In 1987, Drew Hubbell proposed designing an underwater structure for his architectural thesis at the University of Arizona. Liz Marshall knew of this interest, so she commissioned Drew and James Hubbell to execute a design for an underwater house near Wind’n'Sea Beach off the coast of La Jolla. The structure is meant to celebrate the sea we live next to and all the life within it. It serves as a metaphor of return to where we all came from, where life began, as well as providing a quiet retreat for its owner. Its circular design includes a dining room, kitchen, living room, library, bath, garden, elevator, and mermaid and dolphin visiting room.
Structural Process
Accretion: Growing Architecture in the Ocean
Mineral accretion is formed by placing an electrically conductive material like mesh, expanded metal or rebar in the sea water and connecting it to the negative pole of a direct current power supply, making it a cathode. A piece of graphite or carbon is connected to the positive terminal, the anodes, and is placed in the vicinity. Now we have a galvanic cell in the electrolyte sea water, accreting or precipitating positively charge calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide ions at the cathode, growing architecture on a framework conforming to our building plans.
Deep Dream is dedicated to all those who care deeply for butterflies, the sea and the creative flame within the heart.
