Biomimicry Landscraper

During my fourth studio we were asked to developed a new typology for a land/sky–scraper. This landscraper (which I had chosen of the two) had to do two main things. One: it had to help solve an ecological problem while also creating a place for a family or individual to live and Two: it had to help solve a social issue that was prevalent in Miami or the immediate surrounding vicinity. My landscrapers ecological issue that it is focusing on is the regrowth of seagrass meadows. Seagrass acts as a natural filter for water and helps take out pollutants and keep the water clean. The social issue that my landscraper is helping to stop is providing housing for people who are HIV positive. The landscraper is made of many units that can connect to create a community or separate to create individual housing.  The units can also float on the surface of water or submerge under the surface creating an underwater home. The weight system that holds my units to the ocean floor are large pyramid shaped weights covered with holes that sea grass can grow in.  When the inhabitants need to go back to the mainland they can detach the weights which allow the grasses growing on them to spread across the seafloor therefore helping the regrowth of the seagrass meadows.