A giant ring will surround Dubai’s Burj Khalifa?

The architecture firm Znera Space has unveiled its project for a ring-like structure around the tallest tower in the world.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Called the Downtown Circle, the project signed by Znera Space for Dubai aims to establish sustainable vertical urbanism, a real need with the increasing population of the city. The megastructure, 550 meters high and with a circumference of 3000 meters, could offer an alternative to the single skyscraper disconnected from the rest of the horizontal urban fabric.

The structure is designed to hover over downtown Dubai and surround the Burj Khalifa. The building is composed of two main rings, which are held together by a green belt, dubbed “Skypark”, which is illuminated with natural light and has offices and research centers embedded.

The Skypark, which forms the central spine of the development, connects the floors vertically, providing fresh and clean air as well as as different microclimates and natural scenery, including canyons, sand dunes, marshes, waterfalls, tropical vegetation and plants belonging to different types of flora.

The huge scale of the mix-use project is broken down into smaller units to create a variety of spaces to serve public, commercial, and cultural programs, with office spaces and many housing typologies – from large surfaces to living/working units, from lofts to townhouses, from terraced houses to patio living.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Downtown Circle, Dubai. Image courtesy of Znera Space.

Image courtesy of Znera Space.