Today many people wish to become Captain Nemo of the 11th century and to hide themselves from the land fuss in the bosom of the oceans. The Italian designer Giancarlo Zema believes that people will start to leave the land and move to the immense water space in the near future.
Trilobis for 5 million
Of course, a number of technical problems must be solved when changing the environment. The founder of Giancarlo Zema Group Design works on this prospective subject very actively. His design studio was founded in Rome in 2001 and quickly became very famous on the both sides of the Atlantic owing to original projects of the young designer. America turned out to be more adoptive to his developments though. "First of all Americans are interested in your capabilities. In contrast to Italians they usually don’t take into account a short experience and a lack of support from recognized authorities", commented Giancarlo.
One of the issues of Popular Mechanics, the old American magazine, pictured Trilobis 65 on the cover in 2002. It was a mix of a submarine and a yacht looking like a 20-metre floating house with the steel hull and aluminium framework. It was designed for 6 persons and ideally suitable for basing in bays and on atolls. The magazine correspondents supposed ironically that Captain Nemo would surely change his Nautilus for Trilobis 65. The name of this huge «seashell» which shape resembling a flying saucer came from one of the most ancient inhabitants of our planet – Trilobiti furrowed the seas 500 million years ago.
The hull of Trilobis 65 has 4 levels; the central gangway spirally goes through all the levels. The upper section of waterlogged 4-floor house comes out of the water for 3.5 metres. A control station with excellent all-round view is located here. To make it comfortable a multilevel glass cover with "filling" from electrolyte is used. In sunny weather power is supplied via photoelectric cells Siemens, at nights and in bad weather the voltage comes from accumulators.
1.4 metre underneath the water surface there is a living area where Trilobis 65 hosts and guests spend the most of their time. Compositionally it connects a galley, a dining room and 3 recreational areas. A sliding door along with a gangway separates interior from a cockpit covered with teak. On the third level (top-down) submerged into the water for 0.8 metres, there is a bed section. It consists of 2 cabins with double beds and a couple of single beds with separate bathroom units.
In front of the single cabin a hydrogen tank is installed. It is necessary for the fuel elements Ballard, which supply power to 2 electric motors 300 l/s each. Of course, such a hydrogen reserve onboard is not enough to cross the ocean, but for Trilobis 65 diesel engines are provided; also there is an ability to use a wind force. Ones who seek for the full comfort and quiet atmosphere should go downstairs Trilobis 65 and to have a rest in a spherical capsule equipped with 6 arm-chairs (capacity of a tourist submarine) and 200-W lamps illuminating the aquatic environment and make it possible to watch the life of sea fauna round-the-clock.
Trilobis 65 conforms to the modern standards and capable to move with maximum speed of 7 knots. The whole communities, unique living neighbourhoods on the water, can be formed from these gigantic "seashells" having the width of 13 metres (approximate price is $4-5 million). For this purpose the Italian designer has made up an original mooring scheme similar to child’s jigsaw puzzle. The stern part of Trilobis 65 with a horseshoe-shaped hollow is joined to one of the five projected parts on the circular pier – simple and safely.
Yacht avant-garde
In spite of the relatively not very long experience in art design, Giancarlo Zema Group Design cooperates with aces of the world shipbuilding very successfully. The most grandiose project of the company is the 3-deck Poseidon 180. The companies John F. Rodrigues (interior) and Bentley Marine Engineering participated in the design works on 55-metre eccentric superyacht . The latter company used its technological achievements in the warship building to construct the ocean liner (magnesium-alluminium alloy, composite materials ect.). The forth participant of the project was the American shipyard Bugatti Yachts.
The excellent hydrodynamics characteristics provide the high nautical abilities and 30-percent fuel saving. A key element of the Italian design is a superstructure in form of a huge transparent dome, covering even the fore body. 8 luxury cabins for 12 persons have a panoramic view; glass windows in living rooms have a size from the ceiling to the floor. 4 gas turbines Bentley Marine (two BM-M70F - 14,500 l/s each and two BM-M75 - 4,500 l/s each) and 2 water cannons are capable to speed Poseidon 180 up to 40 knots.
The transmission design enables one turbine BM-M75 to work for the both water cannons on the slow run. A bow and stern maneuvering devices (300 l/s each) with electric drive are used for fuel saving during docking (fuel reserve is 185,000 litres). Computer controlled mini-turbines are used for hot water supply and air-conditioning; they are switched on when load increases in the power-supply system.
A cottage… in the sea
For the clients who do not have $50 million available to buy Poseidon 180, Mr Zema offers Jelly-Fish 45 – a luxury floating cottage for about 2 million dollars only. 6 persons can live in this 10-metre high architectural construction in form of a jellyfish (5.6 m above the water level) and 15 metres in diameter. Jelly-Fish 45 has 5 levels connected with a spiral stair. A spherical underwater part is ideally suitable to examine the sea inhabitants. Neptus 60, the 4-floor construction with a ladder and transparent elevator, can transform a steep shore into a cosy living place. In the upper part on height of 20 metres from the water level there is an observation area; one of the living rooms is located on the 10-metre depth underwater. In the capsule attached to a rock there are a bed room, a large terrace and a living room. Neptus 60 has a dock for small ships.
The project Lake Washington makes the lasting impression – a picturesque virtual lake on the area of 5 acres with floating restaurant. 300 persons can enjoy seafood in this 3-floor construction (diameter is 18 m, usable area is 900 sq m) resembling an exotic flower with "petals" made of laminated wood. A kitchen, utility rooms and staff rooms (for 100 persons) are located on the area of 260 sq m. There is another kitchen one lower level (capacity up to 50 persons) where more simple dishes can be cooked. Moreover, there is a small garden there. People can use the stair or take the elevator. On the 8-metre depth there is a splendid hall with a panoramic view and Trilobis 65 are used as sea canoes.
Other projects
The Roman design studio Giancarlo Zema Group Design has worked out the project Amphibius Resort to the order of the British company Marine Technology. This is a complex connecting artificial islands (about 80 Jelly-Fish 45) possessed by the yacht owners. Implementation of full size Amphibius Resort is planned for the end of the current year in the Persian Gulf.
Between executing the Arab sheikhs’ orders 35-year-old Mr Zema finds time for more prosaic things. For example, he is very famous as a designer of elegant furniture and accessories in Italy.
Igor Yashchenko
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