The Future of Travel: Hydrogenase - Eco-Airships

Vincent Callebaut, a Belgian architect has designed a new kind of travel. Giant eco-airships.

According to CNN these are, "Called 'Hydrogenase,' the project combines engineering and biology and is inspired by biomimicry -- design inspired by nature's models and systems -- he says."

Callebaut is clearly not lacking in imagination. He envisions his eco-airship towering 400 meters high and 180 meters wide. They would be powered by a seaweed biofuel.

"Eight compartments are housed inside a protective skin made of glazed canvas and carry fuel -- 'bio-hydrogen,' of course -- and passengers.

But this isn't just a floating theme park -- Callebaut envisions his airship helping with humanitarian missions or scientific studies as well as housing hotels and entertainment," CNN says.

When the airship is not soaring at an altitude of 6,500 feet with a top speed of 175 kilometers per hour, the airship can be docked in a floating organic farm that recycles CO2.

The farm also is completely powered with renewable energy just like the airship. It uses solar panels and hydro turbines.

Currently, Callebaut's wonderful plans for what he calls a "biotechnological prototype" are on display at the Future Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.

The "Hydrogenase" is the most recent in an impressive portfolio of ecologically influenced future ideas.

According to CNN, "In 2008 he drew up plans for a 'floating ecopolis' aimed at saving climate refugees and in 2007 the 'perfumed jungle' imagined the construction of a vast jungle on the central waterfront in Hong Kong."