The Sensitive Island Code AMA029 The « sensitive island » is a reflection on the amphibious living in protected natural environments. This synthetic island is a floating signal that analyses an informs us about the state of the aquatic ecosystem, illustration of the essential balance between men and nature. Our projest, the « sensitive island is a reflection on the amphibious living in a protected natural environment, and on new textile materials. Architectural object, landscape-sculpture, synthetic animal, the project is first of all a research base for the study of a particular ecosystem, and expresses also the importance of water areas in the planet ecosystem. It is a combination of a working and living base with a signal, of an architectural object with an aquatic environment, and also of an innovating modern material with a protected natural environment. The textile With the out-coming synthetic fibres (nylon, glass fibre, kevlar, carbon fibres) the textile materials are no langer part of an homogenic group. Plane wings, skis, pull-overs or handkerchiefs can be made out of textile materials. These new technics of materials allowed us to solve several technical problems. The site It is a large area of briny water, not very deep, part of a large aquatic ecosystem and with a particular flora.This area is also close to a developping urban zone (airport, industrial zone, seaside resort ....). It is a natural environment needing protection because under the presure of the urban expension. The signal An effective protection of the environment requires that the local population is aware of the state of their environment ( damages are not always visible ) . We had to create a signal that would, day by day, inform on the state of health of the environment and be able to analyse the diagnostic. We wanted a pleasant and attentive lookout, a red light that appears when danger is there. The « sensitive island « is this machine or rather, this animal. The island drifting on the water (according to the wind direction) in a large cercle ( 2 km ) limited by wodden posts, the island is always visible from the land. An environment state analyst The island allows the study of the environment, its survey and indicates, by the inflation of the bubble on its back, the threat ( pollution of the air or of the water, drought, sea weed proliferation, frost ....) When the environment is in good health, the island disappears into the natural landscape.When the environment turn deteriorated a red bubble inflates (12 m), the island become more and more visible. Physionomy the island has a shape of a paramecium raft ( 60 x 40 meters ) and its surface is recovered by samples of the natural environment witch will allow the researchers to work easier. Anatomy The island posseses all the organs it needs to be autonomous ( including the inflation of the bubble ). The basis of the structure is a skeleton composed of 3 mains floats linked to a network of secondary floats. This skeleton is most of the time, recovered with the « sustratum« ( kind of matress of soil and roots ) wich allows vegetation to grow water is omnipresent ( even inside the laboratory for breeding and observation of fish, batrachians and plants. Between earth and water, the sensitive island is an amphibious object. A place to work and live The purpose of island is the environment protection and study. The main cavity of the skeleton is a scientific laboratory and the residence of 3 researchers who will therefore be working and living on the site of their study. The textile materials allows us to build a modern, autonomous and safe laborotory The secondary cavities hold all the organism (batteries, computers, machinery, inflation systeme for the buble, rain water reserves, recycling systems for wastes ...) The top part, translucent, is the roof of the laboratory. It is recovered with a spongy material witch catches and filters the rain water. The bubble itself has an internal structure wich inflates by air pressure and a light external enveloppe. On the external floats, « eyelashes » work like sensors, catching wind and air on their top and analysing the aquatic environment under the level of water. The « sensitive island » is an amusing and usefull machine that proves essential harmony between men and nature .