Thanks to climate change, the world’s polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, with consequences including rising sea levels all over the world. One skyscraper concept aims to help alleviate the problem with buoyant to protect and rebuild Arctic ice layers, effectively cooling down the surface of the Earth. ‘Polar Umbrella’ by Derek Pirozzi is a ‘floating metropolis’ capable of producing its own power and desalinating sea water.
The skyscrapers are equipped with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminsitration) research laboratories as well as dorm-style housing units, eco-friendly attractions and even wildlife habitats. They also use saltwater to produce renewable energy using an osmosis power facility in the core of each skyscraper.
The cap of each Polar Umbrella recycles salt water from the sea, processing it to rebuild and thicken the earth’s protective film. The canopy also reduces direct UV exposure to the ice, taking that thermal energy and turning it into power.
The Polar Umbrella is the winner of eVolo’s 2013 Skyscraper Competition for its ingenuity in solving a pressing problem. Could it ever become reality? It’s hard to say at this point, but we need all the ideas we can get. Arctic sea ice levels reached a record low last year, prompting warnings of accelerated climate change.

