Chicago's Mile-High Eco Tower Grows Food, Harvests Clouds

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The Eden Rise Vertical Eco Living Community is a bold proposal for a mile-high tower in Chicago that would grow food, harvest water from clouds, and generate renewable energy, creating a self-sustaining vertical ecosystem. Designed by Yuhan Zhang and Dreama Simeng Lin, the tower would address the city's food desert problem by integrating vertical farms, while also featuring homes, offices, schools, and communal green spaces to support a complete urban lifestyle.

Why it matters

Eden Rise represents a new vision for sustainable and equitable city design, tackling challenges like food access, energy use, and community well-being through an integrated architectural approach. If realized, the tower would transform Chicago's skyline into a symbol of environmental innovation and social progress.

The details

The tower's organic, water droplet-inspired design would integrate vertical farms, rainwater collection, cloud harvesting, wind turbines, and natural ventilation systems to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. Residents would have access to fresh produce, renewable energy, and lush communal sky terraces without needing to commute. The structure's layered bracing and diagrid pattern provide stability and allow light and air to reach the core.

• The Eden Rise Vertical Eco Living Community is a proposed project for the city of Chicago.

What’s next

The Eden Rise Vertical Eco Living Community is currently a conceptual proposal, and it remains to be seen if the project will move forward to the planning and construction phases.