The impressive and evocative design concept called 8th Continent, the eighth continent, is a gigantic floating station that offers the solution to one of the most pressing problems of our planet: waste in the ocean.
Created by the designer Lenka Petraková , this “mini continent” concept collects waste from the ocean and then breaks it down for recycling. It won the 2020 Grand Prix Award for Architecture and Innovation Jacques Rougerie foundation .
Structure design and concept
Created to float on the Pacific Ocean, the eighth continent is made up of five main parts :
- The barrier collects waste and harvests tidal energy;
- The Collector that sorts, biodegrades and stores ocean waste;
- The Research and Education Center is the place where inhabitants can study and show the effects on our oceans;
- Greenhouses are where plants are grown and water is desalinated;
- The residential neighborhoods where people live.
The “continent” moves based on its position, its internal environment and the movements of the ocean. The entire platform is self-sufficient, using wave energy and sun from solar panels above the greenhouses.
How the idea of the eighth continent against waste in the ocean was born
Petráková explained that she drew inspiration for her project from marine life: just like self-sustaining living aquatic organisms, the eighth continent is also completely self-sustaining.
In addition to being a marvel of architecture and design, it is clear that the main driver of the concept is our environment. As Petráková said a Euronews , “I realized how destroyed the oceans are and how many species have become extinct, how much pollution there is and that even species that may have never seen a human being are feeling the effects of our activities.”
