The World’s First Suspended Skyscraper Design

Clouds Architecture Office (Clouds AO), a US-based design studio, has proposed an architectural skyscraper concept that reverses the way tall buildings are typically conceived. Named Analemma Tower, this speculative structure would not rise from the ground but instead hang from an asteroid placed in a geosynchronous orbit. The building would move along a fixed orbital path, tracing a vertical figure-eight over Earth each day.

The tower would be accessible at regular intervals as it passes over key regions. Its structure would extend 32 kilometers into the atmosphere, supported by a cable reaching down from an anchor point nearly 50,000 kilometers above Earth.

A Structure That Moves with the Earth

Analemma Tower would be suspended from an orbiting asteroid, with its position fixed relative to the Earth’s surface. As the asteroid follows a geosynchronous path, the tower would swing in a figure-eight pattern across the sky.

• The orbital trace is called an analemma, hence the name.
  
• The structure would pass daily over selected cities like New York or Dubai.
  
• Slower movement at the top and bottom of the orbit allows easier docking and access.
  
• The design suggests placing one of these deceleration points above New York for logistical efficiency.
  

Functional Zones Distributed by Altitude

The tower would be divided into zones based on height, with functions selected according to environmental conditions.

• Lower Levels (0–5 km):
  
  • Residences
    
  • Retail and public facilities
    
  • Direct access from Earth
    
• Mid-Level Sections (5–20 km):
  
  • Offices
    
  • Observation decks
    
  • Research or education spaces
    
• Upper Levels (20–32 km):
  
  • Scientific labs
    
  • Meditation and retreat modules
    
  • Short-term stays in sealed, pressurised habitats
    

At the highest points:

• Atmospheric pressure drops to 0.162 psi (sea level: 14.7 psi)
  
• Temperatures fall to –40°C
  
• An additional 45 minutes of sunlight per day would be available due to Earth’s curvature
  

Systems for Self-Sufficiency

To operate independently of terrestrial infrastructure, Analemma Tower would incorporate self-sustaining systems for power generation, water management, and vertical transportation. Energy for the tower would be harvested through solar panels positioned above the densest layers of Earth’s atmosphere. At such altitudes, the panels would receive uninterrupted sunlight throughout the orbital cycle, allowing for continuous power generation regardless of surface weather conditions.

Water requirements would be met using a semi-closed-loop system capable of recycling atmospheric moisture. This system would collect rainwater, cloud water, and surface condensation, filter them, and repurpose the processed output for potable and domestic use. Such a setup would significantly reduce dependency on external water sources, making the structure viable for long-term occupation.

Vertical movement within the tower presents unique engineering challenges due to the sheer 32-kilometre span from top to base. Conventional cable-based elevators are impractical at such heights. Instead, the concept proposes the use of cableless or magnetic lift systems capable of travelling long distances safely and efficiently. Travel between zones would also be divided into pressurised segments to accommodate the sharp differences in atmospheric pressure and temperature at varying altitudes. These integrated systems are critical for maintaining habitability across the tower’s full vertical extent.

Technical Challenges

Several elements of the project remain beyond current technological capability. Analemma Tower is therefore not a construction-ready blueprint, but a conceptual exploration.

Key challenges include:

• Asteroid Capture and Orbit Management:
  
  • Capturing and stabilising an asteroid in geosynchronous orbit is not yet possible
    
  • Maintaining the orbit against perturbations would require constant adjustment
    
• Tether Material:
  
  • Requires materials stronger and lighter than what currently exists
    
  • Possible use of carbon nanotubes or graphene-based composites
    
• Structural Load and Tension:
  
  • The cable would need to support the entire weight of the tower while maintaining flexibility
    
  • Wind resistance, atmospheric drag, and orbital debris impact must be accounted for
    

Why the Tower Begins in Dubai?

Clouds AO proposes initial construction in Dubai, citing cost efficiency. According to the architects, building costs in Dubai are roughly one-fifth of those in New York. The plan suggests assembling the tower’s structure in Dubai, then transferring it to orbit and aligning it with its anchor asteroid. This step would require advanced aerospace logistics, currently unavailable.

Extending Beyond Traditional Architecture 

Analemma Tower is a speculative design that positions architecture within orbital mechanics. It challenges the traditional ground-up notion of a building, exploring what becomes possible when Earth’s gravity is only part of the equation.

While no timeline or mission has been announced to pursue actual construction, the project reflects ongoing interest in combining built environments with emerging aerospace capabilities. Analemma Tower may not be built soon, but it raises questions that future engineers and designers may eventually have to answer.

Images- parametric- architecture.com