10 Innovative Ideas That Let Us Live On Water
Origin of Cool: Various
You may remember a previous post on Origin of Cool called Turning Abandoned Oil Rigs Into Mini Cities. Well this article takes this idea one step further to a future where the polar ice caps have melted, the sea level has risen and land is scarce.
1). Water-Scraper
The creators of the Water-Scraper believe that the effects of climate change mean it’s “only a natural progression that we will populate the seas someday,” so they designed this livable, sustainable structure for humans to occupy. A small forest is nestled on the top of the Water-Scraper, along with wind turbines, a garden and livestock, and the living areas are located just below sea level where natural light is best.
2). Floating cities
The Dutch are accustomed to building in flood-prone areas so perhaps it’s only natural for them to construct floating cities to cope with climate change. According to design company DeltaSync, such cities would be built to rise along with the sea level. Large blocks of polystyrene foam connected by frames of strong concrete would be used to float the dome-shaped buildings, and these structures would be linked via floating pedestrian bridges. Floating highways would even connect these aquatic cities, and heat drawn from the ocean’s surface would heat the city.
3). Plastic islands
In 1998, Rishi Sowa built his first artificial island using 250,000 plastic bottles to keep it afloat, and today he lives on Spiral Island II (pictured), a smaller island that he built using 100,000 plastic bottles. Even more ambitious than Sowa’s island is architect Ramon Knoester’s plan to build Recycled Island, a floating island the size of Hawaii made entirely of plastic from the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.
4). Lilypad ecopolis
Architect Vincent Callebaut designed Lilypads to be self-sufficient floating cities that can each accommodate up to 50,000 climate change refugees. These eco-cities would be made of polyester fibers and built around a central lagoon, and they would feature three mountains and marinas. Aquaculture farms and suspended gardens would be located below the water line, and the cities would run completely on renewable energy. Callebaut plans for his Lilypad concept to become a reality in 2100.
5). Oil rigs
There are thousands of abandoned oil rigs in the Earth’s waters, and Ku Yee Kee and Hor Sue-Wern have proposed that we revitalize these structures and transform them into sustainable housing. A photovoltaic membrane on the roof of the rigs will harvest solar energy, and wind and tidal energy will supplement the solar power. The unique structure utilizes all parts of the rig, allowing people to live both above and below the ocean.
6). Maldives floating islands
Not one of the 1,200s island that make up the Maldives is more than 6 feet above sea level, and the island nation is doing everything it can to cope with rising oceans. The country has gone carbon neutral, it’s built retaining walls around every island, and in January the Maldives government signed an agreement with Dutch Docklands to develop five floating islands. The project will cost more than $5 million to complete, but it’s a small price to pay when your entire nation is expected to be underwater one day.
7). Green Float botanical city
Shimizu, a Japanese technology company, designed the Green Float concept as “floating cities in the sky” that would be self-sufficient and carbon-negative, allowing mankind to live harmoniously with nature. Each floating cell district has a radius of .62 miles that can house 10,000 to 50,000 people. Such cities would be located along the equator where the climate is stable and not prone to hurricanes.
8). Waterpod
Artist Mary Mattingly envisioned Waterpod as an alternative living model that could be re-created in the future when land and resources are scarce. Built out of recyclables upon a rented barge, the Waterpod runs on solar power, and its crew grows its own food and collects rainwater. The Waterpod project team say the self-sustaining space might offer a glimpse into the future when mankind lives in mobile aquatic shelters that make up water-based communities.
9). Open Sailing
The Open_Sailing project is an international community of scientists, engineers, architects and many others who are trying to develop an International Ocean Station. The open-source project aims to create something similar to the International Space Station on the sea, a place where people can study the ocean and learn to live sustainably in a marine environment.
10). The Swimming City
Andras Gyorfi’s “The Swimming City” was the winner of the first design contest held by The Seasteading Institute, an organization that aims to create permanent, stationary structures where new ideas for government can be tested. Gyorfi describes his winning design as a “mixed-use community,” which features a swimming pool, amphitheater, helicopter landing pad and shaded marina.
Original article at Mother Nature Network
Spotted on ecitnerppasodranoel
By David J Lowe
Filed Under: Lifestyle
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