Aquatica
| Project Aquatica | |
|---|---|
| |
| Built by | |
| Current Status |
Unfinished |
| World | |
| Province |
{{{province}}} |
| Location | (x=1160,z=3) |
Aquatica
Aquatica is the New Avalon home of CW Member Pixelbox. It is an undersea complex, comprised of a series of glass-domed structures linked together via open-access tunnels.
THIS ARTICLE IS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS.
History
The first dome
The first dome built for Aquatica is 54 blocks in diameter. It houses a small chicken farm containing an automatic egg launcher, material gathering station, and chikunz keeler. The dome also houses Pixelbox's vault, a S.M.E.R.F. (Static's Mass Environmental Resource Farm) seed and flower generator.[1], and small pumpkin, melon, sugarcane, and wheat farms. There are also holes that lead to caves and abandoned mineshafts which have provided additional resources, as well as a zombie XP grinder and a spider XP grinder. Additional resources, namely sand for glass and sandstone was donated to Aquatica by SunnySoulSheep.
The second dome
Soon after the first dome was constructed and set up as a "foreman's office", construction of the second dome and joining tunnel was begun. The 2nd dome was smaller than the first, and was originally constructed to house Pixel's orchard. Once 1.8 was released, Pixel put an enchanting table in this dome as well. SunnySoulSheep helped with the clearing of the inside of this dome.
The third structure - Observation Periscope
A tower was constructed in-between the first two domes so the surface world can be viewed (in limited fashion).
The third dome - the main dome
Pixel's return from hiatus (from mid-Feburary of 2012 until early July of 2012) began the construction of the main dome. This dome is the largest dome in Aquatica, whose diameter will be 128 blocks wide after completion. Construction has been a joint effort by Pixelbox and SunnySoulSheep.
Facts about the main dome
- it's construction was made significantly easier by large donations from dnolan, as well as the amazing gift of a sponge block (also gifted to Pixelbox by dnolan). - July 25th the outer-perimeter defining the dome base was completed. - a new cave and abandoned mineshaft was discovered during the base construction.
Current State
Headquarters/Foreman's Quarters
Vault
Naturally, to keep up with the high demand for resources during the build of Aquatica, a vault for supplies is located in the center of the first dome.
Crops
While Aquatica is still under construction, temporary farms have been erected until auto-harvesters can be built. Pixel's gotta eat!
Railway hub connection
Yes, Aquatica is connected to the Great Rail. Simply go to the main railway station south of spawn, catch the East line up to the East Exchange, and take the underground line out to Aquatica. Thanks go to brickviking, SunnySoulSheep, and others who helped.
Aquatica Main Entrance and sign
The main entrance has yet to be built. Early blueprints depict the main entrance as a tunnel, made from either black wool or obsidian, in an oval shape leading from the surface down to the main dome. Once completely underwater, the black will give way to glass, and provide viewing access to various underwater sculptures (not yet built) located on either side of the tunnel leading to the main dome. The Aquatica sign is made out of navy, orange, and white wool, depicting the logo of Aquatica. An orange "A", with smaller letters in white on a blue field.
Orchard
The second dome created for Aquatica contains a small orchard and an enchantment table. The orchard will be moved when more space is made available.
Enchantment Room
Observation Tower
Why build underwater?
What kind of doofus would attempt the pointless endeavor of building all of his stuff underwater? Well, besides the challenge of it, there are a few reasons.
Form and Function
An aquatic build illustrates a perfect environment to combine function(or the usefulness/efficiency/productivity) of a device as well as provide the fuel for imaginative and attractive design. Pixelbox's main goal is to achieve both with everything he builds, whenever possible.
Preserving the Landscape
With the style of Aquatica being mainly sandstone and glass, a LOT of sand is required to build and maintain the complex. Strip-mining beaches for sand in CW is illegal, and from the opinion of Pixelbox, mining deserts can also detract from the random beauty created by the render of CW. Building underwater allows for gathering sand block resources from the sea floor - an area that not many CW residents would ever care to visit.
Building on the sea floor not only preserves deserts, but also leaves the surface in its natural state. It additionally leaves the surface's expanses to other surface-dwelling members who wish to build, or better, to leave the un-tampered beauty of the randomly rendered habitats of Cubic Worlds in their original state.
Mob-free living
Since endermen, spiders, zombies, skeletons and creepers cannot swim, blocking off any area with water will prevent them from entering that area. Having a sealed dome, surrounded by water, ensures the safety of any CW member.
Future Plans
Public Crop Auto-harvesters
Public Wool harvesters
Public Chicken Farm
Future plans for Aquatica include housing a public-use automatic chicken farm where residents can get eggs, uncooked chicken, and feathers. Under the first dome is a prototype design for this farm.
Living Quarters for CW members
Other builds considered part of Aquatica
Aquatica also has a remote, surface-level dome with a portal to the Nether. The Nether portal arrives the player at Pixelbox's Nether Fort, which is a smooth stone brick structure for the purpose of safely mining glowstone, netherrack, and soul sand. No other endeavors are currently planned, however the floating highways are expected to continue as need for glowstone continues.