"Landboxes" is a modular, cast in-situ, water-based infrastructure designed as a plug-in system for coastal developments. This infrastructure aims to reduce the social pressure and ecological impacts that occur in and near urban nodes while contributing to reduce their operational costs. Landboxes are novel land reclamation techniques that enable land formations to emerge faster, more economically, and more in tune with the environment. Land reclamation typically is associated with the creation of new territory through the process of filling submerged zones, usually in the area of coasts, riverbanks, or wetlands. Current land reclamation techniques use dredging and landfilling, which changes the shape of coastlines, properties of wetlands, and composition of marine environments. About seven trillion dollars will be spent up to 2050 in this field. Landboxes present an urban alternative where construction does not involve dredging nor landfilling. Instead, a much more controlled construction methodology is deployed with a method that mixes large-scale, water-based additive manufacturing with prefabricated parts. Territory is thus generated not by landfilling, but through partial floatation, and water permeation, to grant space for new land to operate within the ebb and flow of natural cycles.
Context
This project arises from the need to provide sustainable growth for our society. Up to 2050, over 2 billion people will live within 100km of the coast, setting an immense pressure over coastal cities, its inhabitants, and ecosystems for urban growth. About 60million inhabitants will live in reclaimed land.
Landboxes distinguishes from its competitors by looking at solutions that will make our cities socially and ecologically more inclusive, while allowing an organic growth. To achieve this, Landboxes focuses on the development of modular construction systems that are more resource-efficient, faster to absorb population growth, and flexible to adapt to its required needs.
Market Size
Landboxes estimates that by 2050, governments will spend 7.2 trillion dollars in the creation of new land. This investment will contribute to governmental economic growth, as cities will see its productive land increased by about 6,000km2. Landboxes aims to provide construction intelligence to 1% of that market, contributing to 72 billion dollars in construction efforts until 2050. For intellectual property, design, and planning means a 5% share of the 72 billion dollars over the total construction costs, equating to 3.6 billion dollars in revenue until 2050 in the best scenario. If Landboxes ventures into construction, it can add another 12.5% of the market share, adding up to 9 billion dollars until 2050.
