International architectural firm Gensler, known for designing hotels and stadiums, has released a conceptual proposal for a new floating airport for London. This floating airport is envisioned to be located right in the middle of the River Thames.
The name of the proposed floating airport has been decided to be London Britannia Airport. The airport would consist of a series of rounded pods and would have four floating runways. There are underwater tunnels. These underwater tunnels would connect passengers to central London and to European rail networks. Passengers coming by car would travel to three land-based terminals, where two terminals are located north and south of the estuary and the third terminal is located between Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.
According to Gensler’s design, four runways can be floated in as required and taken away for maintenance in the future. By recycling and modifying the existing land on that proposed area and buildings into a Heathrow Eco City, Gensler would be able to provide homes for 300,000 residents, and employment opportunities for more than 200,000 workers. Besides, the floating airport would be able to generate much of its power from marine turbines situated within, and adjacent to the floating runways.
Project Director, Ian Mulcahey said, “This will be a ‘national’ infrastructure project that can inject new pace and dynamism into our economy. The airport can be quickly manufactured in the ship yards and steel works across the UK and can be floated by sea and positioned in the Estuary. This isn’t a London Airport; it is a Global Airport, designed, manufactured and built in the UK.”
The total estimated cost of this floating airport project is £50 billion (around $80 billion). Now it’s time see, will London authority approve this floating airport? What do you think, guys? Share your thoughts with us.
Source : dezeen
Thanks To : World Architecture News, Inhabitat
[ttjad keyword=”hot”]
