Register: 1 March / Submit 15 May 2010
Registration fee: 65 €
Design challenge
The bio-mechanical futuristic water competition, is the International call for serious ecological ideas for the design of the biological mechanical village or urban quarter of the city - For the city of London, The competition seeks to apply a biological mechanical approach to the future environments of the city, applying the values of bioreef diversity . ( the bio mimicry of our great origin and ancestors the coral reefs as the image and problem solver of our future city), the city is limited in growth and marooned through the implementation of the green belt. The areas for expansion are either through the current high density processes, which begin to populate flood plains, or to move eastwards denseifying east London breaking through the green belt towards the Thames estuary, where a new second generation London could rise from the waves. The idea is not new, the Thames estuary has been the topic of intense debate through the possibility of building a floating island airport off the coast of Kent, and a nature reserve with a flood gate connecting Essex and Kent in its core via a high speed monorail, These radical approaches cannot be discarded without intense exploration, Could the next east London generation be a floating one?
The risk of flooding and density problems points to need for radical thinking, bringing the exciting prospect of populating the estuary and Thames with a new generation of floating eco villages, Thames bridge communities, and farms could emerge from the waves, integrating the interesting interwoven layers and networks of the canals and rivers that London has populated and built. London’s birth depended on water, London’s present is a balance of city and water together, London’s futuristic city will undoubtedly be a water based city formed by the rise of sea levels.
The futuristic water competition seeks to harmonize the two through the explored application of the bio reef mechanical diversity architecture theory to its future environments. The use of new materials, technologies, (green tidal, wind, sea, bio fuel and solar energy ideals). Aesthetics, and novel spatial organizations, along with studies on globalization,population increase, flexibility, adaptability, and the digital revolution are some of the multi-layered elements that the participants should take into consideration.
City designs originally designed for other world cities but provide extremely commendable qualities which may be useful for London, will also be considered for the bioreef diversity publication if clearly demonstrated how the concept can be adapted - world examples section.
There are no restrictions in regards to site, program or size. The objective is to provide maximum freedom to the participants to engage the project without very specific constraints in the most creative way. Proposals could tackle housing issues in London, tackle and propose a financial and research technology hub, which brings thousands of jobs, with 21st century homes, urban farm integrations, public green spaces that has rich urban vibrancy and street life , the question is how does London grow and prosper in the 21st century as a fluid diverse world city, but with sustainability at its core.
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