The document describes a concept for a future sustainable floating underwater city designed by AT Design Office. The city would cover 4 square miles and consist of hexagonal modules above and below water. It aims to be zero-carbon and self-sufficient, using the same bridge-building technologies as a 31-mile bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai. Vertical farms and fish hatcheries would allow food production on the island. Transportation would be via submarines through canals and electric cars. The basic construction unit is a 150m prefabricated block that can be assembled vertically. The city would have integrated green spaces, traffic systems connecting it to the outside world, and vertical gardens providing ventilation and public spaces.
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Better Town of the Future
Subacquea Town
Nabila Hanim binti Salleh @ Man
0321368
FNBE August 2014
School of Architecture, Building & Design
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CONTENT :
1. Introduction 3
2. About a Town 4
3. Investigation & Data Collection : Ancient City 7
ï Babylon
4. Investigation & Data Collection : Present Underwater Building 10
ï Hydropolis Underwater Hotel & Resort Dubai
5. Investigation & Data Collection : The Future & Better Township 13
6. The New âXâ Town 19
7. Conclusion 23
8. References List 24
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1. INTRODUCTION
A town is a place where a community of people live, carry out their daily routine
and doing many kinds of works to support their living. A town acts as the shelter for
community who is living there. A town should futfill the needs of the community besides
of sustainable. But common problems such as pollution, waste disposal and over-
consumption energy always occurred, making it no longer safe for the community.
Hence, as a mayor of the city, I have to plan the city very well in order to make
sure that the future city is sustainable and liveable for the community.
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2. ABOUT A TOWN
2.1 Definition of a Town
A town generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. It is a built-up area
with a certain name and has a defined boundary that separates it from another town.
2.2 Brief History of a Town
The former town was not just an overgrown village but it also has its own
economy. Goods are made and the town acts as a trading centre for its goods. Because
of that, most of the ancient towns were grown beside or near to the source of water like
river and sea since the common transportations at that time using rafts, ships and
boats.
As an example, the Roman towns
were planned based on a grid
arrangement, with a forum in the centre
forming a market place and surrounded
by shops.
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2.3 What makes a Town
A town needs to have the basic elements that are necessary to built-up a town
and futfill the basic human needs to survive live. The elements even existed since the
ancient civilization and were adapted to build a town.
- Sewage and water system
- Transportation system
- Education areas
- Community area
- Residential area
2.4 Problem faced in a Town
Nowadays, there were many problems occurred by a town and makes it no
longer sustainable and liveable. For example :
- Traffic congestion
- Pollution either water, air, sound pollution
- Emission of carbon monoxide
- Inorganized residential area
- Non eco-friendly town
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2.5 What makes a Good Town
- An efficient sewage and water system
- A fluent transportation system
- Using a renewable sources such as wind energy, solar energy and wave energy
- Organized zoning of the town to easier the community
- Residential areas is organized
2.6 What is the Future Town
A future town must sustainable for a longer period. Characteristics of the future
town must consist :
- Eco-friendly town
- Energy neutrality by using renewable sources
- Car-free carbon monoxide
- Dense in public transport
- Zero pollution
- Green house residential area
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3. INVESTIGATION & DATA COLLECTION :
ANCIENT CITY
3.1 Location
Babylon was an ancient city in
Mesopotamia civilization and it is the capital city
of Babylonia. It is located about 55 miles south
of modern-day Baghdad, Iraq and it was
developed by the Euphrates River, which flows
through modern Iraq.
3.2 History
During the King Nebuchadnezzar
II period, Babylon has the outer and inner
walls. According to Herodotus, a famous
Greek historian in 450 BC, the outer
walls of the city were 56 miles in length,
80 feet thick and 320 feet high. While the
inner walls is said ânot as thick as the
outer wall, but hardly less strongâ.
The Euphrates River divided the city into
two different parts between an âoldâ and a
ânewâ city. There were located the
Temple of Marduk and ziggurat at the
centre. It was part of the
Nebuchadnezzar II plan to beutify his
empireâs capital city, Babylon by creating a Hanging Garden.
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Ishtar Gate is built as the main
entrance to the Babylon city. It is adorned
with glazed bricks with alternating rows of
dragons and bulls. The beasts are
furnished in yellow and brown tiles, while
the bricks surrounding them are blue. The
blue enameled tiles are thought to be of
lapis lazuli, but there is some debate to this
conjecture. The gates measured more than
38 feet that is 11.5 m high with a vast
antechamber on the southern side.
3.3 Significant of Babylon city
Hanging Garden is the famous
significant of Babylon. It is listed as one of
the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The garden was built high above the ground
on multi-level stone terraces and makes it
looks like hanging. A famous theory claimed
that, the Hanging Garden was built by King
Nebuchadnezzar II to make his wife, Amyitis
happy because she was homesick for the
plants and gardens of her homeland.
Strabo, the Greek described the
gardens in the first century B.C. as "It
consists of vaulted terraces raised one
above another, and resting upon cube-
shaped pillars. These are hollow and filled
with earth to allow trees of the largest size
to be planted. The pillars, the vaults, and
terraces are constructed of baked brick and
asphalt." He also said, "The ascent to the
highest story is by stairs, and at their side
are water engines, by means of which persons, appointed expressly for the purpose,
are continually employed in raising water from the Euphrates into the garden."
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3.4 Conclusion on the ancient city
Babylon has proved that, although it is an ancient city, it was planned well by its
ruler. Elements in the city were arranged very well. As the example, the location of the
palace, ziggurat and Temple of Marduk is at the centre of the city. While, the nature
elements also not forgot to include in the city planning. King Nebuchadnezzar II has
built a Hanging Garden which acts as the green elements in the city and also the great
significant of the city.
3.5 Element that can be used to âXâ town
Several elements that can be adapted to âXâ town :
- A proper town planning
- Build green spaces
- A systematic arrangement of the townâs element
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4. INVESTIGATION & DATA COLLECTION :
PRESENT UNDERWATER BUILDING
4.1 Introduction
For the time being, there is no present underwater city in the world. But there are
some hotels and resorts have existed and built in underwater. This investigation is more
focused on the technology and the materials they used to build the underwater hotel.
4.2 Location and History
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Hydropolis Underwater Hotel & Resorts is located in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates. It is built with almost 66 feets under the ground floor of the Persian Gulf and a
few miles from Jumeirah Beach. The construction site of this underwater hotel takes
around 260 hectares, which is about the same size of Londonâs Hyde Park. The land
which is Hydropolis built is belongs to His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Hydropolis Underwater Hotel & Resort Dubai is the luxuriest hotel in the world. It
is occupied by three parts, the Land Station, the Connecting Subway and the
Submarine Leisure Complex. The wave-shaped Land Station is the place where the
visitors will be greeted to the underwater hotel, while the transparent Connecting Tunnel
will transport guests to the center place of the hotel by train and the jellyfish-like
Submarine Leisure Complex offered 220 luxury suites, entertainment and dining
facilities.
4.4 Significant of the Hydropolis
i. Hydropolis Land Station
This 120m woven is a semicircular cylinder that arches over a
multi-storey building. On the lowest level passengers board a noiseless
train propelled by fully automated cable along a modular, self-supporting
steel guideway to Hydropolis. A just-in-time and on-demand logistical
system will facilitate efficient supply of goods to the hotel.
The upper storeys of the land station house have variety of
facilities, including a cosmetic surgery clinic, a marine biological research
laboratory and conference facilities. On the lower levels are the staff
rooms, goods storage and loading areas, and hotel and parking areas.
The land station also includes a restaurant and high-tech cinema
screening the evolution of life in the ocean and the history of underwater
architecture. As a finale, the screen will open to reveal the real-life
Hydropolis. A viewing platform at the front opening of the spanning roof
will allow views of the architecture as well as the light shows of Hydropolis.
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ii. Underwater Hotel
The original idea for Hydropolis developed out of Joachim Hauser,
the developer and designer of the hotel. This idea is due to his passion for
water and the sea.
Hydropolis reproduces the human organism in an architectural
design. There is a direct analogy between the physiology of man and the
architecture. The geometrical element is a figure eight lying on its side and
inscribed in a circle. The spaces created in the basin will contain function
areas, such as restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and theme suites. These
can be compared to the components of the human organism: the motor
functions and the nervous and cardiovascular systems, with the central
sinus knot representing the pulse of all life.
The ballroom, located at this nerve centre, will have asymmetrical
pathways connecting the different storeys along ramps. A large, petal-like
retracting roof will enable the staging of open-sky events. Staircases, lifts
and ramps will provide access to the ballroom, while flanking catering
areas will supply banquets and receptions.
4.5 Conclusion
Through this investigation, I found that in order to design a better future town, we
can apply the nature elements to our town. The pattern and concept of the building is
not just about the geometrical shape, but it wider than that.
4.6 Elements can be adapted to âXâ town
Several elements I can be adapted from it :
- The arrangements of spaces in the future town
- Apply the nature elements to the concept of the future town
- Apply the technology used to build a future underwater town
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5. INVESTIGATION & DATA COLLECTION : THE
FUTURE AND BETTER TOWNSHIP
5.1 Introduction
AT Design Office, a
British and Chinese-based
design firm has developed
a concept of a floating
underwater city as the
future sustainable city to
futfill the demands of
global population. The
design of the city takes
about four square miles
and using the same
technologies to build a 31-
mile bridge that connects
between the cities of Hong
Kong, Macau and Zhuhai.
This future city is comprised of
hexagonal modules that combine both
underwater and above the water level.
The aim of the project is to be as
green as possible while the main
modes of transport around the island
will be submarines through interwoven
canals and electric cars. It also will
have a large dock for big ships so that
the island remains well connected with
the outside world.
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5.2 Design of the City
This floating underwater city project offered an opportunity to develop a new
urban nucleus of world-class residential, commercial and cultural facilities. It is also
promoting a zero-carbon, energy-efficient and self-sufficient city.
Part of the bridge is an underwater tunnel, which is joined by a 150 metre long
precast concrete box. The mega box is cast on a nearby island and floated to site
before being connected. We were appointed to work with the engineer to come up with
a masterplan for a 10-square-kilometre floating island that can be built with the same
technology. A system of underground tunnels would also be included, creating a
network of roads and walkways between the buildings and the islands.
With sustainability as the main focus, a vertical farms and fish hatcheries is
included in the plans so that source of food can be produced on the island. The floating
underwater city is also be fitted with trash disposal and recycling systems that will deal
with waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
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There are two public green belts, one on the water surface and one under water.
The upper one can provide public space usable for sports and recreation in a fresh air
environment. The underwater green can be used for recreational tours.
The basic construction unit of the city is a prefabricated block which is 150
metres in length and 30 metres in section. On plan, the grid can be an equilateral
triangle and a pentagon. The prefabricated parts can be overlapped vertically. During
construction, the modular parts are floated to the site after pre-fabrication in the factory.
The floating underwater city has a perfect internal and external traffic system,
linking it with the outside world too. A cruise dock serves giant ships, a yacht dock
serves private vessels and civilian submarine traffic. Submarines and electric vehicles
are the main types of transportations on the island which is keeping the island free from
air pollution and congestion caused by automobiles. The main traffic flows are facilitated
via the water canals above and below the water surface.
Vertical gardens are interconnected with the public greenery system above and
below the water. A chimney in the centre of the vertical garden provides natural
ventilation and lighting to the underwater city. Meanwhile the vertical garden is also a
public traffic hub, which provides a traffic platform for submarines and inter-block
passages.
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The harbour centre is used for parking submarines and also has a vibrant floating
entertainment area at its centre. The amusement city has a hotel at its bottom and an
open stage on its top. The large commercial and entertainment centre is located under
the stage. The entertainment city can be connected underwater with adjacent buildings
through an Archimedes buoyancy bridge, enabling people to reach the entertainment
city conveniently. Tourists can experience the fabulous underwater world while passing
through the underwater hotel and coming up to the harbour city.
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5.3 Masterplan of the city
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5.4 Conclusion
Through the investigation, I have found out that our existing landmass on earth
has been built up so extensively. The remaining free land is under extreme pressure
and it needs to be preserved as much as possible. New settlements should be planned
in such a manner that considered the social and environmental conditions as the priority
that should be improved and can provide for future living. Environmental impact and the
improvements of health and social conditions for human habitat should be the main
concerns in the new urban design and development.
5.5 Elements that can adapted to âXâ town
There are such a few elements that can be applied such as :
- The underwater tunnel to connect the different spaces in the âXâ town.
- Using the same technology as the floating underwater city
- Provide green spaces in the âXâ town to balance the elements in the town
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6. THE NEW âXâ TOWN
6.1 Introduction
My city is build based on the underwater theme. Due to the global warming,
underwater is seem to be the most suitable place to build a new town. With the help
from expert technologies that we have nowadays, an underwater town named
âSubacqueaâ is able to achieve.
Subacquea Town is around 20-40 km-square. The population of the town is
between 150 000 â 300 000 peoples. All the citizens in the town are Malaysian. The
Subacquea Town is located in Pulau Redang, Terengganu.
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6.2 Aim of Subacquea town
To produce a sustainable and liveable town for a longer period. Subacquea town
is more focused to tourism because it has :
- A higher potency of main income to town
- A nice scenery of underwater life
- An eco-friendly vacation to tourists
- A marine life experiencing
- Providing jobs for the townâs community
- Attractions for people to come to the
Subacquea town
6.3 Materials used to build the town
To build the town, the advanced technologies are required and a best material is
needed such as :
ï The material which will be use should be strong. Plastic is not recommended
since it is easily destroyed. Metals, on the other hand, are highly recommended.
The metal will not rust because there is no air present. So iron or steel is good,
but even better is a strong type of aluminium which is doesnât rust at all.
ï A floating caissons watertight cavity is needed where it can provide the required
spaces for piping and tubing.
ï For the security features, missile-detecting radar and watertight doors is needed
to seal of the entire sections of the facility.
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6.4 Infrastructures
In order to produce a better town, a complete facility is needed to attract people
to live in it. Some of the facilities are :
- Recreational areas
- Efficient transportation system
- Efficient sewage system
- Culture and religion areas
- Hospitality
- Tourism
- Dining areas
- Commercial areas
- Education areas
6.5 Defense System
To ensure the townâs community safety, an enforcement defense system is
required.
- Police station in every place
- Well-trained army
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6.6 Energy Sources
For the energy sources, a renewable energy sources is used adapt an eco-
friendly environment to the town. Besides, it can reduce pollution and can achieve zero-
pollution target.
ï Wind energy : Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into
mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks such as
grinding grain or pumping water. It is connected to a generator which can convert
this mechanical power into electricity to power homes, businesses, schools, and
many more.
ï Solar energy : solar PV panels capture energy from the sun and create direct
current (DC) electricity. An inverter in the power box converts the DC power into
alternating current (AC) that is suitable for use by homes and businesses
ï Wave energy : Wave energy is produced when electricity generators are placed
on the surface of the ocean. The energy provided is most often used in
desalination plants, power plants and water pumps. Energy output is determined
by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and water density.
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7. CONCLUSION
As the completionof Part A of this project,I have learned between
the differences betweena city and a town, where a town is an overgrown
from a village but it is smaller than a city. I also found out the basic
elements that are required by a town and it is adapted since the ancient
civilization to develop their city.
Another thing that I have learned that, planning a town is not as easy
as we think. Many elements need to be considered suchas the zoning, the
sewage system,transportation system and many more. A town that has
been planned also should be sustainable and liveable for a longer period.
I believe that there is no a perfecttown in this world. But we can
improve it to be a better town for the future.
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8. REFERENCES LIST
1. dictionary.reference.com/browse/town
2. http://textfiles.com/uploads/underwater.txt
3. http://www.unmuseum.org/hangg.htm
4. http://www.ancient.eu/babylon/
5. http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/Hydropolis/
6. http://www.iflscience.com/technology/plans-unveiled-floating-future-
city
7. http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/INFO/
8. http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/13/floating-city-at-design-office/
9. http://www.livescience.com/28701-ancient-babylon-center-of-
mesopotamian-civilization.html
10.http://www.underwaterhoteldubai.info/
11.http://www.francescoallaix.com/net/2010/11/into-innovative-town-
concept-for-the-future-2010-3/
12.http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/underwater-hotel.htm
13.http://green.hotelscombined.com/Rtg-Benefits-of-Tourism.php
14.http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/wind-power