Futuristic Construction Projects
Currently under construction in Dubai, Hydropolis is the world's first luxury underwater hotel. It will include three elements: the land station, where guests will be welcomed, the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel, and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex.
Due to open at the end of 2007, Hydropolis is an excellent example of the kind of futuristic construction project that is (barely) possible today, but that will become much easier -- almost routine -- in the near future with the extremely powerful capabilities of molecular manufacturing.
Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog
Given the political situation in the world and in that region specifically...I would be concerned that this is an easy and tempting underwater target. If I ever went, I would probably want to be trained with a rebreather and have the necessary gear with me at all times in case of a explosion that caused catastrophic flooding.
Posted by: Brian Wang | February 27, 2006 at 02:32 PM
The stuff they are doing in Dubai is truly amazing. Within a few years, they will be home to not only one, but two of the tallest buildings in the world. Perhaps the most immediate use of nanotechnological construction will be to open up the oceans (and the arctic, and the skies) to mass colonization.
Posted by: Michael Anissimov | February 27, 2006 at 04:36 PM
Pfff. That is nothing. In Canada we have frickin ice hotels in the winter. Hotels made of ice!! I agree, the legal status of the oceans will result in platforms and ships being the sites for some interesting tech firsts.
Posted by: Phillip Huggan | February 27, 2006 at 11:07 PM
I wouldn't mind living in one of those babies.
Kinda reminds of the good old times I had playing SimCity 2000. ;)
SC2000 Megadome: http://ds.nahoo.net/images/SimCity-Screen.jpg
Posted by: Jan-Willem Bats | February 28, 2006 at 04:58 AM
While this seems nice and everything, I'd have to say that feasibilty of widespread projects simular to this one are isn't too terribly high. First off, this is a kind of novelty experience and people will view it as such. More importantly, middle class people will view it as something somewhat like "a rich man's toy". When people get that kind of attitude, they tend to just think about how cool it'd be and not even see if it was possible. Also, there will not be a large movement to this kind of construction if it's easier to build using other methods or on land. A matter of the mind. But personally, though there are many bumps in the road to aquatic colonization and it must be approached extremely carefully, it is an area i feel must be utilized to it's utmost and nanotechnology is something that'll probably play a major role in it.
Posted by: Nathan Valentine | March 03, 2006 at 04:07 PM
The cool thing about nanotechnology is that just about anything will be possible. If we can build that place with today's materials technology, nano-construction will just make it heaps cheaper. Imagine what this will do for architecture. You could design a whole building on AutoCAD in complete detail, and then a series of nanofactories and robotic arms could make it for you. The architect would be the builder. Way to go!
Posted by: Roland | March 05, 2006 at 03:48 PM
Just make a big enough nanofactory and have it "print" the entire building. You could do this with spacecraft I would assume. Just think building a spacecraft the size of the StarTrek's Enterprise within a few hour/days.
Posted by: Sigma | March 05, 2006 at 07:18 PM
wow, this sounds great.
Posted by: Fabian | September 13, 2006 at 11:55 AM
being an undergrad student of building and one who is uncomfortable with the outrageous wastefulness of conventional methods and materials,i am very happy about these developments.
Posted by: kole | March 02, 2007 at 02:33 AM