Nomadic city that rolls along on caterpillar tracks by Manuel Domínguez

Amy Frearson | 25 November 2013 20 comments

A nomadic city moves from place to place like an enormous tank in this conceptual proposal by architecture graduate Manuel Domínguez.

Very Large Structure by Manuel Domínguez is a giant city on wheels

Entitled Very Large Structure, the futuristic megastructure is designed to wheel itself from one location to another to find better economic and physical conditions. Rather than using up the resources of the places it visits, it would be able to produce its own energy and establish new buildings before moving on.

"The VLS is a territorial manager, a synergistic machine within its environment," explained Domínguez. "It is not a machine that uses the local resources until it finish them and then leaves to the next one, in fact is the other way round, since its aim is to restore the territory."

With a length of 560 metres, the city would be made up of three levels. The lowest would function as a warehouse and construction area, while the middle would accommodate mechanical functions such as waste disposal and air conditioning, and the top storey would be used as a living deck where new architectural structures can be tested.

Domínguez says the project could actually be built, as he based it on preexisting systems and technologies that include mining machinery, transport infrastructures, eco villages and robotics.

"I think it's feasible because it's made with existing technology but I'm not sure if it's desirable," he said.

The structure is based on a giant gantry crane. A total of 36 oversized crawlers would allow it to move, propelled by the kinds of electric engines used in large sea vessels.

Elevation of Very Large Structure by Manuel Domínguez is a giant city on wheels — End elevation - click for larger image

"VLS is a theoretical utopian project trying to be as realistic as it can get, and even though everything is technically calculated as if it was going to be constructed, I perfectly know and assume it's just an assertive investigation," said the designer.

"The drawback I guess is the amount of energy and land surface reinforce it will need in order to move," he added.

Domínguez, who is a member of architectural collective Zuloark, completed the project for his masters thesis at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid.