BUBBLETOWN
Zierer Martin
Entwurf, 2012
Architektur | Urbanistik
Arbeit im Rahmen des Projektes ´minus g´
According to the Maya calendar, the Apocalypse begins this year in December. Governments have missed to start survival programs early enough so they commissioned scientists to create a new calendar which ends 100 years later in 2112.
One apocalyptic scenario is that global warming becomes so high that all the glaciers and the ice on the poles will be melted and a flood will overcome the whole world. Only a few of the highest mountains would form lonely island in a world of water.
The only chance for the people to survive is to expand the living space on the sea. Due to that scenario a first habitat is founded on the sea at the point memo which lies in the pacific ocean and is the point which is the most far away from any land on the planet. The Settlement explores how people could live on the water and resist the climate challenges.
Bubbletown is created!
climate
The weather at Point Nemo can be compared with the maritim weather of Europe and it lies in the west wind drift.
needs
The habitants live self-sufficient and are provided with food and fresh water from extern supply units.They consist of algae- and shell-breeding facilities and become fresh water from desalination plants.
requirements
The swimming housing has to resist rain, wind and especially waves. Many habitation unites combined with each other are able to build a village together. For that and of course of the waves and the wind floating them away every unit needs to be able to move. Especial consideration must be taken on the danger of collision.
supply units
The main living unit is surrounded by supply units. They consist of an algue- breeding plant, a shell- breeding plant and a fresh-water supply unit.
construction
The dwelling consists of a pneumatic construction to face the danger of collision. The pressure for the construction is generated by wave-pumps. According to that all functions are based on pressure systems.
functions
The habitation unit is reduced to the main survival functions. It consists of a big space in the middle for living and sleeping and also includes a kitchen, bath and toilet in niches connected to it. There a three hatches for entries and to enlarge the living space with three further habitation units to deliver flexible sizes for single housing or enough space for families.
algue-breeding
The algae-concentrate is reservoired in the middle of the unit. The wave-pump at the bottom of the unit causes alternating low and high pressure in the pressure chamber. The liquid algea-fluid is pressed through a tube to the top of the ball and flows down on the inner-ball.
The circulating algea-fluid provides a constant supply with carbondioxide which is lead from the living unit to the supply unit and the produced oxygen is collected in a reservoir on top of the ball and lead back to the habitation. The algae-fluid can also be directed to the living unit, where it is pressed to pills for eating. The missing water is then compensated with sea water.
fresh water
The fresh water is made by a sea water treatment plant which creates fresh water through evaporation of sea water and condensation of fresh water on the inside of the outer ball. The fresh water is collected on the bottom of the ball and can be pumped to the living unit.
shell-breeding
The most robust shell for breeding is the pacific auster. On a rope Seaparated shells with so-called baby-shells on it are fixed on a rope hanging from buoys. In about 20 months the shells are ready to be picked up.
The baby-shells must be breeded in a special pool. Oysters are hemaphrodites and are male in the first year and become then female. If the water gets over 17° the oysters spawn and the larvas settle on the other shells where they could grow.
