It is simply impossible for human beings to understand the concept of time in relation to the existence of stone/-hill/-mountain/-cliff/-sea/-earth- and the history of the universe, the power of mother nature will always prevail. The proposed architectural intervention revolves around finding a mutual harmony between all elements whilst envisioning a state-of-the-art aesthetic that can primarily promote the integration of sea eco-design.

Marine ecosystems are aquatic environments with high levels of dissolved salt. These include the open ocean, the deep-sea ocean, and coastal marine ecosystems, each of which has different physical and biological characteristics. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and microbes; important abiotic factors include the amount of sunlight in the ecosystem, the amount of oxygen and nutrients dissolved in the water, proximity to land, depth, and temperature. (National Geographic Society, 2022: online).

Solar Cell explores the two key connectors of the various abovementioned classifications of marine environments and the vast possibilities of energy or natural resources saving properties they possess: Salt & Sun.  It will serve as a model for alternative resource supply with core focus on preserving and studying its direct environment through means of sustainable development. The consequences of the energy crises on building techniques require laminated, discontinuous construction forcing architects to consider the separate identities of inner and outer parts of the building envelope. The sun has risen and set in many cycles before you and will continue doing so after you are gone; how do we tread between nature’s delicate sheets to empower it whilst allowing the art of architecture to shine in a respectful way?

Our primary focus throughout the planning process was to maximize the flow, participation, connection, basic needs, and community of human interaction with the cell and its ecological surrounds. The most primal needs for the human being are nutrition (fresh water & food) and shelter, both generally difficult to come by at sea. Sunlight is one of the most important abiotic factors for marine ecosystems and is the key attribute to our bio-inspiration driven approach of designing a self-sufficient structure. Solar cell is based on the implementation of an autonomous system founded on the immense availability of the gloriously saline rich depths of the ocean. By converting sunlight to heat and storing it in molten salt it can supply, and store electricity and make it available on demand any time—day or night.  This form of energy creation is inexpensive, available for commercial-scale needs and most importantly it is non–fossil fuel driven and has a very low impact on the environment. [Sheikh, 2014: online] This system, already used in the US, is an immediately implementable solution for clean energy harvesting.

Solar cell can lend itself to a variety of coastal or open ocean locations and the needs individually required by these environments and its intended users. The cell serves as a pod of life, supplying fresh water, electricity, and crops. The model can serve large ships or smaller research vessels in the open or deep ocean where they can restock on said quintessential resources, as well as serve as a long stay base well equipped with the fundamentals to those dedicated to discovering, documenting, and exploring marine environments. On coastlines it can become a pod that supplies fresh water, crops and electricity to neighbouring coastal towns as well as a vessel that can accommodate inhabitants or researchers.

Along with its futuristic architectural aesthetic, innovative sustainable energy creation and self-sufficiency, the Solar Cell’s application possibilities are endless.