Lilypad city: where the air is clean and the grass is pretty
Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has introduced a vastly different approach to addressing climate change. Rather than scheming ways to stave off the apparently inevitable, he designed floating, disaster-ready cities able to safely house 50,000 future victims of impending ecological disaster.
The self-sustaining “Lilypad” city is described by its creator as a true amphibian: half-aquatic and half-terrestrial, with marinas and mountains, its own flora and fauna, and a central fresh-water lagoon that serves as a ballast for the structure. Callebaut also claims that it would produce zero carbon emissions by integrating all renewable energies — including solar, thermal, hydraulic and wind energy.
The Ecopolis’ goal, in addition to providing housing for displaced persons, is to create a harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Even without rising oceans and melting glaciers, it’s a breathtaking and novel idea for providing new and sustainable living space for our ever-growing population.
More information on the Vincent Callebaut Architectures website.
Via the Ecolect blog.
Comments
Ann Poochareon Sep 4, 2008 at 4:59 pm
definitely sci-fi! wonder if people would go crazy with no contact to soil… it’s kind of like living in a spaceship but floating in water.
katy Sep 8, 2008 at 8:24 pm
this looks beautiful! michelle, how do you find these things???
will the people living inside drink cupcake in a cup? and float around on recliners? because that looked a lot like hell in WALL-e.
Michelle Riggen-Ransom Sep 12, 2008 at 12:44 pm
@katy I don’t know about recliners, but if gills were somehow involved I’m in!
Joe Pollock Sep 13, 2008 at 9:29 pm
oh, won’t you please take me home.