Rigrowing City

The inspiration for this project stems from the intricate ecosystem of coral reefs. By mimicking the coral system, the oil platform serves as a base akin to coral, with its building, water, and energy systems functioning like the living components of coral structures, while the programs atop resemble the diversity of coral reefs. This project aspires to create a sustainable building system capable of global expansion, akin to a transformative collage.

Analyzing the structure of floating oil platforms, the project identifies movable elements such as steel frames and living units, and reusable components like floating bridges and steel plates. The reusable materials form the foundational base, while the movable components are repurposed into new building materials.

The energy system of the oil platform harnesses solar energy and rainwater, converting them into electricity needed for each program. Its water system includes a seawater and wastewater desalination plant, providing treated freshwater for individual programs or vegetation. A structural reconstruction factory repurposes abandoned oil platform structures into usable frames, with cranes transporting these frames to different areas.

The repurposed oil platform is segmented into five distinct programs, each serving unique functions. These programs reuse mechanical elements from the original platform and utilize the machinery space to create new structures. This approach mirrors biological processes, mimicking the complex growth systems found in coral reefs, while integrating sustainable practices into offshore infrastructure development.

Beyond housing programs like tourism and research centers, the reused frames are transformed into exhibition and garden spaces, enhancing the support capabilities of the oil rig platform. This holistic approach not only revitalizes decommissioned structures but also underscores the project’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in offshore architecture.

This project demonstrates excellence through its meticulous analysis and utilization of floating oil platform resources, preserving reusable elements like floating bridges, steel plates, and other components. Movable structures such as living units and steel frames are carefully disassembled and repurposed in a rebuild factory, transforming them into functional frames for diverse public spaces. By employing cranes, these frames are relocated across the platform, creating areas for ports, pools, walkways, and central gardens.

Innovative hexagon floating structures, utilizing recycled marine waste, enhance the platform’s sustainability and water-friendliness. Each hexagon unit operates independently, with single-layer and double-layer modules featuring pavilions that allow for flexible connections and versatile space configurations. This approach not only maximizes resource efficiency but also integrates past memories of the oil platform into future-oriented design solutions.

The project harnesses renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind energy, and rainwater harvesting, converting them into electricity and clean water through advanced energy and water systems. Solar panels, wind turbines, and seawater desalination plants form a self-sufficient ecosystem interconnected by blue pipelines for efficient resource distribution.

Residential units and steel frames are repurposed into modular components, serving as foundational elements for public galleries and gardens on higher platforms. These modular units are meticulously arranged to accommodate diverse community needs, from tourism to oceanographic research, reflecting a dynamic spatial organization inspired by coral growth systems.

In essence, this innovative approach transforms the oil platform into a multifaceted hub for tourism, research, and industrial activities, blending ecological sustainability with adaptable spatial design to meet the evolving demands of diverse communities and marine environments.

Coral reefs are crucial ecosystems supporting diverse marine life, yet they face severe threats from global warming, rising sea levels, and human activities contributing to their accelerated decline. As over half of Australia’s offshore oil assets near retirement, this project reimagines their future role by addressing pressing global challenges such as coral reef extinction, marine pollution, and climate change impacts.

’Rigrowing City’ proposes a pioneering concept: transforming abandoned oil platforms into floating architecture that tackle these urgent global crises. These revitalized platforms emulate mega coral reefs, functioning as self-renewing structures that repurpose materials from marine waste and retired oil rigs. They harness wind and solar energy to sustainably power operations, presenting innovative solutions for the future of floating architecture.

Central to the design is an innovative hexagon floating structure system serving as both support and versatile water-friendly platforms. This system features single-layer and double-layer units with pavilions, capable of independent floating or interconnected configurations to expand accessibility and spatial flexibility.

Furthermore, ’Rigrowing City’ reconfigures existing structures into new public spaces, optimizing the original platform’s footprint with minimal modifications. By strategically placing diverse programs across different platforms and enhancing circulation connections, the project maximizes space utilization while enriching functionality and accessibility.

In essence, this project pioneers a sustainable approach to repurposing oil platforms, fostering resilient marine habitats, and advancing floating architecture to meet the evolving challenges of climate change and ocean conservation.

Our project effectively addresses critical global environmental challenges such as marine pollution and coral reef extinction. The rebuild system not only repurposes marine plastic waste into new floating modular units but also utilizes abandoned steel frames for coral reef regeneration. Our energy system harnesses solar energy to generate electricity for various programs, while the water system collects and purifies rainwater to meet human and vegetative needs. Addressing issues linked to global warming, such as rising sea levels and the threat to coastal cities, our project pioneers innovative floating megastructures on the ocean.

In addition to its environmental impact, our project promotes a circular economy by creatively reusing materials inspired by coral processes to collect waste and construct new structures on existing frameworks. We repurpose movable parts from decommissioned oil rig platforms and recycle marine waste, assembling them at the rebuild factory to create diverse public spaces.

Furthermore, the project nurtures a sustainable ecosystem, drawing inspiration from coral ecosystems. We establish gardens and underwater structures conducive to coral reef growth, transforming the abandoned oil platform into a habitat where humans coexist harmoniously with local flora and fauna. The megastructure minimizes disruption to surrounding marine life and vegetation, creating additional habitats and fostering the healthy development of the local ecosystem.

The project promotes research and tourism development by integrating coral reef formations into the design and structure of the oil platform. It caters to diverse needs through various circulation systems, serving local communities, tourists, and marine experts with spaces that stimulate oceanographic study and enhance the local tourism economy.

ESD strategies and sustainability features were integrated into various aspects of our project. Sustainable energy systems, water systems, a rebuild system for reusing waste materials, and strategies to preserve biodiversity were fully explored in our circular design approach. These initiatives aim to address environmental challenges such as marine pollution and rising sea levels while effectively reducing carbon emissions.

The energy system is housed within the Offshore Service Factory, strategically oriented to the north to maximize sunlight exposure without obstruction. In addition to solar panels, recycled container walls are used for rainwater harvesting panels. The factory converts stored energy into electricity and distributes it to different programs as needed.

The water system includes a seawater desalination plant located atop the hexagonal floating platform, providing fresh water for all programs. Water pipes are concealed within the floor plates, facilitating efficient water distribution. Wastewater is treated within the floating factory and reused for planters on the floating platforms.

The building system features a structure rebuild factory that repurposes abandoned oil platform structures into usable frames. Cranes in the central core transport these frames to various locations, allowing for the replacement of retired structures with new ones. Decks are also provided for reusing and constructing on other abandoned oil platforms.

Inspired by coral ecosystems, our project incorporates modular gardens for local vegetation and underwater frameworks for coral reefs. Reused living quarter walls and steel frames are employed to reconfigure exhibition centers and parks with modular garden spaces. By reconstructing frameworks, spaces for underwater coral reef regeneration are also created. These innovative designs establish new coexistence spaces for humans and local flora and fauna, promote local vegetation regeneration, and effectively reduce carbon emissions.