From Ocean Trash To Designer City Attraction In Singapore

Did you know that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of France? The amount of trash, particularly plastic, dumped in the world’s oceans is staggering. Design studio SPARK has unveiled one way to tackle the problem with a beautiful and functional solution: solar-powered beach huts. The firm’s Singapore office proposes recycling trash from the South Pacific Garbage Patch into permanent palm tree-like beach huts for Singapore’s East Coast Park.

1704-02
Beach Hut by SPARK Architects

Inspired by the work of Parley for the Oceans, an organization of creatives that addresses major threats towards our oceans, SPARK developed the recycled plastic Beach Hut design to help bring attention to the problem of ocean trash.

Beach Hut by SPARK Architects
Beach Hut by SPARK Architects

The palm tree-like structures would be built with a geometric skin manufactured from recycled HDPE (high density polyethylene), a non-biodegradable plastic that SPARK says makes up the majority of the plastic dumped in our oceans. The plan is to recover HDPE from the South Pacific Garbage Patch, color code it, shred it, and then reform the material into 3D stiff scale-like shingles that clad the hut.

Beach Hut by SPARK Architects
Beach Hut by SPARK Architects

The beach huts’ underlying structure would be made from a pre-cast stem with recycled glass aggregate and a cross-laminated timber frame. Thin film photovoltaic cells would be laminated onto the recycled HDPE scales and help generate electricity for lighting and the interior ceiling fan.

Beach Hut by SPARK Architects
Beach Hut by SPARK Architects

Each hut is accessible via a trap door and a steel rope ladder.

Construction Diagram. Beach Hut by SPARK Architects
Construction Diagram. Beach Hut by SPARK Architects

“[Different] color variations [are] possible using recycled HDPE,” said SPARK, who aims to produce a family of beach huts “that are engaging and elegant contributors to the Singapore shoreline whilst telling the story of an imaginative reuse of a plastic material that is part of our everyday lives but which given its disposable nature is contributing to the destruction of ocean life and our environment.”

LEARN MORE  Urban Environment Design And Bad Guys

 

This feature originally appeared in Inhabitat.

 

bartday-urban-farm-2-001-468x60

bartday-ppl-appstore-468x60

bartday-ndr-playstore-468x60



For enquiries, product placements, sponsorships, and collaborations, connect with us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!



Our humans need coffee too! Your support is highly appreciated, thank you!
Total
0
Shares
Previous Article

Skyway Mass Transit Making Huge Impact At La Paz

Next Article

Open Data/Open Government - What Should Cities Really Focus On?

Related Posts
Total
0
Share