Extreme changes to the global climate and the ocean ecosystem are forecast for the coming years. The project outlines a speculative future environmental scenario in a Sicilian coastal town at the heart of the Mediterranean. The project integrates with the surrounding ecosystem; a synergy is created with the landscape by mimicking the metaphorical ‘breathing in’ of the ocean, in order to exploit tidal movements and solar distillation for generating potable water for the local community. The use of a ‘salinity device’ to roam the highly saline waters enables the ocean’s constantly changing ecosystem to be monitored, beyond just the Mediterranean. However, despite being designed for longevity, this will ultimately succumb to new technologies designed to monitor the complexities of global climate change. The project applies materials able to withstand centuries of weathering, yet these will ultimately perish due to erosion once the building’s outer skin of stone is weathered away. This will leave behind a bronze substructure which creates a new purpose for the site in the form of a monument. This highlights the necessity for creating an equilibrium between ocean salinity levels and the ever-changing climate, to ensure the needs and health of civilians can be maintained.

Above: Acqua Duomo Salinity Device