SEASCRAPER: Reclaiming the Plastic Vortex Through Oceanic Stewardship and Inhabitation

Abstract

Decades of humans carelessly tampering with the delicate ocean ecosystems are pushing wildlife to their breaking points, with an entire ecosystem collapse inching closer every day. My thesis will explore the known extent of plastic debris currently in the North Pacific Ocean; the successes and shortcomings of a variety of existing aquatic architectural precedents; finally, culminating in a theoretical prototype design for a semi-autonomous, ocean-based recycling facility.

How can an ocean-based architecture be used to develop a successful intervention to the millions of tons of plastic debris that are dumped into the oceans each year? This research will investigate the requirements of planning and building a self-sustaining, water-based recycling structure, but also offer a deeper understanding of how to overcome the challenges of building in such a harsh environment.

Using a range of interdisciplinary books, scientific journals and articles, websites and documents, an exploration will be conducted to achieve a full understanding of the requirements of the design. The design of the vessel itself is informed by factoring both the environmental issues of extended exposure in a harsh environment and the performance requirements of its primary objective. Since this vessel will be isolated from most human communities it must also be capable of functioning autonomously for extended periods of time. The results of the design explorations will be represented through a series of written texts, architectural drawings, and diagrams. The key impacts of my research will be not only to provide a possible solution to the growing waste plastic problem, but also to provide a prototype for the development of future ocean-based arcologies.