Marine Multifunctional Landscape Infrastructure Project by ORG Permanent Modernity Wins A+Awards

ORG Permanent Modernity announced that it has been chosen as a Winner in the category of Unbuilt Landscape in the 2022 Architizer A+Awards for THE DESIGN FOR PUBLIC VALUE project, a maritime multifunctional landscape infrastructure.

Island Design Variation, Photo credit: ORG

The Architizer A+Awards is a highly distinguished international prize in architecture and urbanism. It is an unparalleled honor that this project has been selected to represent the best of design worldwide among entries from over 80 countries. The Architizer A+ Jury Winner is selected by an illustrious jury, comprising architects and designers, media luminaries, tech and business leaders, and other creatives. The project will be published in Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture 2022 book.

Dunes and Habitat, Photo credit: ORG

Project Details

In this project, ORG led research and design for a Maritime Multifunctional Landscape Infrastructure (MMLI) to serve as an integrated response to the societal, environmental, energy, and climate challenges being faced today. The MMLI includes artificial reefs to protect the coast, restore habitats, and enrich biodiversity, sandbanks with aquaculture for coastal protection and food production, renewable energy production such as wind, wave, and solar, structures with blue energy battery, hydrogen, and CO2 storage, data centers, desalination, research facilities, monitoring stations, ecotourism, etc.

Beach with Hydrogen, Photo credit: ORG

Beach with Solar Panels, Photo credit: ORG

'Marine Multifunctional Landscape Infrastructures' are multifunctional infrastructures at sea that can provide a multi-functional, integrated response to the climate challenges that we are facing. Think of artificial reefs that help to protect the coast, restore habitats and enrich biodiversity - sandbanks with aquaculture for coastal protection and food production - structures with energy storage, desalination and aquaculture - etc.

Aquaculture, Photo credit: ORG

Such landscape infrastructures rarely reach the realisation phase. This is not only due to 1. economic and 2. technical reasons. Research (Hertogh TU Delft) shows that too little attention is paid to 3. social support and 4. spatial integration. Part of the D4PV@Sea study is therefore, in addition to a spatial study, also the incorporation of a co-creative aspect in which both supporters and opponents are involved from the very beginning in the design of these marine landscape infrastructures. The research team has created a generic toolbox that can be used co-creatively for the creation of multifunctional marine landscape infrastructures around the world.

Aquaculture Production Loop, Photo credit: ORG

An MMLI consists of two basic components: the surface and the functions programmed on it. Percellation rules determine how these functions can be combined on the MMLI. A participatory strategy can then be used to invite co-creants to help shape an MMLI. As MMLIs have a dynamic character (the challenges they have to meet can change), the development strategies conceivable today are projected on a time scale. The future will show which course will be followed.

Beach with Solar Panels, Photo credit: ORG

The possible configurations of an MMLI are determined by hydromorphological requirements, technical requirements and by the functions on the MMLI. In cooperation with IMDC and Jan De Nul, the hydromorphological requirements were mapped out and possible island shapes were determined with their corresponding technical profiles.

Beach with Solar Panels, Photo credit: ORG

The various functionalities are then placed on an MMLI. This does not just happen. Spatial preconditions indicate whether the function should be located in the subtidal, the intertidal or the supratidal zone. Within each of these zones, percellation rules then determine how functions are spatially efficiently combined. These rules derive from general principles such as 'efficient use of space', 'multiple use of space', etc.

Beach for Recreation, Photo credit: ORG

In short, the MMLI functions as a complex system of infrastructures operating in harmony, while appearing as a landscape or island. As a whole, the MMLI works to provide a clean energy future and support flourishing ecological systems. The project includes an in-depth environmental and co-creation study to provide a realizable, well-supported implementation scheme, along with verified environmental benefits.

Beach with Interior Energy Lagoon Design Variation, Photo credit: ORG

About ORG Permanent Modernity

ORG Permanent Modernity is a research, strategy, and design group, with offices in Brussels and New York City. Architects, engineers, urban planners, ecologists, economists, coalition strategists, and policy and process designers work together to tackle complex projects. The group thinks, designs, and connects on multiple levels of scale: from architecture to regional and international systems. ORG draws, calculates, and unites across domains of knowledge in order to calculate consequences of choices beyond any conventional production system. ORG has three dedicated departments, each with their own expertise: Architecture, Urbanism, and Systems. Each department takes a transdisciplinary approach, interweaving multiple skillsets and services to develop transformative projects that integrate place, space, systems, strategy, and policy.