Jellyfish Barge – A Modular Greenhouse that Tackles Food Scarcity

This floating greenhouse, known as the Jellyfish Barge, has been designed by a team of architects and botanists in response to the feared future global food shortage. Studiomobile were primarily responsible for the design of the structure, which aims to produce food hydroponically, with a minimal carbon footprint.

The greenhouse is constructed mostly from wood and makes use of recycled materials. The wooden base is set atop of 96 recycled plastic drums that allow it to float. All told, the octagonal structure contains 750-square-foot (70-square-meters) of space for gardening.

The design is intended to be simple and affordable to construct. Adaptability was also a concern for the architects, so they incorporated a means of extending the greenhouse into several connected units. It’s estimated that a single Jellyfish Barge will be capable of supporting two families.

The crops are feed fresh water by seven solar stills that have been designed by the environmental scientist Paolo Franceschetti. Powered by solar energy, the stills use fans and pumps to draw in and purify water. They’re capable of producing 150 liters of clean water a day, included salt and polluted waters.

The Jellyfish Barge uses a mix of clean water with 15% seawater for its crops. It also has the ability to be remotely controlled, and automated. The designers are hoping that it will open up a number of opportunities, not just for people to produce their own food, but also to create jobs, or a source of income.

While this may not be the solution to the global food crisis, it is good to see that people from a range of backgrounds are thinking about it, and attempting to address the issue.

For more green architecture and natural building, check out this vegetable nursery that’s made from bamboo and plastic bottles. Or the Vietnamese S House that costs just $4,000. See all natural building.

Via Inhabitat
Photos: Matteo de Mayda