City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit by Ruxuan Zheng

City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit by Ruxuan Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award na Pilak in Pagpaplano ng Lungsod at Disenyong Urban Competition Category.

PilakPagpaplano ng Lungsod· 2026

City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit

by Ruxuan Zheng

Client: Ruxuan Zheng

A' Design Award na Pilak Winner in Pagpaplano ng Lungsod Category

21,170

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #176557

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit

Muling inilalarawan ng City on the Loop ang isang baybaying madaling bahain sa Brooklyn bilang isang tuloy-tuloy na gilid ng lungsod na umaangkop sa tumataas na lebel ng dagat. Itinayo sa ibabaw ng umiiral na imprastraktura, ang disenyo ay nagpapakilala ng nakaangat na pabahay, light rail, at mga pampublikong programang matatag sa baha sa tatlong yugto. Ang gradient ng lupa at dagat ay pumapalit sa matitigas na hangganan, na nagbibigay-daan sa arkitektura, ekolohiya, at buhay ng komunidad na mag-ugnayan. Ang loop ay gumaganap kapwa bilang isang espasyal na istruktura at isang umaangkop na sistema, na umuunlad kasabay ng mga pagbabago sa kapaligiran at nag-aalok ng balangkas para sa hinaharap na matalino at tumutugon-sa-klima na pamamahala.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award na Pilak

Ang City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit ay nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Pilak, isang pambihirang prestihiyosong pagkilalang iginagawad sa mga disenyong nasa pinakamataas na antas, nakabibighani at kahanga-hanga. Ang mga nagwagi ng Pilak ay mga likhang lubhang makinang at napakamalikhain na naglalarawan sa pambihirang kadalubhasaan, talento at talas ng isip ng kanilang mga tagapagdisenyo. Inaasahang ang City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit ay isang kahanga-hangang likhang huwaran na kapansin-pansing propesyonal at malalim na makabago. Ang disenyong ito na nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Pilak ay isang lubhang kapansin-pansin at hinahangaang imbensyon na nakikinabang at nagpapaunlad sa mga hangganan ng sining, agham, disenyo at teknolohiya. Ang City on the Loop Halo-halong Gamit ay isang likhang labis na kinaiinggitan na gumigising ng mga hangarin, nagdadala ng positibong damdamin at nagpapasiklab ng pagkamangha at pagkabighani.

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