{"id":153060,"date":"2022-10-12T09:15:34","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T13:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/?p=153060"},"modified":"2022-10-05T12:05:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T16:05:44","slug":"design-for-catastrophe-architectural-solutions-for-end-of-the-world-scenarios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/stories\/design-for-catastrophe-architectural-solutions-for-end-of-the-world-scenarios\/","title":{"rendered":"Design for Catastrophe: 4 Architectural Solutions for End-Of-The-World Scenarios"},"content":{"rendered":"

Architizer's 14th A+Awards<\/i><\/a><\/span> judging is live! Subscribe to our <\/i>Awards Newsletter<\/i><\/span><\/a> for updates on Public Voting and the big winner reveal later this spring.<\/i><\/p><\/p>\n

Throughout the history of humankind, we have endured big and small natural disasters. Even though technologies never stop developing, it is impossible to get control over disasters. We have to cope with them instead. This article includes both built projects and concepts that are designed to help humankind prepare for the uncertain future. They inspire us, foster our imaginations and remind us of our vulnerability.<\/p>\n

Preserving Biodiversity: Seed Bank<\/h2>\n

While many imagine doomsday scenarios centered on a single event, environmental catastrophe is also an ever-present slow-grind. We have already witnessed the loss of many species and continue to do so at a staggering pace<\/a>. Some extinctions are caused by natural disasters, some by human activities and some by environmental changes resulting from human activities. Moreover, the disappearance of one species often affects the whole ecosystem in which the species used to be involved. They are, therefore, valuable resources for us to learn about the world.<\/p>\n

\"Millennium_Seed_Bank_Project,_Wakehurst_Place,_UK_-_Diliff\"

Diliff<\/a>,\u00a0Millennium Seed Bank Project, Wakehurst Place, UK – Diliff<\/a>,\u00a0CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

There are seed banks around the world that store seeds of existing species for future uses. The Millennium Seed Bank<\/a> in Sussex, UK is one of the largest. It occupies a site of nearly 60,000 square feet and features a series of vaults. Under the vaults are laboratories, the visitor center, educational facilities and residential areas. The processing of specimens and seeds remains transparent in the glazed labs around the public areas. Dried seeds stay in storage on the underground level under strictly controlled temperatures and humidity.<\/p>\n

\"Entrance_to_the_Seed_Vault\"

Subiet<\/a>,\u00a0Entrance to the Seed Vault (cropped)<\/a>,\u00a0CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

While MSB combines seed storage and public education, Svalbard Global Seed Vault<\/a> keeps seeds away from human activities. Hidden in a remote hillside of Svalbard, Norway, the Seed Vault contains seeds of crops from around the world. The building is a refuge-like structure with the entrance being the only visible part from the outside. A tunnel leads to the three seed chambers built deep into the hillside. The mountain acts a natural shelter for the precious seeds. Together with the cold climate of Norway, it also helps maintain the temperature of the storage cool and consistent.<\/p>\n

Living With Rising Sea Level: Floating City<\/h2>\n

Besides endangered biodiversity, rising sea level is another issue that we have to face. The sea level is predicted to rise by another foot by 2050<\/a>.\u00a0The most straightforward impact on humans is the reduction of habitable land. In the last century, Japanese Metabolism imagined modular urban units that can float on water. While a floating city sounded too conceptual back then, it is now considered a possible way to cope with the rising sea level.<\/p>\n