Scott Wilson Group plc - Leading the way for a sustainable world
Scott Wilson, the international multi-disciplinary
consultancy group, has designed an off-grid sustainable
community onboard a disused oil tanker.
Scott Wilson’s Sustainable Construction Team propose
that phased out oil tankers be converted into functional
environments to increase our habitable area without
drastically changing our way of life. Their prototype,
the ‘Ark’, was short-listed in the ‘Building a
Sustainable World’ Royal Institute of British Architects
USA architectural design competition and was awarded an
honourable mention (fourth place) at the final in Los
Angeles.
The team entered the international competition to
develop a concept for a maximum capacity sustainable
community to address shifts in global climate and were
the only UK based team short listed for the final.
Approximately three billion people, about half of the
world’s population, currently live within 200 kilometres
of a coastline. With this figure likely to double by
2025, the prototype could be applied to serve a
multitude of functions on shores around the world. A
Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was used as the
prototype for the sustainable community. These are
currently being phased out with between 600 and 700
removed from service each year, in 35 – 40 years there
will be an abundance of oil tankers to be
decommissioned.
The regularity of the oil tanker’s structure is ideal
for modular construction, which will reduce waste and be
easy to construct. Current cruise ship construction
practices can be applied, environmentally conscious
specifications standardised and implemented throughout.
At full capacity, the Ark would accommodate just over
2000 people and has been designed to mimic an urban
centre. The lowest three stories have been reserved for
support functions including food storage, desalination
and mechanical plant equipment. Commercial, educational
and other public functions will be located within a
double-height storey directly above the storage area
that will form a street level to provide a central
community space. Residential units will then stack
vertically to the top with roof gardens provided for
agriculture and recreation spaces such as sports
pitches.
The Ark would be connected to the land through an
‘umbilical cord’ for waste disposal and loading of
resources but could be disconnected at any time if
needed. The community would have enough resources
onboard to self-sustain for up to three months. However,
it is not intended that this community exist in
isolation. As land mass decreases (due to rising sea
levels) and additional agricultural land is required for
increased population numbers, it is proposed that other
ships be converted for a variety of uses such as
universities and commercial or financial districts.
Whilst environmentalists believe that every person needs
to reduce their carbon emissions to approximately
2,500kg/year in order to decrease global warming, the
average person in the UK currently uses 10,983kg/year.
Through local food production, energy efficiency,
renewable energy generation and virtual elimination of
fossil fuel transportation, C02 emissions per ship
inhabitant would be reduced to below the recommended
amount. In addition, a wave dragon would be attached to
the ship for local energy production and provide almost
all of the energy required.
Phil Garlick, who led the Scott Wilson entry, comments,
“We designed the Ark as a long-term solution to issues
like climate change and to assist in the development of
more sustainable lifestyles. We were delighted to be
chosen as a finalist by the Royal Institute of British
Architects USA and even more so to be awarded an
honourable mention against so many other brilliant
entries”.
Twelve finalists were chosen from 65 submissions,
encompassing over 170 architects, city planners,
engineers, students and designers from over eighteen
different countries. The winners were decided after the
finalists presented their entries at a conference in Los
Angeles in June.
Email:
rachel.brierley@scottwilson.com
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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