Ocean Spiral is a conceptual underwater city, dreamed up by Japanese firm Shimizu, that makes for an innovative solution to the problem of strained natural resources with the explosion in the global population.
The city takes the form of a massive sphere dubbed the 'Blue Garden'. Floating just below the surface, it will contain 75 floors with spaces for hospitality, residential, commercial and research purposes and will accommodate 4,000 permanent residents and 1,000 visitors.
The sphere is anchored to the ocean via a 4-km spiral that takes care of the functions required for the Ocean Spiral complex to operate. Power is generated by ocean thermal energy conversion, food is produced through deep sea aquaculture and water is purified. The spiral also includes a port for docking submarines.
Shimizu believes the project will cost around $25.5 billion and could be completed in only 15 years.
Spiraling Underwater Cities
Ocean Spiral is Designed To Tap into the Deep Sea
Trend Themes
1. Underwater Cities - The concept of underwater cities offers an innovative solution for addressing the strain on natural resources and overpopulation.
2. Sustainable Energy - Utilizing ocean thermal energy conversion demonstrates potential for disruptive innovation in sustainable power generation.
3. Deep Sea Aquaculture - Exploring deep sea aquaculture as a means of food production presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in sustainable agriculture.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture and Construction - The development and construction of underwater cities provide new opportunities for architects and construction companies to specialize in creating innovative structures that can withstand the underwater environment.
2. Renewable Energy - The implementation of ocean thermal energy conversion technology opens up opportunities for companies specializing in sustainable energy solutions to develop innovative systems for power generation.
3. Aquaculture and Food Production - The practice of deep sea aquaculture introduces new possibilities for companies in the food production industry to develop sustainable and scalable methods for producing seafood.