City Narrative
Waihona Meli, the Honeycomb City
Aloha! Welcome to Waihona Meli, a city of pristine beaches, rocky cliffs, and awe-inspiring technology. It is located on the western coast of the tropical island of Lana’i, Hawaii, and is home to 75,000 ethnically diverse residents. Waihona Meli was named the World’s Most Sustainable City in the year 2060. Rotating wind turbine hotels, vertical farms, green energy production, and innovative infrastructure are some of its technological wonders.
Fast, efficient, and green intermodal transportation systems are used for local and international travel. Citizens use special automated Transpods for intercity trips. SkyBolts, bullet-shaped cars traveling at 100 miles per hour, quickly take its passengers to island destinations. For international travel, Waihona Meli has Hawaiian Orbital Passenger Shuttles (HOPS), which are high-speed, pilotless, blended wing aircrafts.
Wind and algae farms and solar and geothermal technology are used for energy generation. Rotating wind turbine hotels are located on the city’s cliffs. They generate energy and provide luxurious accommodations. Solar paint is applied on building surfaces, since sunshine is abundant in Waihona Meli. Algae are grown in the Algae Energy Depot (AED) to produce hydrogen that is used by fuel cells to generate electricity. Geothermal is an unlimited source of energy and is used to make heat and power.
Vertical farms and aquaculture supply the citizens of Waihona Meli with fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. Diverse water sources (rain water harvesting, perennial streams, and basaltic aquifers) provide drinking water. Water/waste water utilities are part of a centralized infrastructure grid.
Residents wear Multi-Function Identification (MFID) bracelets, which feature a GPS system, a communication device, reverse 9-1-1, financial applications, multimedia components, and a health monitor that keeps track of the wearer’s health and vital signs.
Traditional K-12 schools have been replaced by learning centers with computer-simulated field trips, robotic teachers, and virtual reality books. Upon graduation, students can attend the Lana’i University of Engineering and Architecture, which is renowned for Honeycomb Pods, a unique sustainable temporary housing innovation, and green building technology.
For all golf-loving tourists and citizens, there are two 18-hole championship courses on top of the city’s cliffs. Several parks and open spaces offer areas for sports and relaxation experiences like hiking trails, eco-tourism, meditating, and bird watching. Aquatic activities include snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, cliff diving, and surfing. The Waihona Meli Cultural Center showcases the history, legends, and culture of Lana’i. It includes a concert hall, planetarium, aquarium and historic plantation home exhibits.
Lana’i is carpeted with Norfolk Island pine forests and pineapple and sugar cane plantations. Many endangered plants and animals live on the island. Conserving the flora and fauna of Lana’i is very important to the natives of Waihona Meli.
Lana’i is proud of Hawaiian Emergency Relief Team (HERT), an organization of volunteers that prepares residents for emergencies and protects them when disasters strike. It is a global model for disaster recovery and sponsors international conferences on safety and hazard response.
With breath-taking tropical scenery, state-of-the-art technology, and a one-of-a-kind sustainable housing system, Waihona Meli is a technological paradise.
Essay
Honeycomb Pods Provide New Hope for Tsunami Victims
At 3:00 p.m. on April 17, 2060, an underwater earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, measuring 7 on the Richter scale, triggered a series of destructive waves heading toward Waihona Meli, a city on the Hawaiian island of Lana’i. The devastating tsunami completely destroyed 94 homes, partially damaged 98, and left 16 people dead, 68 injured, and 677 homeless.
Most of the victims belong to working class families. The ethnically diverse group includes children, adults, and seniors, representing approximately 20, 50, and 30% of the population, respectively. After the disaster, the mobility-challenged population increased from 5 to 8%. The declining tourism left many unemployed.
The Hawaiian Emergency Relief Team (HERT) selected a unique temporary housing site. A brownfield, previously used as the location for the Dole Pineapple Canning Company, already had power, waste, water, and transportation infrastructure in place. The site is located near the residents’ tsunami-stricken homes and provides familiarity, comfort, and a sense of “home.”
Located less than three miles away, two solar-powered factories were recommissioned to quickly and efficiently manufacture adaptable emergency homes called Honeycomb Pods. The factory produced Fibrous Pumice Glue (FPG) wall, floor, and ceiling panels, which were assembled into hexagonal pods in an adjacent factory. Each level of a residential complex consists of one core pod (CP) surrounded living pods (LP). (See Fig. 1.) Core pods were constructed and equipped with energy-efficient mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire-protection systems. The complex is built by docking LPs and CPs using quick-connecting latches.
Fig. 1. Base view
To reduce the need for transportation, HERT built a Honeycomb-style mall, a short walking distance from the pods. The complex satisfies all of the residents’ basic needs and includes a medical center, launderette, library, supermarket, worship center, clothing store, soup kitchen, and a community center for financial assistance, job-placement, job training, and stress counseling.
Each pod consists of two furnished living units, each approximately 600 square feet, and living units can be adapted to various sizes by simply removing or relocating modular wall panels. Living spaces were designed to accommodate up to six people comfortably and efficiently for a five-year lifespan.
Each low-rise, clustered, residential complex contains four levels, each with up to six pods. (See Fig. 2.) The exterior design of Honeycomb Pods uses the principles of landscape architecture, which incorporates art, culture, science, and nature. The interior is a tropical oasis, providing safety and comfort.
Fig. 2. Front/side view
Honeycomb Pods are LEED-NC Diamond certified and utilize green building technologies. They obtain renewable energy from solar cells painted on building surfaces exposed to sunlight. Solar photovoltaic panels provide electricity for the low-voltage-powered pods. Living units are equipped with state-of-the-art energy-efficient and water-saving appliances.
Greenroof technology is an integral component of Honeycomb Pods. The residential complexes were built with visually appealing and functional greenroofs. (See Fig. 3.) The benefits include superior cooling and sound insulation, improved air quality, reduced stormwater runoff, and potable water and food production capabilities.
Fig. 3. Top view
The factory produced FPG panels from a “green,” innovative, local material from fibers found in pineapple stalks and leaves, sugar extract, crushed pumice, and bagasse, the fibrous byproduct of sugarcane stalks. When combined, the materials provide an ideal building material to use for Honeycomb Pods because it is lightweight, malleable, and strong. Since volcanic rock, pineapples, and sugarcane are native to Hawaii, the carbon footprint of the construction supply chain is minimal. The FPG panels’ production is cost-efficient and requires negligible energy to recycle.
Earlier Hawaiian architecture also included the use of indigenous construction materials, so our pods are organic and adaptable to the community. The exterior and interior reflect traditional kapa design and plant textures.
The construction waste is minimal since FPG panels were prefabricated, and all debris was deposited back into the factory for regrinding and reuse. At the end of their life cycles, adhesive breaks down to simple sugar, organics degrade and pumice enriches the soil.
FPG panels can be painted any color. Large windows in each living unit maximize daylight views of the ocean, cliffs, and mountains, and provide an abundance of natural light. Exterior panels are bright and cheerful, reflecting the colors of historic plantation houses.
Since Honeycomb Pods had to be mass-produced quickly, economically, and efficiently, tradeoffs occurred in variety, aesthetics, and longevity. The lifetime is limited because of the short life of organic materials. Unlike synthetic adhesives, natural glues are more susceptible to deterioration.
Overall, the environmental footprint of our living space is the epitome of “green.” Our pods use renewable solar energy, green roofs, local building materials, and existing civil infrastructure.
Living spaces are virtually maintenance free and were built to withstand regular use for five years with minimal repairs. Additionally, nearly all of the surfaces are treated with a unique nano coating that allows for easy cleaning with a damp cloth. It acts as an invisible sealant, preventing the buildup of dust, dirt, and bacteria.
ADA-certified, universally designed pods accommodate the needs of all residents, incorporating unobstructed, open floor plans, motion-activated lights and faucets, and voice-activated appliances. Bathrooms are outfitted with grab bars, adjustable-height toilets, and handheld showers; pods are accessible by elevator or staircase.
The benefits of our living space design include pods that are aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and compact. They incorporate Hawaiian culture and improve their surroundings by reclaiming land, using permeable roads, and integrating xeriscaping.
Materials engineers were critical in the success of developing Honeycomb Pods. First, they tested a variety of native Hawaiian materials for quality and effectiveness before finding the ideal components for FPG panels. Additionally, they monitored the composite’s performance and evaluated deterioration, strength, weight, and heat resistance, to ensure that Honeycomb Pods would last through their engineered lifetime and provide proper shelter. Materials engineers designed and directed the manufacturing process, as well as administered the work of chemists, artisans, technicians, other engineers, and environmental scientists.
Thanks to HERT’s sustainable, innovative temporary housing, Waihona Meli has become the global model for “green” disaster relief.
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