A rendering of Physalia, a floating garden prototype, navigating through waterways in Prague. (Copyright: VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES - WWW.VINCENT.CALLEBAUT.ORG)

Plants are the heartbeat of life, from producing oxygen to regulating the water cycle, and that's whyParis-based architect Vincent Callebautbelieves his floating garden can clean polluted rivers.

Scientists predict rising sea levels and dwindling fresh water supplieswill place a heavy burden on people around the world in the decades ahead. Callebaut, who is recognized for his work in sustainable architecture, created Physalia, a prototype amphibious garden envisioned to work as a floating water purification system.

"It is a ecosystem reacting to its environment," Callebaut explains.

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The prototype has four gardens, each dedicated to the elements: water, earth, fire, air. Powered by hydro and solar technology, the "futuristic ship" would navigate Europe's main waterways, like the Danube and the Seine, replenishing the water as it moves.

Not only do the gardens help purify the water, but the vessel runs on hydro and solar power, generating more energy than it consumes.

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Physaliais just one example of Callebaut'sfuturistic visions for weaving gardens into sustainable architecture. See renderings for Dragonfly, a floating farm, as well as the "farmscraper" tower Asian Cairnson weather.com, and read more about Callebaut and his firm on his website.

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