jacques rougerie's floating research center influenced by manta rays

‘city of meriens’ is a bionic concept which is shaped liked a real manta ray created by jacques rougerie architecture. this international oceanographic university will be drifting in the major ocean currents and aim to host researchers, teachers and students all over the world during very long periods. ‘city of meriens’ is designed to be a floating scientific city entirely dedicated to the observation and analysis of marine biodiversity, and is meant to follow the multidisciplinary programs developed by the seaorbiter’s network of sentinels in 2050. with a total length of 900 meters and a width of 500 meters, this mobile city can accommodate in its interior lagoon research vessels of different sizes (up to 90 meters long), as well as seaorbiters which would act as a hive that a number of marine and submarine vehicles and air navigation devices would use as a point of departure.

the floating city will accommodate different vessels inside 
all images courtesy of jacques rougerie architecture

fully autonomous through the use of renewable marine energy, and respecting the principles of sustainable development with its zero waste program, the ‘city of meriens’ is designed to integrate aquaculture breeding farms on both sides of its interior lagoon’s access channel, and hydroponic greenhouses at the ends of its wings. at a height of 60 meters – but the lowest level at least 120 meters deep – it could accommodate up to 7000 people on several levels including lecture halls, classrooms, laboratories, living areas, cultural relaxation and sports zones. 

the top view 

the complex structure highlights different forms of construction

influenced by manta rays