Seaorbiter, Like a Spaceship for the Ocean

The futuristic research facility would stretch 900 metres by 500 metres, and would house up to 7,000 scientists and students from all over the world, offering them an array of laboratories, classrooms, lecture halls, living quarters, and dedicated areas for leisure activities and sports, to facilitate long-term research projects.

Considering the dimension and size of the international scientific community - 7,000 people spread on the entire structure - I designed the City of Mériens in the form of a manta ray because it was the best design to accommodate such a community with regards [to] the best possible correlation between space and stability needs," Rougerie told Weather.com. The manta ray design was selected because of its ability to resist turbulence from storms and other harsh weather conditions. While the visible structure is just 60 metres tall, it plunges up to 120 metres below the surface of the ocean, which helps to keep the whole thing steady.