Pratham Chothani

AR3038

project explores the architectural potential of mobile, adaptive infrastructures designed to address critical ecological and biosecurity concerns in the face of rising global uncertainties, particularly those stemming from climate change and biological threats. The proposal centers on the design of a Seed Bank and Biocontainment Laboratory, conceived as a two-part, floating research facility. The Seed Bank is housed within a barge structure, deliberately chosen for its mobility and proximity to coastal ecologies. This allows it to function not only as a long-term storage and conservation facility but also as an active collector of seed varieties along coastal and near-shore biomes. The barge contains cold storage and cryopreservation chambers, ensuring preservation of both endemic and critical agricultural plant species under controlled conditions. In scenarios of ecological collapse or apocalyptic events, this mobile repository could serve as a crucial node in reintroducing biodiversity and stabilizing food systems. Complementing this is a Biocontainment Laboratory Complex constructed atop a dry dock platform, comprising modular, self-buoyant laboratory forms. These units are engineered with low centers of gravity and hydrodynamic stability to prevent capsizing, even in turbulent conditions. Each form is functionally discrete but architecturally unified through a system of interlinking decks and service corridors. Contained within these lab modules are advanced research environments, including:Fermentation and Tissue Culture Labs, Microbiology and Genetic Sequencing Labs, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Labs, Cryo-Electron Microscopy for Structural Biology All labs operate within highly regulated mechanical environments, integrating HVAC systems, temperature and humidity control, fluid distribution networks, and isolated electrical systems, essential for maintaining biosecure and contamination-free conditions. The entire facility is envisioned to function both as an integrated ecosystem and as discrete operational units, ensuring resilience and continuity in the event of localized system failures. A team of 24 resident scientists, spanning diverse specializations in botany, microbiology, and bioengineering, supports the continuous operation, research, and maintenance of the seed vault and biocontainment zones. This project interrogates the role of architecture as a tool for planetary stewardship, positioning mobile, self-sufficient infrastructures not merely as responses to crisis, but as proactive agents of ecological restoration and scientific preparedness. Through architectural form, mobility, and system integration, the proposal challenges traditional notions of fixed institutions, offering a speculative yet grounded vision for future-ready bio-architectural typologies.