The mystery barge taking shape in San Francisco Bay will eventually be a 50-foot-tall, 250-foot-long structure made of recycled shipping containers and surrounded by sails resembling fish fins, according to documents unearthed by the San Francisco Chronicle. Documents filed with the Port of San Francisco by By and Large LLC say the barge is intended as a “studio” and “temporary technology exhibit space” that will drive tourism along the waterfront, the Chronicle reports. By and Large is assumed to be connected with Google, given that the company acknowledged this week that is planning to use its barges (there’s another one in Maine) to showcase new technologies.
Design of Google’s mystery barge revealed in new proposal
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The striking glass-and-steel design shown in an artist’s rendering stands in stark contrast to the drab shipping containers that have been spotted at Treasure Island. According to documents filed with the port, the barge will host up to 1,000 visitors a day during monthlong residencies at mooring sites around San Francisco. Locations proposed so far include Fort Mason, as previously reported by The Verge, along with Angel Island, Redwood City, and Rosie the Riveter Historical National Park in Richmond. Eventually it will sail to San Diego and other West Coast ports, according to the Chronicle.
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