This ambitious concept by Lenka Petráková proposes to solve one of the world’s biggest pollution problems: ocean garbage. Called the “8th Continent”, the design collects plastic debris from the water’s surface and breaks it down into recyclable material. The huge floating station imagines a cleaner and sustainable future for marine environments. It was also recently awarded the 2020 Grand Prix Award for architecture and innovation of the sea following a competition launched by foundation Jacques Rougerie.

The structure is designed for the Pacific ocean and it is composed of five main parts: the barrier, the collector, the research and education centre, greenhouses, and living quarters with support facilities. The barrier serves to collect waste and harvest tidal energy. The waste is then sorted, biodegraded and stored in the collector. As well as cleaning up the water, Lenka Petráková also imagines the floating station as an interdisciplinary platform. The research and education centre is, therefore, a place to study and demonstrate the increasingly worrying conditions of marine environments.
Each of the five parts is adapted to suit its function. The barrier floats on the water’s surface and moves waste towards the collector. The collection technology at the center of the building is designed to optimize waste handling. The research and education centre is linked to the collector and greenho...