Japanese start-up N-ARK combines salt-tolerant technology with sea-adapted architecture to tackle the issues of sea-level rise and salt damage, which are worsening progressively due to climate change. In partnership with agritech R&D company Cultivera, the new firm aims to build a prototype of a floating marine farm named ‘green ocean’, using agricultural technology that can cultivate seawater as a direct nutrient source.
Salt-resistant building technology
Introducing their new marine construction concept ‘arktecture’ (ark + technology + culture), N-ARK intends to complete the ‘green ocean’ marine farm by 2022. The structure will take shape as a salt-resistant floating greenhouse made of thinned wood and carbon joints. Upon being launched on the water, the farms will create two new green areas: a food production space using salty agricultural technology and floating on the surface, and a layer of algae that will improve the underwater environment.
The distinctive angular roof facilitates the collection of rainwater, which is then mixed with seawater and used as fertilizer for the plants. Cold seawater is also used for air conditioning within the farms.
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