It seems as though whenever we mention something new and exciting from the world of architecture, it comes out of Dubai. So when I discovered Hydro-Net, I was thrilled that this visually stunning and thought-provoking project was destined to become the new San Fransisco treat. San Fran is touted as one of the greenest cities in the US, but this new concept from IwamotoScott Architects would completely remake the city into an iconic ecotopia by 2108.
Hydro-Net is a full-scale urban system that combines the most innovative green technologies with the city’s unique climate and geologic conditions, to produce a compelling vision for the future. The project has the potential to bring the city-by-the-bay into the 22nd Century with “algae-harvesting towers, geothermal energy ‘mushrooms’, and fog catchers which distill fresh water from San Frans infamous fog”. Creators also envision an extensive network of above ground and underground systems that fulfil infrastructural needs for the movement of people, water, hover-cars, and renewable energy.
“The walls of the network would consist of carbon nanotubes walls, which would store and distribute the hydrogen generated by algae. The hydrogen would in turn be used as fuel to run hover-cars in the underground tunnels. The network also includes fog catchers that harvest air moisture, ecotowers, and more”. Sound crazy? Designers Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott, the partners of San Francisco-based design firm IwamotoScott, don’t think so. The concept recently won the $10,000 grand prize for their entry in the City of the Future competition, organized by the History Channel.