several circular tanks filled with brackish water

Crew for Architectural Design has created a water purification extraordinary skyscraper that looks like a soap bubble dozens of stacked one above the other. According to the design brief, “There’s only about 1% left of the liquid freshwater and the United Nations and the World Water Council estimates that there may be a crisis affecting half of the world population in 2030.” Able to make fresh water in an efficient and sustainable by using a series of bubbles filled with water-filter mangroves, unconventional building envelope to encourage a skyscraper that can do.

The tank is planted with mangroves

The tower is made up of several circular tanks filled with brackish water. This tank round shelter in a greenhouse. Raised in brackish water tower powered by tidal pumping. Pipeline network belonging to the main building of the tower. The tank is planted with mangroves: This plant has a specificity to grow in brackish water and fresh water sweating.

the plastic balls collected freshwater in tank

Thus, mangroves and brackish water eating freshwater leaves them sweating. This fresh water evaporates sweat in a greenhouse and condensates by night to the condensation on the walls of the plastic balls will be collected in a freshwater tank. Then, thanks to the height of storage, fresh water produced can be distributed to the fields by gravity flow. The total surface of the tower is one hectare. One hectare of cultivated mangrove forests will produce 30,000 liters of fresh water a day. For example, the tower will be able to irrigate one hectare of tomatoes a day.

the height of storage, fresh water

Almeria is a province located in southern Spain, along the Mediterranean coast. This is the place where most of the fruits and vegetables cultivated European. Each type of fruit or vegetables can be grown there at any time of year. The sun shines more than 2965 hours per year. Greenhouse fill more than 90% of the land: that is why this area was called “a sea of plastic”. Spread greenhouse landscape, undulating over hills.
Unlike the traditional skyscraper, freshwater plant proposed for the city but for the province of Almeria, Spain for sunny weather and growing conditions are favorable. A special mention in 2010 eVolo Skyscraper competition, will build a house filled with fresh water round the mangrove plant that would turn salt water into drinking water which can then be used to grow food.

skyscraper freshwater plant

In order to facilitate the purification of water, the tower will consist of several circular tanks filled with brackish water (salinity of water more than fresh water, but not as much sea water), which will be flanked by a ball-shaped greenhouse. Tidal powered pump, brackish water will be brought up to the tower and passing through the mangrove plant, which has the unique ability to grow in brackish water and fresh water sweating. Freshwater sweat then evaporates and condensates moisture on the glass wall of the house and collected in a freshwater tank. The resulting fresh water can then be distributed to the field using gravity flow.

a water purification extraordinary skyscraper design

According to the designers, one hectare of mangrove forests should be capable of producing 30,000 liters of fresh water a day. In other words, this tower will be able to irrigate one hectare of tomatoes per day.

This project is a new solution for the needs of agriculture: this skyscraper is a freshwater plant.

source : Inhabitat, Design Crew for Architecture, eVolo Skyscraper Competition