New York, “The Big Apple” or “The City That Never Sleeps” is definitely one of the most impressive examples of modern and technological architecture, a symbol of greatness and magnificence. Since the 30s it's been one of the most inhabited cities in the world, today it has a population of about 8468 million people and 6000 skyscrapers that offer us an astonishing view. Suddenly it has recently been discovered by the geologist Tomas Patterson that one of its best peculiarities, the skyline itself, is also one of the most dangerous problems. In fact, due to its majestic weight, the rising of the sea and the phenomenon of subsistence, the clayey soil compresses under the weight of the skyscrapers and sinks 1 or 2 millimeters a year even if there are some areas of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Northern Staten Island that are sinking even faster: the city is at risk. It could actually collapse exactly like all the metropolises that rise a few meters above the water level. But it has been calculated that in the last 70 years the water level around the city has risen by about 3 centimeters every ten years: a much higher rate than the global average. A recent discovery has estimated that in the coming decades major floods caused in cities by extreme phenomena such as hurricanes and storms could be four times more frequent than now. Some people define this an “apocalyptic” scenario, almost as the ones shown in movies.
It would be really unfortunate to lose such a beautiful city just because of human silliness, superficiality and selfishness, it’s essential to understand there are some limits that shouldn’t be crossed. New York’s challenge is to grow higher and higher, almost defying Physics’ laws: too many skyscrapers and too heavy for the limited portion of land they stand on. The biggest issue for the survival of the city and the safety of its inhabitants is to make its development sustainable. It’s important to maintain the skyline but it’s crucial not to build anymore on endangered areas.
Ludovica Occhipinti
