The Freshwater Factory: A Bubble-Shaped Skyscraper That Desalinates Sea Water

Why would you ever put a skyscraper in the countryside? In the case of Design Crew for Architecture's Freshwater Factory skyscraper, the idea actually makes sense. The skyscraper, designed for the 2010 eVolo skyscraper competition, isn't meant for human inhabitants. Instead, its series of bubbles are filled with water-filtering mangroves that desalinate seawater without using any electricity.

The system works with a series of circular tanks filled with brackish water. The water is pumped...