Abandoned oil rigs shaped up as living hub with underwater research labs

Just as the thought of abandoned oil rigs was shaping up as a global problem, Ku Yee Kee and Hor Sue-Wern came up with an innovative proposal of transforming abandoned oil rigs situated in Malaysia into housing structures. This has come as a solution to the expensive problem of removal of oil rigs.

oil rig to living hub

The abandoned oil rigs have been designed as living hubs for the adventurous. The plan, as the proposal details, is to have underwater labs for researchers. The list of advantages doesn't end there, the whole structure works on renewable energy principle. The design allows for placement of photovoltaic panel on the roof to extract solar energy. Wind turbines would be wisely placed around the four sides. Additionally, tidal energy collectors would be placed at the bottom.

The adventure doesn't end here though. The designers have promoted the middle level of the rig to become a recreational center. The activities include pleasure boat launch, cantilevered pool and an assembly. The clubbed ecological and innovative solution for the major problem of abandoned oil rigs climbed the success ladder in 2011 when it emerged as one of the finalists in the eVolo Skyscraper competition.

However, this doesn't seem as the first ever proposal for the economical use of abandoned oil rigs. Texas based Morris architects came up with the proposal of shaping up worn out oil rigs as luxury hotel based in Dubai. The design proposed by Morris architects has also won a prize. With such creativity and innovation clubbed together with proper planning and implementation, we are not far from the day where most global problems have been looked after.

Via: Inhabitat