Halophytic City
Team
Name: Farzana Rahman
Nationality: Canadian, Bangladeshi
Institution / Company: None
-FINALIST of Waterless World Competition
How do we imagine our coastal cities dealing with saltwater intrusion in the event of sea-level rise? How can creativity and technology come together to adapt and celebrate the inevitability of sea-level rise? Halophytic City explores ideas seeking answers to these questions.
Inspired by the Mangrove, a popular halophyte, we imagine future coastal cities are Halophytic City. We expect that with the sea level rising, new wetlands, flora, and fauna will emerge and transform coastal edges. Halophytic City envisions these coastal edges becoming the roots of the city. A series of spongy brackish marshes will evolve and colonize these edges, absorbing a significant portion of saltwater before it enters inland. A chain of floating desalination bubbles wandering between these marshes will allow solar energy to separate, harvest, and collect fresh and saltwater into the pods attached at the bottom of these bubbles. Meanwhile, a flock of electromechanical birds will be navigating these marshes waiting for the right time to detach both fresh and saltwater pods and release them inland to recharge freshwater ponds and salt pans. It will allow an opportunity for a recreational, cultural, and ecological destination for city dwellers where sea level rise will be embraced and celebrated.
#Sea level rise #Saltwater intrusion #Freshwater availability #Water and recreation #Climate change
