It's 2100. Humans haven't gained control of their carbon emissions. The earth has warmed up. The oceans have risen. Millions of ecological refugees have nowhere to go. Unless, of course, they had the foresight to build Lilypads.
The brainchildren of Vincent Callebaut Architectures, the Lilypad is a design for an auto-sufficient amphibious city. If you've seen Wall-E, it's a bit like the Axiom spaceship - a giant city with everything needed for humans to survive a major catastrophe. It also looks a bit like something that might be built off the coast of Dubai.
As Lilypad's creators suggest, though, anything built on or off the coast of Dubai right now will probably be under water by 2100. A floating ecopolis, however, will be immune to such problems, rising above the water, no matter how much of the polar icecaps melt. Watching your atolls sink? No problem. Add a Lilypad. Instant atoll.
Lilypads have a further benefit. Build one or two off the coast of Dubai, Hong Kong or Monaco - and, flood or no flood, you can significantly increase the size of your kingdom or principality. Lilypads house 50,000 people, as well as plants and animals. They have lakes and mountains, schools and multiplexes.
Inspired by the great lilypad of the Amazonia Victoria Regia, the floating eco-city is designed to be made of titanium dioxide, which absorbs atmospheric pollution. It'd also be carbon-neutral, self-sufficient and entirely recyclable. Nice idea.
So I was flipping through the channels on the idiot box last night and came across a program on the Travel Channel about Extreme Mindblowing Hotels. One particular spot held my attention, the Viking Inn. Located in Crosby, Minnesota, the Travel Channel had this write up about the place: Constructed out of a former Methodist Church, this extreme Bed and Breakfast is for Viking enthusiasts. The second visitors are "velkommened," they are transported to another century. Each guest is given a name tag, a Viking tred (shoe), royal clothing and, when it's time for dinner, you won't be asking yourself, "Which fork do I use first?" This B&B is strictly a "eat with your hands" establishment. You're given a primitive knife and Viking napkin only. An extreme place to stay with 6,000 guests each year, The Nordic Inn welcomes you.
Your evening begins at a Viking Inn, but you must prove your worth to be "called" a Viking.
Even the most timid will feel like a true Viking in Odin's loft. Sleep in a King's bed nestled in a long ship among armor and weaponry. The King's room has lots of space and a large private Jacuzzi.
How would you like to live in a neighborhood straight of The Lord of the Rings? Well that's exactly what this community is doing. The Shire of Bend, is located in Oregon, and they have plans for several stylized houses and townhomes that are inspired by English country villages.
"The Shire Cottages draw their inspiration from the old world homes of stone, thatch and earth that were built over the past thousand years in England, Wales Scotland and Ireland. We have even created an Old World thatch roof look designed and created from recycled materials while incorporating modern day building codes and construction methods."
"The Shire evokes a sense of Place and Enchantment. All the homes in The Shire are facing the fully landscaped common areas. You will find Old World dry stack terraced walls supporting beautifully developed planting beds. Walk along the curving pathways to discover scene after scene of interestingly integrated garden features: waterfalls tressing, streams meandering, garden statues, ponds, lush grasses, towering pines, twisted juniper. Sing in your own amphitheater. At home in The Shire...Connect with Nature...Smile at your neightbor and feel at peace in this village community, in this sanctuary, in this Place of Enchantment!"
So there is Anglesy, and the SCA, and Markland. There is Pensic and Renn Faires, but this really seems cool. True Dungeon is converting a hotel ballroom into a dungeon. The story is featured over at Wired magazine.
Posts
All Comments
