Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has made designs for an underwater ecovillage that is self-sustaining and could house up to 20,000 people.

The Aequorea project envisions spiraling “oceanscrapers” that are constructed entirely of recycled plastics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The Aequorea would house up to 20,000 people, have science labs, offices, hotels, sports fields and farms that would feed everyone in the eco-village. The plans call for 250 floors that reach a depth of 3,280 ft (1000 meters). Desalinated water would be used for drinking, bio-luminescence would provide light and microalgae would take care of recycling the organic waste matter.

The eco-towers’ geometry and ballasting would help to counter whirlpools and natural buoyancy. This will also help against  storms, currents and earthquakes. The shell will increase in thickness and strength the further down the towers reach into the ocean.

There are also other great initiatives out there like this that include Mana Fest, Backyard Abundance and The Venus Project . What others are out there?

Take a look at some of the pictures originally found on this site.

Lance Schuttler graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Health Science and does donation-based health coaching on the side through his website Orgonlight Health. You can follow the Orgonlight Health facebook page or visit the website for more information and other inspiring articles.