The 8th continent is an award-winning design that restores ocean health and recycles plastic along the way.
This ambitious concept by lenka petráková proposes to solve one of the world’s biggest pollution problems: ocean garbage. Called the ‘8th continent’, the design collects plastic debris from the water’s surface and breaks it down into recyclable material. The huge floating station imagines a cleaner and sustainable future for marine environments. It was also recently awarded the 2020 grand prix award for architecture and innovation of the sea following a competition launched by foundation Jacques Rougerie.
The University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Studio Hani Rashid where the project started its development
Petráková is a senior designer at Zaha Hadid Architects in London, and first developed her idea at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, a few years ago after having studied ocean pollution.
The structure’s design and concept of the continent
Created to float on the Pacific Ocean, the 8th Continent is made up of five main parts:
- The Barrier collects waste and harvests tidal energy
- The Collector sorts, biodegrades, and stores waste
- The Research and Education Centre is where inhabitants can study, and showcase the effects on our oceans
- The Greenhouses is where plants are grown, and water is desalinated
- The Living Quarters where people live
The “continent” shifts according to its position, its inside environment, and the ocean’s movements. The entire platform is self-sufficient, using energy from the waves as well as the sun from solar panels above the greenhouses.
Take a look at this video from euronews Living
Source: www.designboom.com
