Inspiration »

We all are well versed with the hypothetical story of Noah’s Ark. For those ignorant (wonder why), here’s a one line brief account. God planned to drown the whole world in a flood and to save himself and other animal species, Noah was directed to build a big boat that will save them from the flood.

I guess Vincent Callebaut was so inspired by this story that he also decided to come up with something similar to save, not all, but about 50,000 inhabitants from the from rising waters due to global warming. He decided to name his haven as Lilypad.

This ecotectural marvel also called as “Floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees” is designed to serve as a luxurious retreat for future that is around 2100. By then I’m sure the rest of the world would be under water. Thank goodness I won’t be alive till then to worry if I am eligible to lodge on to this green floating refugee camp.

Resembling a manta ray in its silhouette, this avant-garde hideaway features stealth Mercedes branding in its windows.The lower half of the floating community is submerged, while the top extends upwards to soak up solar energy.

The whole structure is covered in green walls and roofs, the top portion covered in grasses with the inner portion featuring a palm oasis, and the under portion serving as a bed for natural sea planktons and oceanic plants.

Completely recyclable, this floating Ecopolis encourages positive eco-accountancy of the building in the oceanic ecosystems by producing oxygen and electricity, by recycling the CO2 and the waste, by purifying and softening biologically used waters and by integrating ecological niches, aquaculture fields and biotic corridors on and under its body to meet its own food needs.

The goal of this true amphibian, half aquatic and half terrestrial city is to create a harmonious coexistence of the couple Human / Nature and to explore new modes of living the sea by building with fluidity collective spaces in proximity, overwhelming spaces of social inclusion suitable to the meeting of all the inhabitants – denizen or foreign-born, recent or old, young or aged people.