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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Analemma Tower: Skyscraper that hangs in space with an asteroid?
Imagine a building that doesn't rise from the ground, but descends from the sky. That's the concept behind the Analemma Tower, a futuristic architectural vision by New York-based firm Clouds Architecture Office (Clouds AO). Instead of being built from the Earth up, the structure would hang from an asteroid placed in geosynchronous orbit around 50,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface. Following a daily figure-eight path over the globe, the tower would pass above cities like New York, Dubai, and Panama City. While it remains a speculative idea, the Analemma Tower challenges long-held ideas of construction, mobility, and the future of urban living. The skyscraper that hangs from space Traditional skyscrapers begin at the ground and reach upward, constrained by gravity and structural limits. The Analemma Tower turns this idea on its head. It envisions a building suspended from space using a system called the Universal Orbital Support System (UOSS). Instead of digging deeper foundations, the structure would hang from a cable tethered to an asteroid in orbit — essentially replacing the foundation with space itself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Took 1 Teaspoon Before Bed – Her Belly Was Gone in a Week Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo A building that orbits: how the tower moves across the Earth The tower would not be stationary. Its asteroid anchor would orbit the Earth in a way that traces a figure-eight pattern, also known as an "analemma." As a result, the tower would move over different parts of the planet throughout the day but return to the same position every 24 hours. This would allow residents or visitors to experience a constantly changing view, with potential access points as the lower part of the tower passes over select cities. Living in the sky: design, power, and life at 50,000km up Inside the Analemma Tower, lower floors — closer to the ground — would contain residential spaces, offices, and shopping areas, while upper levels could be used for research, tourism, or spiritual retreats. Electromagnetic elevators would replace traditional cable systems to allow movement between sections of the tower. Energy would be supplied by space-based solar panels, while closed-loop systems would recycle water and air, similar to those used on the International Space Station (ISS). The tower is imagined as a hybrid between a city and a spacecraft. Between vision and reality: the science that holds it back Despite the detail in design, the Analemma Tower remains a theoretical concept. Capturing and relocating an asteroid into stable orbit is well beyond current space capabilities. Even if such a feat were possible, materials strong enough to suspend such a massive structure from space do not yet exist. In addition, human life at high altitudes would require intense protection from radiation, low pressure, and extreme temperatures. These factors make the project unrealistic with today's technology. Why dream it? reimagining the future of cities and space living While the idea may not be physically achievable now, it serves a powerful purpose: expanding the limits of architectural thinking. The Analemma Tower encourages scientists, engineers, and designers to consider what urban life might look like in the distant future — perhaps even beyond Earth. As cities face increasing pressure from population growth and land scarcity, such concepts spark valuable dialogue about sustainability, mobility, and off-world living. Analemma Tower: A floating symbol of tomorrow's possibilities Though unlikely to be built in near future, the Analemma Tower stands as a symbol of ambition and imagination. It invites us to think beyond gravity and land, to explore new ways of inhabiting space and redefining the built environment. As history has shown with skyscrapers, airplanes, and satellites, today's impossibilities often become tomorrow's realities — and Analemma is one such dream suspended in potential.
News18
17-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Suspended From An Orbiting Asteroid, This Skyscraper Is Literally Hanging From The Sky
Last Updated: Tethered by high-strength cables, Analemma tower would hover above various locations, offering its residents unparalleled and ever-shifting perspectives of Earth. Clouds Architecture Office, an architectural firm based in New York, proposed a groundbreaking skyscraper concept dubbed the 'Analemma Tower," which reimagines the very foundation of tall buildings. Instead of being anchored to the Earth, this design envisions a colossal structure suspended upside down from an asteroid strategically placed in geosynchronous orbit around the planet. Tethered by high-strength cables to its celestial anchor, the tower would hover above various locations, offering its residents unparalleled and ever-shifting perspectives of Earth. According to the official website of Clouds Architecture Office, 'Analemma Tower inverts the traditional diagram of an earth-based foundation, instead depending on a space-based supporting foundation from which the tower is suspended. This system is referred to as the Universal Orbital Support System (UOSS), which is based on the principles of a conventional space elevator." The firm further elaborates on the construction and movement, stating, 'By placing a large asteroid into orbit over Earth, a high-strength cable can be lowered towards the surface of Earth, from which a super tall tower can be suspended. Since this new tower typology is suspended in the air, it can be constructed anywhere in the world and transported to its final location. The proposal calls for Analemma to be constructed over Dubai, which has proven to be a specialist in tall building construction at one-fifth the cost of New York City construction." The unique orbital mechanics would allow the Analemma to traverse between the northern and southern hemispheres daily in a figure-eight pattern, with its slowest speeds at the top and bottom of the loop, potentially allowing for surface interaction. The feasibility of such a towering structure is further enhanced by advancements in cable-less electromagnetic elevators, effectively overcoming traditional height limitations. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 17, 2025, 09:32 IST
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
This Building Will Literally Hang From The Sky Above Dubai
Clouds Architecture Office, a New York-based architectural firm, has proposed an innovative skyscraper concept named the "Analemma Tower". This design envisions a building suspended from an asteroid that would be placed in geosynchronous orbit around Earth. The tower would hang upside down, tethered by high-strength cables to the orbiting asteroid, allowing it to hover above various locations on the planet. As the asteroid follows its orbital path, the tower would move in a figure-eight pattern, providing residents with a unique, ever-changing view of the Earth below. This concept, while currently theoretical, explores the possibilities of combining space technology with architectural innovation. According to the official website of Clouds Architecture Office, "Analemma Tower inverts the traditional diagram of an earth-based foundation, instead depending on a space-based supporting foundation from which the tower is suspended. This system is referred to as the Universal Orbital Support System (UOSS), which is based on the principles of a conventional space elevator." "By placing a large asteroid into orbit over Earth, a high-strength cable can be lowered towards the surface of Earth, from which a super tall tower can be suspended. Since this new tower typology is suspended in the air, it can be constructed anywhere in the world and transported to its final location. The proposal calls for Analemma to be constructed over Dubai, which has proven to be a specialist in tall building construction at one-fifth the cost of New York City construction." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Clouds Architecture Office (@clouds_ao) According to Clouds Architecture Office, Analemma can be placed in an eccentric geosynchronous orbit which would allow it to travel between the northern and southern hemispheres on a daily loop. The ground trace for this pendulum tower would be a figure eight, where the tower would move at its slowest speed at the top and bottom of the figure eight, allowing the possibility for the tower's occupants to interface with the planet's surface at these points. The proposed orbit is calibrated so the slowest part of the tower's trajectory occurs over New York City. Analemma would get its power from space-based solar panels. Installed above the dense and diffuse atmosphere, these panels would have constant exposure to sunlight, with a greater efficiency than conventional PV installations. Water would be filtered and recycled in a semi-closed loop system, replenished with condensate captured from clouds and rainwater. Developments in cable-less electromagnetic elevators have effectively shattered height restrictions imposed by elevator cable spool volume.
