# Futuristic Floating Cities Alexander Balchin Conceptualizes a City Suspended Above the Earth By Ady Floyd | Published 2015-10-19 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/suspended-above References: [justdesignnews](http://www.justdesignnews.com/alexander-balchin-addresses-urban-density-with-communities-in-the-sky/) & [linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderbalchin) British architect Alexander Balchin created this futuristic city, which is suspended above the earth's surface using hyper-durable poles. This unique concept was created in an attempt to address the [urban density of communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highdensity-residential-design). As Hong Kong's urbanization continues to expand, Alexander foresees the future as a vertical expansion. This '[Community in the Sky](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/villas-de-san-pablo-cultural-center)' is suspended above the existing buildings of Hong Kong. The idea for this futuristic concept is to create a system of [sky bridges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elevated-leisure-habitat) that will connect to residential and commercial blocks. These blocks will be hoisted into the air and with pillar-like beams that emerge from the ground below. As the population of high-density cities continues to expand, the Community in the Sky is a realistic concept that could prove to be a city-saving initiative. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Vertical Urbanization:** Creating cities that expand upwards instead of outwards, utilizing vertical spaces for residential and commercial purposes. - **Sky Bridges:** Implementing a network of bridges suspended above cities to connect high-rise buildings and improve accessibility. - **Hyper-durable Architecture:** Developing resilient and long-lasting building materials and structures capable of withstanding the demands of suspended cities. ### Who This Affects Most - **Urban Development:** Exploring innovative approaches to urban planning and designing sustainable communities for vertical expansion. - **Construction and Engineering:** Developing expertise in constructing and maintaining suspended structures and sky bridges for future urban environments. - **Materials Science:** Advancing research and development of hyper-durable materials and architectural solutions specifically designed for suspended cities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Harmonious Cityscape Monorails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hk-monorail-concept.md) - [Accessible Space Travel Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/space-elevator-concept.md) - [Sustainable Alien Planet Colonies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colony-concept.md) - [Rain-Collecting Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bpas-architects.md) - [Recycled Plastic Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mast.md) - [Elevated Urban Skate Venues](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aan-architects.md) - [Future-Facing Sculptural Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eye-of-the-future.md) - [Ultra-Colorful High-Density Residential Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highdensity-residential-design.md) - [Bridge-Defining Tranquil Cities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mindfulness-city.md)