SeaOrbiter by Jacques Rougerie
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French architect Jacques Rougerie has designed a cross between a skyscraper and a boat for exploring the unchartered territories of the earth’s oceans.
Named SeaOrbiter, the vessel is meant to accommodate a team of 18-22 researchers, who will be able to spend 24 hours a day underwater.
Marine scientists will use the facilities to study relationships between the seas and the earth’s climate, while archaeologists will be able to further explore ancient shipwrecks and astronauts will be able to use the pressurised environments to simulate the experience of being in space.
With construction apparently set to begin next year, the 58-metre-high boat will be assembled from recycled aluminium and will weigh approximately 500 tonnes.
It will travel with the ocean’s currents, but will also harvest energy from the sun, wind and waves to propel itself when necessary.
The concept has been developed following over 30 years of research into marine architecture and is currently being exhibited at the 2012 world expo in Korea, which is dedicated to oceans and coasts.
We recently filmed an interview with designer Thomas Heatherwick about his futuristic design for a riverboat.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | Hit : 1873 | Code : 4599