As many architects and visionaries have shown over a period spanning more than a century, the re-creation of the urban realm in the sky through connections between buildings at height has a vast potential for the enrichment of our cities. As the world rapidly urbanizes, greater thought needs to be expended on how horizontal space can be developed at height. Today, new transportation technology, and structural engineering practices seem to put horizontal habitat in the sky within reach. But cultural, organizational, and jurisdictional obstacles remain. To overcome these, a solid case needs to be made for the extensive benefits of skybridges in a much wider application than has been seen historically.

The symposium gathered many successful practitioners sharing their experiences and discussed the re-creation of the urban realm in the sky through connections between buildings at height.

After the event, about 20 guests, led by tke colleagues, visited the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Industrial Park in Songjiang, Shanghai, which is the location of the operation headquarters of ThyssenKrupp Elevator China.