Filter Fleet
ARCH 3010: Arctic Research Studio - Fall Semester 2013
The Filter Fleet Project is the result of intensive research encompassing Russian military bases and pollution in the Arctic: a submerged hotel that cleanses the waters of the Kona River in Arctic Russia. It bridges a section of the river in Murmansk, a closed Russian city plagued by heavy contamination from nearby factories and the shipping industry. The goal of the hotel complex is to alleviate the effects of pollution near Murmansk while providing a rest stop for adventurous travelers.
Decommissioned Soviet nuclear submarines and ships that previously languished at the bottom of Olenya bay are given new life as the body of the hotel; the subs are gathered together in a conglomerate form spanning the river. Some submarines hold guest rooms while others provide attractions including restaurants, bars, and a spa. Views of the river and filtering system are found from above-water and under-water perspectives.
The filtering system itself is a combination of two types, one natural and other manmade, designed to deal with different pollutants. Arctic moss grows on mesh set within submarine structures at the bottom of the river. This moss catches larger particles such as heavy metals and absorbs sulfuric acid, both major problems for the waterway. The artificial filter is a dense gel—also attached to the mesh—that captures finer particles such as dissolved heavy metals and is particularly apt to absorb highly-toxic mercury.