Site Meter
Bridgette Meinhold

Sub Biosphere 2: A Self-Sustaining Underwater City

by Bridgette Meinhold, 06/16/10

underwater biosphere, sub biosphere 2, biosphere, self-sufficient, self-sustainable, sustainable, underwater city, eco city, floating city, phil pauley, seed bank, green design, eco design, sustainable building

Biosphere 2 never lasted too long, but there were certainly many lessons to be learned about living self-sufficiently, and even sustainably. UK-based designer Phil Pauley envisions another biosphere set in the ocean that would create a self-sustaining underwater habitat for aquanauts, tourists, and oceanographic life sciences. Made up of submersible spheres, Sub Biosphere 2 would maintain and support life while acting as a secure underwater seed bank.



underwater biosphere, sub biosphere 2, biosphere, self-sufficient, self-sustainable, sustainable, underwater city, eco city, floating city, phil pauley, seed bank, green design, eco design, sustainable building

Pauley’s unique underwater habitat is designed to sustain all of its life support systems — air, water, food, electricity, and other resources — through an “innovative control of variant atmospheric pressures that occur at depth.” Eight living biomes surround a larger central biome that contains all of the control equipment, while the smaller biomes contain spaces where people live, grow food and more.

The large self-sustaining system can float on top of the water or submerge and travel along rails all the way to the ocean floor. Besides supporting and growing life, the biosphere also serves as a seed bank. Sub Biosphere 2 was designed by Phil Pauley and visualised by Pauley Interactive.

+ Phil Pauley

Related Posts

5 Responses to “Sub Biosphere 2: A Self-Sustaining Underwater City”

  1. mprather mprather says:

    I bet it would be great during an oil spill…

  2. [...] Eden Project in Cornwall, meaning that if plans are approved, it would be the world’s largest biosphere. In addition to the waterfall and aquarium, the dome will house eating areas, a hotel, apartments, [...]

  3. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa says:

    wow

  4. nhoj01 nhoj01 says:

    I drew plans for an underwater base/home… not quite as big but could be a good proto type for that… houses 2-3 people, and has unlimited air, freshwater, energy, and food! crazy part is…im only 12!

  5. bong bong says:

    reminds me of SeaLab a cartoon from decades ago.
    Similar design.

Leave a Comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Please note that gratuitous links to your site are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments.

Add your comments

NEW USER

CURRENT USERS LOGIN

Lost your password?

get the free Inhabitat newsletter

Submit this form
popular today
all time
most commented
more popular stories >
more popular stories >
more popular stories >
What are you looking for? (Solar, HVAC, etc.)
Where are you located?