There may be an opportunity for citizens of Belgrade, Serbia, to get familiar with vertical gardens—but not on land.
The Eco Barge is a floating greenhouse that is accessible from the Danube River. It was built by the Serbian-based architectural and yacht design firm Salt & Water to foster environmental stewardship among residents of Belgrade.
This barge stands out a little bit from the yachts on the company’s portfolio. (Image courtesy of Salt & Water.)
Components of the Floating Greenhouse
Vertical gardens are installed on one end of the floating barge while a small building sits on the other. The Eco Barge is complete with solar panels and wind turbines to provide electricity, and the irrigation system for the plants uses recycled water. The greenhouse has a dual purpose of providing food while also demonstrating urban farming techniques to local Serbian residents.
The floating barge comes equipped with almost everything the resident needs. (Images courtesy of Salt & Water.)
This structure truly epitomizes sustainable living, not only because it grows its own food and produces its own energy, but because it is built to withstand rising sea levels.
Floating structures are a new trend in sustainable architectural design. Engineers are also constantly experimenting with offshore infrastructure. This is especially true in regions of the world where land is not as plentiful. For example, the Yamakura Dam reservoir in Japan hosts a 13.7-MW floating solar array, the largest in the world.
Apart from the Eco Barge, other floating structures we may see in the future include the Russian Ark Hotel and the Aequorea by architect Vincent Callebaut. To learn more about the Eco Barge, visit the Salt & Water website.
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