City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran adalah pemenang A' Design Award Perak, pengakuan yang sangat bergengsi yang diberikan kepada desain kelas atas yang indah dan mengesankan. Pemenang Perak adalah karya yang sangat cemerlang dan sangat kreatif yang menggambarkan keahlian, bakat, dan ketajaman luar biasa para desainernya. City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran diharapkan menjadi karya yang menakjubkan, etalase keahlian, sangat profesional, dan sangat inovatif. Desain pemenang A' Design Award Perak ini adalah penemuan yang sangat menonjol dan dikagumi yang bermanfaat bagi dan memajukan batas-batas seni, sains, desain, dan teknologi. City on the Loop Penggunaan Campuran adalah kreasi yang sangat dicemburui yang membangkitkan keinginan, membawa perasaan positif, dan memercikkan keheranan dan kekaguman.

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