the global seed vault

the svalbard global seed vault has opened on a remote island in the arctic circle. here are some artists' renderings of the layout of the facility.



located near the town of longyearbyen, the facility has already begun receiving inaugural shipments of 100 million seeds that originated in over 100 countries. approximately 1.5 million distinct seed samples of agricultural crops are thought to exist. the variety and volume of seeds stored will depend on the number of countries participating.

the first deposits into the seed vault represent the most comprehensive and diverse collection of food crop seeds being held anywhere in the world.
…. here are the first seeds from africa . . . .



each vault is surrounded by frozen arctic permafrost, ensuring the continued viability of the seeds should the electricity supply fail. the low temperature and moisture level inside the vaults will ensure low metabolic activity, keeping the seeds viable. here’s something you might not know: “if properly stored and maintained at minus 20 degrees celsius, some seeds in the vault will be viable for a millennium or more. for example, barley can last 2000 years, wheat 1700 years, and sorghum almost 20,000 years.”

characterized by many as “the doomsday vault”, the project does suggest something of a feature of a science fiction novel. perhaps sometime far away in the future, some intrepid explorers - survivors of a cataclysmic event - stumble upon the seed vault and wonder whether to open it and release whatever is inside, or leave it sealed, unsure as to its purpose and contents . . . .

meanwhile in an attempt to make this austere and remote facility more attractive, a work of art has been integrated into the exterior of the building. dyveke sanne and koro, the norwegian agency overseeing art in public spaces, have worked together to fill the roof and vault entrance with highly reflective steel, mirrors, and prisms.