TRY 2004  The "Pyramid City in the Air" Concept

• Ground foundation area: approx. 800 ha
• Height, number of layers: approx. 2,004 m, eight layers
• Functions: Multi-purpose city combining business, residential, commercial, research, cultural, and leisure functions
• Estimated population: 1,000,000 people (both working and residential)
• Infrastructure area: approx. 2,500 ha
• Facilities: Residential buildings, office buildings, etc. (layers 1 through 4) and research centers, leisure facilities, hotels, etc. (layers 5 through 8); approx. 240,000 residential units and 2,400 ha of office space

The basic design of the TRY 2004 is based on a combination of regular octahedral units, each measuring 350 meters per side. Each octahedral unit is formed by vertically joining two square pyramids at their bases. These units are then combined both vertically and laterally to enable flexible expansion to suit specific purposes.
The wind-permeable design reduces wind load, while each octahedral unit supports an integrated building on all sides. Together with vibration-control devices installed at optimal points, the construction method used reduces the vibration and distortion to which various airborne structures are subjected.
Each octahedral unit contains sufficient space to accommodate an entire 100-story office building. Office and residential buildings as well as adjunct support facilities are supported from all sides in a three-dimensional configuration to ensure stability.
A city constructed by combining such units will have a pyramid shape; structural stability will be enhanced by the distribution of load on various shafts.
This construction also exposes the interior spaces to abundant sunlight. The three-dimensional trusses are slender pipes, allowing sunlight to reach deep into the infrastructure and creating a highly livable environment.

The shafts used to construct each unit are made of the latest lightweight materials (including carbon and glass fibers) for superb strength and durability.
The combination of horizontal shafts and diagonal shafts forms the skeleton of a city based on a highly rigid tube-in-tube construction.
Horizontal shafts, each measuring 10 meters in diameter and 350 meters in length, will contain electrical and communication networks, corridors, and distribution networks, as well as two new transportation systems and observation windows.
The diagonal shafts, each measuring 16 meters in diameter and 350 meters in length, will house plumbing and electrical networks, two elevators, and a distribution network.
The nodes at which shafts join will serve as strategic transportation hubs. Each node will be covered with a 50-meter-diameter sphere made of crystallized glass that collects and transmits sunlight throughout the city via optical fibers.
A self-constructing automatic segment assembly system and a self-constructing automatic segment push-up system, both using robots, will be adopted at various stages during construction.
Use of standardized parts and materials will facilitate automation and reduce the time required for construction.

To move vertically within the city, people will use a continuous circulatory transportation system that incorporates elevators in diagonal shafts. Residents will use a new linear-motor transportation system set up inside the horizontal shafts to move laterally.
To move from a node to a building, people will use moving walkways, escalators, or corridors. Those within buildings will use elevators.
The distribution system established in the city will rely on a continuous circulatory transport system for vertical conveyance. Then, at each node, the automatic transfer loader will place packages onto a container carriage or conveyor belt for automatic delivery in the horizontal direction.