THE SWARM

 

THE SWARM

The main inspiration of the project was a beehive. The operation of the newly arrived population is based on three phases. Firstly, people arrive on Earth with the main unit and find a suitable place to locate the base. The Main Unit is a place in which they reside, that provides all the factors needed for survival. The second phase is the exploration of Earth with capsules. The main challenge in this phase is to restore soils, waters and air to their original, human-friendly state. This phase is defined as the longest - the estimated time to restore the Earth to a state safe for humans is about 500 years. Phase three includes new settlement of the Earth. After cleaning the planet, new human colonies, like a swarm in a beehive, will leave the main unit and settle in cities created from the structures of connected capsules.

 

BUILDING MATERIAL

The main unit and capsules were built of material that was based on the modified mycelium that is natural such as bracket fungus. The main features of the material are strength and flexibility. It can easily adapt its form to the surface on which it grows. The main unit is covered in unregular apertures, where the building material grows, creating a cocoon shape. The cocoon is used as a base for the living capsules.

 

EARTH CLEANING

The process of cleaning the earth is key when regarding the need of a re-settled planet. Radioactive radiation, acid rain, mostly extinct flora and fauna - these are adversities that will take hundreds of years to eliminate. Exploration of the earth will take place in groups of 6 people - two per capsule. Such an expedition will explore an area of 50 km2 within 2 weeks. The material from which the capsule is built adapts to the surface and shape of the terrain. This allows people to explore any place on Earth. The capsule can float in the air, dive deep into the ocean or attach itself to a mountainside. During the 2-week study period, material from the capsule begins to grow while implanting itself in the surrounding area. After completing the research, the group will return to the main unit. At the landing site, part of the biological building material of the capsules is left, which, during rapid decomposition, will fertilize the soil and breaks down toxins in land and water.

 

THE FUNCTION

The plan of the main unit approximates a circle. The facility is divided into 10 main departments:

• community garden: located in the central part, a park with an area of approx. 300 m2. It is a reminiscent of the original Earth's ecosystem from before the apocalypse with 4 seasons and years.

• command room: the place of command during space travel, later a place of meetings and strategic decisions.

• living area: containing four types of residential modules and common recreational areas.

• Service sector: localization of services, e.g. Doctor's offices, clinics, entertainment

• Vertical farm - a place of food cultivation, quantitatively appropriate to the needs of the population.

• Water intake - tanks storing potable water and treatment for waste water and water obtained from outside the unit.

• Technical department - a department dealing with inspections and repairs of the unit, including engines, all electronics and artificial atmosphere.

• Laboratories - a department dealing with the studying of samples obtained from the surface of the Earth and the improvement of chemical compounds that accelerate the purification of the planet.

• Warehouses - facilities for storing equipment and tools

• Energy - department of energy generation based on renewable energy sources, as well as a place where water is processed into energy without any CO2 emissions

 

The building consists of 9 floors. The communication between the floors takes place through aero-tubes located in the central garden. At the time of landing on Earth, a population of 160 people is enough to settle down on the ground floor. The upper floors are intended to be used as reserves for living at the time of human development. The main unit is designed to accommodate approximately 3,000 people.