Vertical farms in mid-town Manhattan to produce food for 30,000 people.

Terreform, New York-based urban research studio and advocacy group led by Michael Sorkin, investigates all detailed parameters of sustainable urbanism contributing to the world's sustainable cities. New York City (Steady) State, is an ongoing research project and a comprehensive investigation into urban self-sufficiency. While centered on New York, the project is intended to raise issues and propose solutions for cities around the world that seek to take radical measures to secure their respiration and autonomy and to achieve a more sustainably democratic polity, founded in the local.

New York City [Steady] Stae linear production towers.

Terreform's long-term inquiry seeks to answer the basic question: can New York City become self-sufficient within its political boundaries? The project is intended to be an alternative master plan for the city’s future, this study investigates the possibility for urban self-reliance in such areas as food, energy, waste, water, air supply and quality, manufacture, employment, culture, health, and transport. The predicate of the study lies both in questions of the limits of sustainability and in response to the failures of democratic autonomy within an increasingly globalized economy. It aims to produce more than a dramatic new plan for the future of New York; it seeks to compile an inventory of best practices that are relevant to cities around the world.

Amsterdam Avenue as a productive street.

''Our goal is not simply to test the marginal possibility of complete urban self-responsibility in New York but also to compile an encyclopedia of forms and technologies that can help bring cities around the world closer to harmonizing their demands with the bearing capacity of the earth'' said the designers of Terreform.

147th Street as a productive street.

This fantasy of autarky opens up an exploration of the wide range of combinations of environmental, architectural, and social conditions that support urban life. The first volume of the study focuses on food, is nearing completion and other volumes on waste, air, water, climate, and movement are underway. 

A figure-ground switch in Queens, NY. Buildings migrate into existing streets and block interiors are used for vertical agriculture.

New York City (Steady) State will be a series of publications, each focusing on one of the aforementioned respiratory functions. Each will be its own volume, taking the form of an encyclopedia/design manual hybrid. The series will provide the reader with a unique resource that grants them not only a critical understanding of the issues at hand, but one that also unveils innovative and forward-thinking architectural design solutions across each volume.

Figure-ground view for food production

Figure-ground view 2 for food production

Figure-ground view 3 for food production

Terreform has recently launched its 6 new publications dedicated to progressive thinking on sustainable urbanism. The main approach of Urban Research Books is to get the word out about solutions exceeding the imaginative reach of official planning and design, encourage vigorous debate, and engage with progressive urban research and critical advocacy across the world. 

Aerial view of a large area of the city including a variety of agricultural areas.

Aerial view of a large area of the city including a variety of agricultural areas.

A vertical farm for raising chickens.

Michael Sorkin is one WA Honorary Members.

See all new released books here and they are ready for your pre-order.

All images courtesy of Terreform

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