Our flotant design strategy is directly informed by the work of Chris Streb and Anamarija Francik.  Please follow the links to find out more about their work.

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Christopher Streb, PE, LEED AP
Ecological Engineer
www.biohabitats.com
Biohabitats
Restore the Earth and Inspire Ecological Stewardship
2081 Clipper Park Road
Baltimore, MD 21211
Baltimore Sun article about his project in the Baltimore Harbor, and a vimeo video

 

Anamarija Francic
Director, Green Harbors Project
Umass Boston
website

Some of her projects:
Pump Out boat in the Harbor
http://www.umb.edu/ghp/po_boat
http://www.umb.edu/ghp/research_and_publications
http://cdn.umb.edu/images/centers_institutes/greenbostonharbor/2011_pump
-out_report.final.pdf

Savin Hill Cove and Living Lab sites:
http://www.umb.edu/ghp/green_harbors/boston_harbor/student_projects/urba
n_harbor_salt_marsh_restoration
http://www.umb.edu/ghp/green_harbors/boston_harbor/student_projects/savi
n_hill_cove

Fort Point Channel restoration design:
http://www.umb.edu/ghp/green_harbors/boston_harbor/student_projects/fort
_point_channel

 

Our early design musings:

some thoughts on design needs needs anchor to harbor bed structure must be very robust to withstand high waves, winds (is a bendable structure most ideal?), should it be boatlike, or island like, or buoylike use recycled materials for floating: water and milk bottles needs a porous meshlike material for roots to grab onto roots […]

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how can we translate these chemical sensitivities?

When plant biologists speak of their subjects, they use active verbs and vivid images. Plants “forage” for resources like light and soil nutrients and “anticipate” rough spots and opportunities. By analyzing the ratio of red light and far red light falling on their leaves, for example, they can sense the presence of other chlorophyllated competitors nearby and try to grow the other way. Their roots ride the underground “rhizosphere” and engage in cross-cultural and microbial trade.
“Plants are not static or silly,” said Monika Hilker of the Institute of Biology at the Free University of Berlin. “They respond to tactile cues, they recognize different wavelengths of light, they listen to chemical signals, they can even talk” through chemical signals. Touch, sight, hearing, speech.
from the Antennae blog