When I was visiting New York last week for New York Fashion Week, the ability to move around the city quickly and efficiently has always been a challenge. Many natives and tourists take to the underground subway system daily to avoid hopping in a cab…. or dreadfully – driving!

Image via: Trendland

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Today I ran across this article in Trendland about a concept to make a unused trolley terminal into a incredible green space. It’s an ingenious concept that will enable commuters to enjoy a ‘central park aesthetic’ below ground. Here’s more about this project:

‘Inspired by the amazing success of Chelsea’s High line, architect James Ramsey and Dan Barasch introduced the Delancey Underground project, aiming to convert an unused trolley terminal beneath Delancey Street (just under the Essex Street Market) into an extraordinary subterranean public park– nicknamed the “LowLine.” Local businesses, residents, community leaders, and political stakeholders alike have voiced considerable enthusiasm for the idea. They are now focused on increasing this broad public support, and are preparing in earnest to make this vision a reality.’

“…it also represents cutting edge design and a new generation of green technology. It is at the heart of a broader global discussion about the potential of remnant urban infrastructure, and the need for cities to re-invent the meaning of space– above and below ground.”… Trendland

What an exciting project, I can’t wait to see it come to fruition. It’s always nice to see out of the box thinking, especially in high density urban areas. There is no excuse not to bring a touch of green into every piece of the world… especially underground!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Architecture has always been an intriguing part of my life, as it has led me to where I am today. I remember in Architecture school – Tuskegee University where I studied, my classmates and I would love to makeup concept ideas for future buildings in space, water, etc..

Today’s Guest Blogger gives you a look at a green concept architecture building that is a skyscraper under water! I absolutely loved the idea, and had to share it with you. Enjoy!

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As ocean levels increase around the world, there are creative people who are now thinking about building skyscrapers for the ocean, instead of the land. The idea is to make these building suitable and durable enough for life under the water. This is the thinking behind water-scraper, a revolutionary, fully-sufficient underwater city.

There was a particular emphasis given to this design in the eVolo Skyscraper Competition, as the concept builds on the idea of a floating island. However, this takes it to another level, as it has become a real underwater skyscraper. Besides that, the design also allows for the consumption and retention of green energy and is able to grow food.

The designer, Sarly Adre Bin Sarkum’s Water-Scraper brings together a number of different green technologies to create the self-sufficient floating city. The way in which it creates its own electric is by using environmentally friendly energy sources of wind, wave and solar. It is able to create its own food stores through farming, aquaculture and hydroponic techniques.

Image courtesy of Popsci

The exterior of the underwater skyscraper is able to sustain a little forest, and the lower level of the building contains the spaces for people to operate in. The structure of the skyscraper is also unique and futuristic as it contains tentacles just like a squid, which can generate kinetic energy.

This project has been envisioned by architects who see the way the world is going, and see a near future when our natural resources of land will be scarcer. As such, they see that we will need to create our own living surfaces and that the ocean makes the prefect solution as it covers over seventy percent of the earths surface.

Should climate change bring drastic changes on land, and submerge much more of the cites around the world, we may need to populate the oceans in order to survive. This might seem like a bleak future, but at least there are people who are able to create positive ways of preserving life, should this occur.

Image courtesy of 360th

The idea of an underwater skyscraper is just one of the possibilities that are being imagined by forward thinking people. These initiatives, along with eco-friendly solutions will let the human race evolve and flourish in an ever changing world. There are technologies that allow incredible innovation which could help to preserve life, should extreme climate change become even more severe.  Of course, there is no need to sell your house just yet.

Pat Lindle is a conservationist who believes heavily in the benefits of applying green energy technologies to business.  He is constantly looking for new green energy ideas to bring to his metal deck / steel decking company.

For more architecture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.