NYC 2050: A Futuristic Masterplan for a Resilient City

Embracing Climate Change and Redefining Urban Life

This futuristic masterplan envisions how NYC can readapt itself to the near future sea level rise and continues to be a vibrant and important cosmopolitan city center at the same time that it addresses the natural changes to its environment and surroundings. The critical part was to carefully study the city's current masterplan in order to better design the new one that required major real estate compromises. The new design had to accommodate the necessary changes, introduce a new urban life, and reimagine a new New York that is ready to embrace the future.

The whole masterplan was designed and created using photo manipulations on Photoshop. The designer, Walmir Luz, meticulously studied the history of Manhattan's edge, the climate crisis predictions by the United States Landfalling Hurricane Probability Project, and several climate studies produced by the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. By combining these research findings with the inspiration drawn from Venice, Luz was able to create a unique and innovative vision for the future of NYC.

Sea-level rise is a major concern for most coastal cities around the world. Thirty percent of Lower Manhattan is expected to sink below sea level by 2050 while also becoming more vulnerable to storm surges. This masterplan aims to use the flood as a tool to transform the city, redefine the future urban life, and manipulate the city's edge once again as one embraces the imminent threat. In this vision for a future city, the problem becomes the instrument in which changes are implemented; a new territory is created; a new New York is brought to life.

NYC 2050 was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in City Planning and Urban Design in 2016. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding expertise and innovation demonstrated by the masterplan. It showcases a remarkable level of excellence and introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder. The design's strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill make it a true testament to the designer's vision and talent.