Student scheme to protect Future-Manhattan from rising sea levels

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It is envisaged the protective membranes would double as agricultural or green spaces

The idea to protect Manhattan from rising sea levels is audacious if nothing else

The form of the canopy would adapt to suit the building protected

In some cases, the students claim the canopy would almost merge with the existing building

Students at the University of Pennsylvania have come up with an idea to install waterproof membranes protecting the lower stories of Manhattan's buildings to protect against rising sea levels

As envisaged the canopies would have a considerable impact on inner-city circulation

Students at the University of Pennsylvania have come up with an idea to install waterproof membranes protecting the lower stories of Manhattan's buildings to protect against rising sea levels

Not so sure about the radiation suits and Imperial Stormtroopers, though

The canopies would double as outdoor circulation spaces

Article Summary

A pair of students at the University of Pennsylvania have an audacious suggestion should rising sea levels make their presence felt in Manhattan, New York. Their scheme would see the installation of waterproof canopies to the lower stories of skyscrapers. Tingwei Xu and Xie Zhang say their idea has an "irreducible integrity," thanks to the canopies' various functions which, the students say, are each of equal importance. So in addition to keeping water out, these canopies provide additional structural support against lateral forces, provide green or agricultural space, and, judging by the visualizations, provide living and working areas in their own right.

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