Floating Ecopolis

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Floating ecopolis

The Floating ecopolis, otherwise known as the Lilypad, is a model designed by Vincent Callebaut,

the Belgian architect, for future climatic refugees. He proposed this model as a long-term solution to

rising water level as per the !"C #!ntergovernmental group on the evolution of the climate$ forecast.

!t is a self-sufficient amphibious city and satisfies the four challenges laid down by the %"C&

#%rganisation for "conomic Co-operation and &evelopment$ in 'arch ())*

namely, climate, biodiversity, water and health.+

Vincent Callebaut, the Belgian architect, is known for his eco-friendly proects. He has received many

awards. /ome of the recent ones include0

• 1irst 2ri3e 4inner in Taipei, Taiwan, for his 5u6urious 7esidential Tower #())$ +

• 1irst 2ri3e 4inner in 7oyat, 1rance for his Thermal /wimming 2ool #())8$

The design

The floating structure has a capacity to shelter 9),))) individuals. !t consists of three marinas and

three mountains, which are meant for entertainment purposes, surrounding a centrally located

artificial lagoon that performs the task of collecting and purifying water. The shape of this floating

structure was inspired from the highly ribbed leaf of the :ma3onia Victoria 7egia water lily. The double

skin of this structure would be made of polyester fibers covered by a layer of titanium dio6ide #Ti%($.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climatic_refugeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIEChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIEChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIEChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_ecopolis#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipeihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanhttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2011/09/18/taichung-gateway-in-xitun-district-taichung-city-by-vincent-callebaut-architectures/http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2011/09/18/taichung-gateway-in-xitun-district-taichung-city-by-vincent-callebaut-architectures/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_amazonicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_dioxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climatic_refugeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIEChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_ecopolis#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipeihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanhttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2011/09/18/taichung-gateway-in-xitun-district-taichung-city-by-vincent-callebaut-architectures/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_amazonicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_dioxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium


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The titanium o6ide reacts with ultra violetrays and therefore, due to photocatalytic effect, it

absorbs atmospheric pollution in the process.

"nergy

By only using renewable energies, this design has 3ero carbon emission and it produces more energy

than it consumes.+; "nergy sources could include0

• solar thermal

• solar photovoltaic

• wind energy

• hydraulic, tidal power station

• osmotic energies

• phytopurification

• biomass

The 5ilypad, a floating ecopolis for climatic refugees, is the creation of Belgian architect Vincent

Callebaut.

inhabitants and inviting biodiversity


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4ith a central fresh water lagoon acting as ballast, the whole construction would be carbon neutral

utili3ing solar, thermal, wind, hydraulic, tidal and osmotic energies.

4ith high density populations living in low-lying areas -- The >etherlands, 2olynesia, Bangladesh --

the ecopolis, its creator believes, could be the answer to mass human displacement that global

warming is predicted to cause.

!n its most recent ())? report the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted sea

levels will rise by @)-8) cm during this century. /ome climate scientists like Aames Hansen think that if

greenhouse gas emissions arent checked then those figures might be much, much worse.

!n practice, Callebaut envisages the 5ilypad sailing the seas, following currents like a futuristic cruise

ship. He also thinks that it could ow all he needs is to find someone brave enough to build on the vision he has created.

http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter6.pdfhttp://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter6.pdf


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Sources:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/10/lilypads/http://en.wikipedia.or/wiki/!loatin"ecopolis
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/10/lilypads/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_ecopolishttp://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/10/lilypads/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_ecopolis

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Floating Ecopolis