City on the Loop
Mixed use for Ruxuan Zheng
City on the Loop reimagines a flood prone coastline in Brooklyn as a continuous urban edge that adapts to rising sea levels. Built over existing infrastructure, the design introduces elevated housing, light rail, and flood resilient public programs in three phases. A land sea gradient replaces hard boundaries, enabling architecture, ecology, and community life to interact. The loop acts as both a spatial structure and an adaptive system, evolving with environmental shifts and offering a framework for future intelligent, climate-responsive governance.
Download Press Kit № 176557
Download Press Kit № 176557 Mixed use for Ruxuan Zheng by Ruxuan Zheng to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
Available Now for Your Next Story
At design|newsroom, we understand the pressures and deadlines journalists face. That’s why we offer exclusive access to our curated press kits and high-resolution images, tailored for accredited journalists. These resources are designed to enrich your stories with depth and visual appeal, spotlighting the world's most innovative designs.
Please Note:
- Credit the work's creator and/or photographer.
- Mention design|newsroom as your source.
- Share your published pieces with us; we love to celebrate and promote your work on our platform and social media.
Let’s Collaborate: Your stories matter. design|newsroom is here to support you with quality, accessible content. Once you are accredited, reach out for the images and content you need. We will provide the specific images and content directly, along with recommendations on works to feature.
Get Accredited Easily: Quick access to our resources requires media accreditation. Apply for media accreditation to join our network and start exploring a wealth of design stories.
City on the Loop by Ruxuan Zheng
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Mixed use by Ruxuan Zheng
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Ruxuan Zheng City on the Loop
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Ruxuan Zheng Mixed use
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Ruxuan Zheng Designer Portrait Photo
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Unique Properties
City on the Loop reimagines Canarsie Pier as a dynamic coastal system that adapts to rising sea levels. Through a phased loop structure built along a land–sea gradient, the project integrates housing, infrastructure, and ecology into a resilient urban edge. It transforms the shoreline from a barrier into a platform for coexistence, with future potential for AI-assisted adaptation and growth.
Tags
Architecture; Urban Design; Coastal Resilience; Housing; Ecological Systems; New York City
Production Technology
This design was developed through iterative digital modeling, combining GIS mapping, ecological data, and layered analysis of coastal conditions. Renderings and animations were produced using 3D visualization tools to simulate the gradient between land and sea. The process emphasized feedback loops—testing urban form against resilience, housing demand, and public accessibility.
Design Challenge
The hardest part was reconciling ecological resilience with urban density. Historically, the site has been cut off by the Belt Parkway; socially, the community faces limited waterfront access. Externally, sea-level projections and flood laws required strict compliance, while production constraints limited material choices. Information gaps on long-term climate data challenged our modeling. Overcoming these, we created a looped edge that balances housing, ecology, and public life.
Project Duration
The project started in September 2019 in New York as an academic studio research in Syracuse University. It has been continuously refined and expanded through independent work until June 2025, when it was exhibited at the UTOPIA exhibition.
Operation Flow
The design works like a continuous walkway that rises above the highway and bends along the shoreline. As people move through it, the structure shifts from housing to public spaces to green wetlands. Key moments include crossing the elevated loop, stepping down to the water, and meeting open plazas. By blending living, nature, and access, it turns a barrier into a shared edge, making the coast safer, more open, and more resilient for everyday use.
Research
This is applied design research aimed at rethinking coastal urban edges. The objective was to create housing integrated with resilient infrastructure. Methodology combined GIS mapping, site surveys, 3D simulations, and projected sea-level rise and flood data. Results show a looped edge that strengthens housing, ecology, and access. Insights suggest design can influence real estate, community life, and climate adaptation.
Inspiration
Inspired by the contradictions of the Belt Parkway—both connective and divisive—this project explores how infrastructure can shift from separation to integration. It draws from tidal landscapes, looped mobility, and phased urbanism to envision a future where architecture mediates between ecological forces, human needs, and evolving coastlines.
Image Credits
All images, renderings, and video content created by Architect / Designer Zheng Ruxuan. Copyright © 2025, all rights reserved. Background music: Ocean Song, created by Memê no Beat.
Project Overview
City on the Loop Mixed use has been a Silver winner in the Urban Planning and Urban Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Ruxuan Zheng was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work City on the Loop Mixed use.
Ruxuan Zheng Press Releases
Journalists and media members can enrich their content with our press releases on Ruxuan Zheng, available for free use. Now available: Immediate access to 1 press releases for journalists.
Ruxuan Zheng's "City on the Loop" Wins Silver at 2026 A' Design Awards for Transformative Coastal Urbanism
Ruxuan Zheng's innovative "City on the Loop" project, reimagining Brooklyn's Canarsie Pier as a resilient, mixed-use urban edge, has been awarded the prestigious Silver A' City Planning and Urban Design Award for 2026, recognizing its groundbreaking approach to integrating housing, infrastructure, and ecology in response to rising sea levels.
Ruxuan Zheng Newsroom
Find inspiration and award-winning creativity within the Ruxuan Zheng Newsroom.
