image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by the ocean, and the ocean itself consists of approximately 80% deep sea.The deep sea offers enormous potential for ensuring effective and appropriate cycles and processes in the earth’s biosphere.

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Unfortunately, we have yet to make the most of this potential.

This large-scale concept seeks to take advantage of the limitless possibilities of the deep sea by linking together vertically the air, sea surface, deep sea, and sea floor.Now is the time for us to create a new interface with the deep sea, the earth’s final frontier.

Infra Spiral-image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Breaking free from past patterns of land development, which have focused mainly on efficiency, this plan is intended to promote true sustainability while maximizing use of the deep sea’s resources.The company  Shimizu Corporation share a new concept project under the sea.

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Comments from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)

''The Japanese Islands is located in one of the earth’s most geologically active regions. JAMSTEC has long sensed its responsibility to transmit from Japan to the world an integrated understanding of the sea, the earth, life, and human activity. Current social trends and issues point to the urgent need to promote maritime innovations in areas ranging from the use of marine resources to the deployment of marine biotechnology, not to mention the need to advance our understanding of the sea and earth. When we heard of Shimizu Corporation’s concept for a deep sea city of the future, one designed to serve as a new interface between humanity and the deep sea, we felt confident Shimizu would find our research findings useful. JAMSTEC’s mission is to help establish Japan as a leading maritime power through new science and technology and to contribute to and maintain sustained progress for the Japanese public, human society, and the earth. Beyond providing information based on JAMSTEC’s achievements for use in preparing this brochure, we are fully committed to joint efforts to improve the technological efficacy and feasibility of the OCEAN SPIRAL project.''

Harnessing the power of the deep sea in order to renew the earth

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

A New Lifestyle

In the Casual Zone facing the deep sea, people can experience and enjoy the deep sea, while learning about and discussing its unique qualities.

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

New Business Models

The Business Zone of the central tower incubates business models for new deep sea industries.

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Integrating the functions required because of the deep sea

Electricity:Power generation based on ocean thermal energy conversion

Food:Aquaculture using deep sea water

Fresh water:Desalination using water pressure

Transportation:Port (supply base) for deep sea submersible probes

Information:Deep sea monitoring facility

Structural Design:Building a Submerged City of Concrete, 500m in Diameter

Spherical concrete lattice shell of 500m in diameter-Using an internal tower to reinforce the sphere’s shell;image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

1.Strength Using a spherical shape to withstand water pressure 

2.Concrete High-strength resin concrete

3.Reinforcement bars Rustproof resin bars

4.Environmental considerations-Use of materials recycled from PET beverage containers in the resin concrete

Construction Plans:Challenge to Achieve Fully Automated Maritime Construction of the Sphere

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

1.Early adoption of future technologies 3D printing construction method (Pouring resin concrete, resin bars)

2.Integrating proven technologies Automated vertical diversion of large-scale concrete forms Jump-up method-Balanced cantilever Dywidag method

3.Construction methods specific to maritime construction-All construction work undertaken at the sea surface (Submersion of completed structure)

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Operation and Maintenance Plans:Fail-safe Features and Maintenance

1.Control of vertical movement: Super ballast balls filled with sand

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

2.Wave control:Floating seawall  3.Control of everyday vibrations:Vibration-damping equipment

Variation Compatible with various sites and scales

Site Variations:The Ocean Spiral Network, Connecting the World’s Seas

Candidate sites based on regional characteristics

1. Coastal seas: Stimulating economy on remote islands in exclusive economic zones
2. Seas of island nations: Countering rising sea levels in Pacific island nations
3. Seas in desert regions: Comfortable deep sea living in the seas of the Middle East and Africa

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Candidate sites based on sea floor topography

Source:The Mystical World of the Deep Sea and its Denizens (Natsumesha CO.,LTD.), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC),supervision.; illustrations by saimitu.com

Scale Variations:In addition to the city-scaled 500-m diameter model, a more practical architectural-scale 200-m diameter model is prepared.500-m diameter (city model)

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation;200-m diameter (architectural model)

image courtesy of Shimizu Corporation

Advisors

The following parties provided technological information for the OCEAN SPIRAL concept for a deep sea city of the future: 

> via shimz.co.jp