Report enbe final project - underwater town

ENBE | Final Project | Part A –Report | Better Town of the Future

Nabila Hanim | 0321368 | Iffa Mohd Nayan | FNBE Aug 2014 | Taylor’s University 1

Better Town of the Future

Subacquea Town

Nabila Hanim binti Salleh @ Man

0321368

FNBE August 2014

School of Architecture, Building & Design



CONTENT :

1. Introduction 3

2. About a Town 4

3. Investigation & Data Collection : Ancient City 7

Babylon

4. Investigation & Data Collection : Present Underwater Building 10

Hydropolis Underwater Hotel & Resort Dubai

5. Investigation & Data Collection : The Future & Better Township 13

6. The New ‘X’ Town 19

7. Conclusion 23

8. References List 24



1. INTRODUCTION

A town is a place where a community of people live, carry out their daily routine

and doing many kinds of works to support their living. A town acts as the shelter for

community who is living there. A town should futfill the needs of the community besides

of sustainable. But common problems such as pollution, waste disposal and over-

consumption energy always occurred, making it no longer safe for the community.

Hence, as a mayor of the city, I have to plan the city very well in order to make

sure that the future city is sustainable and liveable for the community.



2. ABOUT A TOWN

2.1 Definition of a Town

A town generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. It is a built-up area

with a certain name and has a defined boundary that separates it from another town.

2.2 Brief History of a Town

The former town was not just an overgrown village but it also has its own

economy. Goods are made and the town acts as a trading centre for its goods. Because

of that, most of the ancient towns were grown beside or near to the source of water like

river and sea since the common transportations at that time using rafts, ships and

boats.

As an example, the Roman towns

were planned based on a grid

arrangement, with a forum in the centre

forming a market place and surrounded

by shops.



2.3 What makes a Town

A town needs to have the basic elements that are necessary to built-up a town

and futfill the basic human needs to survive live. The elements even existed since the

ancient civilization and were adapted to build a town.

- Sewage and water system

- Transportation system

- Education areas

- Community area

- Residential area

2.4 Problem faced in a Town

Nowadays, there were many problems occurred by a town and makes it no

longer sustainable and liveable. For example :

- Traffic congestion

- Pollution either water, air, sound pollution

- Emission of carbon monoxide

- Inorganized residential area

- Non eco-friendly town



2.5 What makes a Good Town

- An efficient sewage and water system

- A fluent transportation system

- Using a renewable sources such as wind energy, solar energy and wave energy

- Organized zoning of the town to easier the community

- Residential areas is organized

2.6 What is the Future Town

A future town must sustainable for a longer period. Characteristics of the future

town must consist :

- Eco-friendly town

- Energy neutrality by using renewable sources

- Car-free carbon monoxide

- Dense in public transport

- Zero pollution

- Green house residential area



3. INVESTIGATION & DATA COLLECTION :

ANCIENT CITY

3.1 Location

Babylon was an ancient city in

Mesopotamia civilization and it is the capital city

of Babylonia. It is located about 55 miles south

of modern-day Baghdad, Iraq and it was

developed by the Euphrates River, which flows

through modern Iraq.

3.2 History

During the King Nebuchadnezzar

II period, Babylon has the outer and inner

walls. According to Herodotus, a famous

Greek historian in 450 BC, the outer

walls of the city were 56 miles in length,

80 feet thick and 320 feet high. While the

inner walls is said “not as thick as the

outer wall, but hardly less strong”.

The Euphrates River divided the city into

two different parts between an ‘old’ and a

‘new’ city. There were located the

Temple of Marduk and ziggurat at the

centre. It was part of the

Nebuchadnezzar II plan to beutify his

empire’s capital city, Babylon by creating a Hanging Garden.



Ishtar Gate is built as the main

entrance to the Babylon city. It is adorned

with glazed bricks with alternating rows of

dragons and bulls. The beasts are

furnished in yellow and brown tiles, while

the bricks surrounding them are blue. The

blue enameled tiles are thought to be of

lapis lazuli, but there is some debate to this

conjecture. The gates measured more than

38 feet that is 11.5 m high with a vast

antechamber on the southern side.

3.3 Significant of Babylon city

Hanging Garden is the famous

significant of Babylon. It is listed as one of

the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The garden was built high above the ground

on multi-level stone terraces and makes it

looks like hanging. A famous theory claimed

that, the Hanging Garden was built by King

Nebuchadnezzar II to make his wife, Amyitis

happy because she was homesick for the

plants and gardens of her homeland.

Strabo, the Greek described the

gardens in the first century B.C. as "It

consists of vaulted terraces raised one

above another, and resting upon cube-

shaped pillars. These are hollow and filled

with earth to allow trees of the largest size

to be planted. The pillars, the vaults, and

terraces are constructed of baked brick and

asphalt." He also said, "The ascent to the

highest story is by stairs, and at their side

are water engines, by means of which persons, appointed expressly for the purpose,

are continually employed in raising water from the Euphrates into the garden."



3.4 Conclusion on the ancient city

Babylon has proved that, although it is an ancient city, it was planned well by its

ruler. Elements in the city were arranged very well. As the example, the location of the

palace, ziggurat and Temple of Marduk is at the centre of the city. While, the nature

elements also not forgot to include in the city planning. King Nebuchadnezzar II has

built a Hanging Garden which acts as the green elements in the city and also the great

significant of the city.

3.5 Element that can be used to ‘X’ town

Several elements that can be adapted to ‘X’ town :

- A proper town planning

- Build green spaces

- A systematic arrangement of the town’s element



4. INVESTIGATION & DATA COLLECTION :

PRESENT UNDERWATER BUILDING

4.1 Introduction

For the time being, there is no present underwater city in the world. But there are

some hotels and resorts have existed and built in underwater. This investigation is more

focused on the technology and the materials they used to build the underwater hotel.

4.2 Location and History



Hydropolis Underwater Hotel & Resorts is located in Dubai, United Arab

Emirates. It is built with almost 66 feets under the ground floor of the Persian Gulf and a

few miles from Jumeirah Beach. The construction site of this underwater hotel takes

around 260 hectares, which is about the same size of London’s Hyde Park. The land

which is Hydropolis built is belongs to His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin

Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Hydropolis Underwater Hotel & Resort Dubai is the luxuriest hotel in the world. It

is occupied by three parts, the Land Station, the Connecting Subway and the

Submarine Leisure Complex. The wave-shaped Land Station is the place where the

visitors will be greeted to the underwater hotel, while the transparent Connecting Tunnel

will transport guests to the center place of the hotel by train and the jellyfish-like

Submarine Leisure Complex offered 220 luxury suites, entertainment and dining

facilities.

4.4 Significant of the Hydropolis

i. Hydropolis Land Station

This 120m woven is a semicircular cylinder that arches over a

multi-storey building. On the lowest level passengers board a noiseless

train propelled by fully automated cable along a modular, self-supporting

steel guideway to Hydropolis. A just-in-time and on-demand logistical

system will facilitate efficient supply of goods to the hotel.

The upper storeys of the land station house have variety of

facilities, including a cosmetic surgery clinic, a marine biological research

laboratory and conference facilities. On the lower levels are the staff

rooms, goods storage and loading areas, and hotel and parking areas.

The land station also includes a restaurant and high-tech cinema

screening the evolution of life in the ocean and the history of underwater

architecture. As a finale, the screen will open to reveal the real-life

Hydropolis. A viewing platform at the front opening of the spanning roof

will allow views of the architecture as well as the light shows of Hydropolis.



ii. Underwater Hotel

The original idea for Hydropolis developed out of Joachim Hauser,

the developer and designer of the hotel. This idea is due to his passion for

water and the sea.

Hydropolis reproduces the human organism in an architectural

design. There is a direct analogy between the physiology of man and the

architecture. The geometrical element is a figure eight lying on its side and

inscribed in a circle. The spaces created in the basin will contain function

areas, such as restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and theme suites. These

can be compared to the components of the human organism: the motor

functions and the nervous and cardiovascular systems, with the central

sinus knot representing the pulse of all life.

The ballroom, located at this nerve centre, will have asymmetrical

pathways connecting the different storeys along ramps. A large, petal-like

retracting roof will enable the staging of open-sky events. Staircases, lifts

and ramps will provide access to the ballroom, while flanking catering

areas will supply banquets and receptions.

4.5 Conclusion

Through this investigation, I found that in order to design a better future town, we

can apply the nature elements to our town. The pattern and concept of the building is

not just about the geometrical shape, but it wider than that.

4.6 Elements can be adapted to ‘X’ town

Several elements I can be adapted from it :

- The arrangements of spaces in the future town

- Apply the nature elements to the concept of the future town

- Apply the technology used to build a future underwater town



5. INVESTIGATION & DATA COLLECTION : THE

FUTURE AND BETTER TOWNSHIP

5.1 Introduction

AT Design Office, a

British and Chinese-based

design firm has developed

a concept of a floating

underwater city as the

future sustainable city to

futfill the demands of

global population. The

design of the city takes

about four square miles

and using the same

technologies to build a 31-

mile bridge that connects

between the cities of Hong

Kong, Macau and Zhuhai.

This future city is comprised of

hexagonal modules that combine both

underwater and above the water level.

The aim of the project is to be as

green as possible while the main

modes of transport around the island

will be submarines through interwoven

canals and electric cars. It also will

have a large dock for big ships so that

the island remains well connected with

the outside world.



5.2 Design of the City

This floating underwater city project offered an opportunity to develop a new

urban nucleus of world-class residential, commercial and cultural facilities. It is also

promoting a zero-carbon, energy-efficient and self-sufficient city.

Part of the bridge is an underwater tunnel, which is joined by a 150 metre long

precast concrete box. The mega box is cast on a nearby island and floated to site

before being connected. We were appointed to work with the engineer to come up with

a masterplan for a 10-square-kilometre floating island that can be built with the same

technology. A system of underground tunnels would also be included, creating a

network of roads and walkways between the buildings and the islands.

With sustainability as the main focus, a vertical farms and fish hatcheries is

included in the plans so that source of food can be produced on the island. The floating

underwater city is also be fitted with trash disposal and recycling systems that will deal

with waste in an environmentally friendly manner.



There are two public green belts, one on the water surface and one under water.

The upper one can provide public space usable for sports and recreation in a fresh air

environment. The underwater green can be used for recreational tours.

The basic construction unit of the city is a prefabricated block which is 150

metres in length and 30 metres in section. On plan, the grid can be an equilateral

triangle and a pentagon. The prefabricated parts can be overlapped vertically. During

construction, the modular parts are floated to the site after pre-fabrication in the factory.

The floating underwater city has a perfect internal and external traffic system,

linking it with the outside world too. A cruise dock serves giant ships, a yacht dock

serves private vessels and civilian submarine traffic. Submarines and electric vehicles

are the main types of transportations on the island which is keeping the island free from

air pollution and congestion caused by automobiles. The main traffic flows are facilitated

via the water canals above and below the water surface.

Vertical gardens are interconnected with the public greenery system above and

below the water. A chimney in the centre of the vertical garden provides natural

ventilation and lighting to the underwater city. Meanwhile the vertical garden is also a

public traffic hub, which provides a traffic platform for submarines and inter-block

passages.



The harbour centre is used for parking submarines and also has a vibrant floating

entertainment area at its centre. The amusement city has a hotel at its bottom and an

open stage on its top. The large commercial and entertainment centre is located under

the stage. The entertainment city can be connected underwater with adjacent buildings

through an Archimedes buoyancy bridge, enabling people to reach the entertainment

city conveniently. Tourists can experience the fabulous underwater world while passing

through the underwater hotel and coming up to the harbour city.



5.3 Masterplan of the city



5.4 Conclusion

Through the investigation, I have found out that our existing landmass on earth

has been built up so extensively. The remaining free land is under extreme pressure

and it needs to be preserved as much as possible. New settlements should be planned

in such a manner that considered the social and environmental conditions as the priority

that should be improved and can provide for future living. Environmental impact and the

improvements of health and social conditions for human habitat should be the main

concerns in the new urban design and development.

5.5 Elements that can adapted to ‘X’ town

There are such a few elements that can be applied such as :

- The underwater tunnel to connect the different spaces in the ‘X’ town.

- Using the same technology as the floating underwater city

- Provide green spaces in the ‘X’ town to balance the elements in the town



6. THE NEW ‘X’ TOWN

6.1 Introduction

My city is build based on the underwater theme. Due to the global warming,

underwater is seem to be the most suitable place to build a new town. With the help

from expert technologies that we have nowadays, an underwater town named

‘Subacquea’ is able to achieve.

Subacquea Town is around 20-40 km-square. The population of the town is

between 150 000 – 300 000 peoples. All the citizens in the town are Malaysian. The

Subacquea Town is located in Pulau Redang, Terengganu.



6.2 Aim of Subacquea town

To produce a sustainable and liveable town for a longer period. Subacquea town

is more focused to tourism because it has :

- A higher potency of main income to town

- A nice scenery of underwater life

- An eco-friendly vacation to tourists

- A marine life experiencing

- Providing jobs for the town’s community

- Attractions for people to come to the

Subacquea town

6.3 Materials used to build the town

To build the town, the advanced technologies are required and a best material is

needed such as :

The material which will be use should be strong. Plastic is not recommended

since it is easily destroyed. Metals, on the other hand, are highly recommended.

The metal will not rust because there is no air present. So iron or steel is good,

but even better is a strong type of aluminium which is doesn’t rust at all.

A floating caissons watertight cavity is needed where it can provide the required

spaces for piping and tubing.

For the security features, missile-detecting radar and watertight doors is needed

to seal of the entire sections of the facility.



6.4 Infrastructures

In order to produce a better town, a complete facility is needed to attract people

to live in it. Some of the facilities are :

- Recreational areas

- Efficient transportation system

- Efficient sewage system

- Culture and religion areas

- Hospitality

- Tourism

- Dining areas

- Commercial areas

- Education areas

6.5 Defense System

To ensure the town’s community safety, an enforcement defense system is

required.

- Police station in every place

- Well-trained army



6.6 Energy Sources

For the energy sources, a renewable energy sources is used adapt an eco-

friendly environment to the town. Besides, it can reduce pollution and can achieve zero-

pollution target.

Wind energy : Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into

mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks such as

grinding grain or pumping water. It is connected to a generator which can convert

this mechanical power into electricity to power homes, businesses, schools, and

many more.

Solar energy : solar PV panels capture energy from the sun and create direct

current (DC) electricity. An inverter in the power box converts the DC power into

alternating current (AC) that is suitable for use by homes and businesses

Wave energy : Wave energy is produced when electricity generators are placed

on the surface of the ocean. The energy provided is most often used in

desalination plants, power plants and water pumps. Energy output is determined

by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and water density.



7. CONCLUSION

As the completion of Part A of this project, I have learned between

the differences between a city and a town, where a town is an overgrown

from a village but it is smaller than a city. I also found out the basic

elements that are required by a town and it is adapted since the ancient

civilization to develop their city.

Another thing that I have learned that, planning a town is not as easy

as we think. Many elements need to be considered such as the zoning, the

sewage system, transportation system and many more. A town that has

been planned also should be sustainable and liveable for a longer period.

I believe that there is no a perfect town in this world. But we can

improve it to be a better town for the future.



8. REFERENCES LIST

1. dictionary.reference.com/browse/town

2. http://textfiles.com/uploads/underwater.txt

3. http://www.unmuseum.org/hangg.htm

4. http://www.ancient.eu/babylon/

5. http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/Hydropolis/

6. http://www.iflscience.com/technology/plans-unveiled-floating-future-

city

7. http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/INFO/

8. http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/13/floating-city-at-design-office/

9. http://www.livescience.com/28701-ancient-babylon-center-of-

mesopotamian-civilization.html

10. http://www.underwaterhoteldubai.info/

11. http://www.francescoallaix.com/net/2010/11/into-innovative-town-

concept-for-the-future-2010-3/

12. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/underwater-hotel.htm

13. http://green.hotelscombined.com/Rtg-Benefits-of-Tourism.php

14. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/wind-power

http://textfiles.com/uploads/underwater.txt

http://www.unmuseum.org/hangg.htm

http://www.ancient.eu/babylon/

http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/Hydropolis/

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/plans-unveiled-floating-future-city

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/plans-unveiled-floating-future-city

http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/INFO/

http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/13/floating-city-at-design-office/

http://www.livescience.com/28701-ancient-babylon-center-of-mesopotamian-civilization.html

http://www.livescience.com/28701-ancient-babylon-center-of-mesopotamian-civilization.html

http://www.underwaterhoteldubai.info/

http://www.francescoallaix.com/net/2010/11/into-innovative-town-concept-for-the-future-2010-3/

http://www.francescoallaix.com/net/2010/11/into-innovative-town-concept-for-the-future-2010-3/

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/underwater-hotel.htm

http://green.hotelscombined.com/Rtg-Benefits-of-Tourism.php

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/wind-power

Report enbe final project - underwater town

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