Impossible Builds

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: THE DESIRE TO LIVE BENEATH THE WAVES HAS LONG BEEN THE STUFF OF DREAMS, BUT IF A PIONEERING TEAM CAN PULL IT OFF, THEN SCIENCE-FICTION COULD SOON BECOME A REALITY.

A RESPECTED ARCHITECT, MORE FAMILIAR WITH BUILDING ON LAND, HAS DESIGNED A LUXURY FLOATING HOUSE, WHERE ONE FLOOR IS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED BENEATH THE SEA.

ARCHITECT: PEOPLE SAY THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE UNDERWATER, BUT THE INTENTION IS TO MAKE THIS VISION POSSIBLE.

NARRATOR: BUT THE CHALLENGE OF TAMING THE SEA... NO, NO, NO!

UP, UP, UP!

NARRATOR: COULD SOON PUSH HIS TEAM AND THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR CONCEPT... THAT WAY!

CORRECT IT!

NARRATOR: OUT OF THEIR DEPTH AND TO THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

MAN: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONS OF WATER.

ONE MISTAKE MAY CAUSE THE EXPLOSION OF THE WINDOW, AND THE ENTIRE UNIT MAY SINK.

NO!

DON'T CORRECT THAT WAY!

THERE'S A LEAK HERE AT THE BACK WINDOW.

IT MAY CAPSIZE.

IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

NARRATOR: THIS IS THE FLOATING SEAHORSE, AND IT IS AN "IMPOSSIBLE BUILD."

NARRATOR: DUBAI, OCTOBER 2015.

44-YEAR-OLD ITALIAN ARCHITECT MARCO BOLZONI IS 9 MONTHS INTO THE DESIGN PHASE OF A PROJECT UNLIKE ANYTHING HE'S ATTEMPTED BEFORE.

MARCO: IN MY CAREER, I'VE BEEN BUILDING SOME AMAZING PROJECTS, BUT I THINK A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING UNIQUE.

NARRATOR: THE CONCEPT THAT MARCO IS HOPING TO BRING TO LIFE IS THIS.

IT'S CALLED THE FLOATING SEAHORSE, AND IT'S A LUXURY HOUSEBOAT WITH A DIFFERENCE.

THE FLOATING SEAHORSE, IT'S THE FIRST ONE-OF-A-KIND VILLA FLOATING ON THE WATER WITH AN UNDERWATER LEVEL WITH VIEWS TO THE UNDERWATER WORLD, THE FISH, THE CORALS.

SO WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.

NOW IT'S A MATTER OF BUILDING IT.

NARRATOR: MARCO HAS SPENT 20 YEARS DESIGNING LUXURY BUILDINGS ON LAND BUT NEVER ANYTHING ON OR UNDER WATER.

MARCO: I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING BACK TO MY JUNIOR YEARS.

I HAVE VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE, AND I HAVE TO RELY ON PEOPLE TO GUIDE ME AND TO SHOW ME THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

FROM CONSTRUCTION POINT OF VIEW, IT'S THE FIRST, ONE OF A KIND.

IT'S A BIG RISK.

NARRATOR: IF MARCO CAN PULL IT OFF, THE SEAHORSE WILL BE THE ULTIMATE FLOATING RETREAT.

AT SEA LEVEL, THE OPEN-PLAN LAYOUT WILL FEATURE A LIVING ROOM, DINING AREA, AND KITCHEN.

PANORAMIC GLASS WINDOWS WILL OPEN OUT ONTO A SUN DECK, COMPLETE WITH AN IN-BUILT HAMMOCK SUSPENDED ABOVE THE WATER.

AN UPPER DECK WILL PROVIDE A COVERED ENTERTAINMENT SPACE WITH A KITCHENETTE AND GLASS-BOTTOMED JACUZZI.

BUT THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE LIES BELOW DECK-- AN UNDERWATER BEDROOM WITH EN-SUITE BATHROOM AND FREESTANDING TUB, OFFERING VIEWS ONTO A PRIVATE CORAL REEF GARDEN AND ENDLESS MARINE LIFE.

MARCO: THE FLOATING SEAHORSE, IT TAKES THE BEST OF TWO WORLDS-- THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH WATER AND ALL THE COMFORT AND THE PLEASURE OF LIVING IN A LUXURIOUS HOUSE.

NARRATOR: DUE TO THE SHAPE OF THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM, THE SEAHORSE WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH WATER LIKE A BOAT.

INSTEAD, IT WILL BE PERMANENTLY MOORED IN CALM WATERS OFF AN EXCLUSIVE ISLAND IN THE PERSIAN GULF, WHERE IT WILL BE THE FIRST OF 90 IDENTICAL VESSELS.

THE DESIGN MAY BE RADICAL, BUT MARCO IS SO CONFIDENT THE VESSEL WILL FLOAT, HE'S DECIDED TO SKIP BUILDING A SCALE MODEL AND START CONSTRUCTION ON A FULL-SIZED PROTOTYPE.

MARCO: NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME WE SPEND DRAWING AND DESIGNING AND CALCULATING, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME UNEXPECTED ISSUE THAT WILL COME UP.

SO THE BEST APPROACH WOULD BE TO...TO BUILD A PROTOTYPE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: JUST 4 WEEKS LATER, IN A DUBAI SHIPYARD, CONSTRUCTION OF THE FULL-SIZE PROTOTYPE SEAHORSE GETS UNDER WAY.

THE FIRST STAGE IS TO BUILD THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM, ENCASED WITH SHEETS OF MARINE-GRADE STEEL ON 3 SIDES.

THE FOURTH WALL WILL BE MADE FROM ACRYLIC PANELS, FORMING A SINGLE WINDOW, OFFERING VIEWS INTO THE OCEAN.

ABOVE WATER, A CONTEMPORARY STEEL SUPERSTRUCTURE WOULD RISE FROM THE TEAK-LINED DECK AND PROVIDE TWO FLOORS OF ULTRA-LUXURY LIVING SPACE.

AFTER JUST 6 WEEKS OF CONSTRUCTION, THE SEAHORSE'S STEEL STRUCTURE IS ALMOST COMPLETE.

THE MAN IN CHARGE OF KEEPING THE BUILD ON TRACK IS PROJECT DIRECTOR UDHAY LALL.

[WHISTLES] HE'S GOT 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BUT HE'S NEVER WORKED ON A PROJECT THIS REVOLUTIONARY.

UDHAY: WHEN WE DESIGNED IT, WE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER WE CAN GET THIS SHAPE BUILT, BUT WITH A LOT OF EFFORT, YES, WE...WE MADE IT A... WE MADE THIS A REALITY.

NARRATOR: AS MORE STEEL PANELS ARE WELDED TO THE SUPERSTRUCTURE, INSIDE, THE INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.

35 PEOPLE FROM 8 EXPERT TRADES, INCLUDING SHIPBUILDERS AND MARBLE INSTALLERS, ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO TURN MARCO'S FANTASTICAL DESIGN INTO A REALITY.

HELLO!

NARRATOR: TO GET THIS FAR HAS ALREADY COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

OH, THIS IS CONSTRUCTION.

WELL, I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT AT MY AGE.

HA HA HA HA!

NARRATOR: 60 OF THE $3.5 MILLION HOMES HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN SOLD OFF PLAN, BASED PURELY ON MARKETING, AND THE LONE PROTOTYPE HASN'T EVEN BEEN NEAR THE WATER, HUGE STAKES WHEN NOT EVEN THE DESIGNER KNOWS IF THE SEAHORSE WILL ACTUALLY FLOAT.

MARCO: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE'RE GONNA FACE, IT'S ALL RELATED TO THE UNDERWATER PART.

WHATEVER IS BELOW WATER IS SOMETHING... FOR ME, IT'S STILL A...A GRAY AREA.

SO I HAVE TO TRUST THE ENGINEERS WHO CONSULT ME ON THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING THIS VISION INTO SOMETHING THAT IS SAFE, SOLID, AND SOUND.

NARRATOR: THE CONCERN FOR MARCO AND THE ENGINEERS IS NOT THAT THE SEAHORSE WILL SINK.

IT'S ABOUT KEEPING THE VESSEL UPRIGHT AND STABLE.

THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM WILL NEED TO BE WEIGHED DOWN TO HOLD IT BELOW THE SURFACE BECAUSE THE UPPER FLOORS ARE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO KEEP IT SUBMERGED.

MARCO: IF YOU IMAGINE, IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN YOU...

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE POOL AND YOU TRY TO PUSH A BALL BELOW THE WATER.

IF YOU LET IT LOOSE, IT WILL JUST POP OUT AGAIN.

NARRATOR: TO WEIGH THE SEAHORSE DOWN, 60 TONS OF STEEL BALLAST WILL BE INSTALLED BENEATH THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM.

THIS WILL GIVE THE COMPLETED VESSEL A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 235 TONS, THE EQUIVALENT OF 19 LONDON BUSES.

IF THE CALCULATIONS ARE RIGHT, THIS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE SEAHORSE STABLE AND LEVEL IN THE WATER.

WE DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING TRAGIC TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE SURE IT'S GOING TO FLOAT.

WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT.

NARRATOR: BUT WITH NO SCALE MODEL TO EXPERIMENT WITH, THERE'S NOW ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.

UDHAY: WE NEED TO MOVE THIS SEAHORSE INTO THE WATER.

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY WE CAN DELAY THIS DAY.

IT HAS TO BE DONE.

NARRATOR: IF THE SEAHORSE PROTOTYPE FLOATS, THE TEAM PLAN TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATE FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION TO SATISFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID BIG DEPOSITS.

IF IT DOESN'T, IT WILL MEAN GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND A LOT OF ANGRY INVESTORS.

FLOORING, WATERPROOFING.

THEN YOU START ON THIS HERE VERY QUICKLY, YEAH?

THEY NEED TO GET SOME MORE MOBILE SCAFFOLDINGS HERE, ALUMINUM, LIGHTWEIGHT.

THIS IS GOING TO SPOIL OUR... YOU SEE, IT'S LITERALLY CAUSING DAMAGE AS WELL, AND RUST ON THE STEEL HERE.

WE NEED TO GET IT OUT.

BUT THE CEILINGS ARE FLUSH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, ARE THEY?

THE CEILING, IT'S FLUSH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

THIS WILL BE FLUSH TO THIS, YES.

NARRATOR: AS UDHAY CONDUCTS A FORENSIC INSPECTION OF THE BUILD, MARCO CAN'T RESIST SHOWING OFF HIS FAVORITE PART OF THE PROTOTYPE.

MARCO: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON THE ROOF?

UDHAY: YOU WANT TO TAKE ME THERE?

YEAH, I WOULD.

LET'S GO.

NARRATOR: THE SEAHORSE'S CANTILEVER ROOF IS THE MOST EYE-CATCHING ASPECT OF THE ABOVEWATER DESIGN.

THIS IS A STAIRCASE TO HEAVEN.

NARRATOR: IT WEIGHS IN AT 3 1/2 TONS, AND IT'S SUPPORTED ON JUST ONE SIDE OF THE VESSEL.

MARCO: YOU JUST HAVE TO IMAGINE A TABLE.

WE TAKE OFF TWO LEGS, AND IT'S STILL STANDING.

IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.

I PUSH HIM TO MAKE IT, AND HE ACTUALLY MADE IT.

AND AFTER HE MADE IT, I ASKED HIM TO CUT A HOLE THROUGH THE CENTER.

BUT HE DID A GREAT JOB, DID THE MAGIC WITH THIS BECAUSE, MYSELF, I WASN'T EVEN CONFIDENT WE COULD ACHIEVE IT, BUT OTTI MADE IT, AND WE'RE STANDING ON TOP OF IT.

[SAW WHIRRING] NARRATOR: IN DUBAI, THE WORLD'S FIRST LUXURY FLOATING HOME WITH A FULLY UNDERWATER BEDROOM IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED AND READY FOR THE NEW OWNERS IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS' TIME.

TO MEET DEMAND, THIS PROTOTYPE WILL BE THE FIRST UNIT TO BE SOLD, SO IT HAS TO BE PERFECT.

UDHAY: A LONG WAY TO GO WITH THE FIT-OUTS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT WORRYING, I MUST SAY.

NARRATOR: ANYONE SPENDING OVER $3 MILLION WILL EXPECT THE HOUSE TO POWER THE LATEST MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

THE PROVISIONS ARE ALL IN IN TERMS OF ALL THE WIRING BEHIND THERE?

YES.

NARRATOR: WHEN COMPLETE, THE SEAHORSE WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ON THE ISLAND WHERE IT WILL BE MOORED IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

THIS WILL POWER EVERYTHING ON BOARD, FROM AUTOMATIC CURTAINS TO THE GLASS-BOTTOMED JACUZZI.

ALL CABLES TESTED?

YEP.

NARRATOR: AS UDHAY AND MARCO RACE TO PREPARE THE SEAHORSE FOR THE WATER, A KEY FIGURE IN THE SEAHORSE'S FUTURE ARRIVES ON SITE.

MR. OMUR.

OH, OMUR.

HOW ARE YOU?

HOW ARE YOU?

NARRATOR: OMUR SAHINOGLU IS THE MAN WHO WILL OVERSEE THE STRICT CERTIFICATION OF THE SEAHORSE.

ONLY WHEN HE'S COMPLETELY SATISFIED WILL THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PROTOTYPE BE ALLOWED ONTO THE WATER.

OK. OMUR: NONE OF THE PROJECTS ARE EASY.

EVERY SINGLE PROJECT HAS THEIR OWN DIFFICULTIES, BUT THIS PROJECT IS UNIQUE AND DIVERSE.

SO NOT AN EASY JOB, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FIX AND MANAGE IT.

NARRATOR: THERE'S NOW JUST ONE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SEAHORSE STILL MISSING.

IT'S THE ULTIMATE SELLING POINT OF THE ENTIRE BUILD-- THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM WINDOWS.

TRADITIONAL GLASS IS NOT FLEXIBLE AND COULD SHATTER, SO 2,600 MILES AWAY IN ROME, ITALY, A TEAM MORE USED TO MANUFACTURING AQUARIUMS HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN.

THEIR SOLUTION--ACRYLIC PANELS THAT ARE 3.5 INCHES THICK, CUSTOM-MADE AT $50,000 A PANEL.

LEONARDO MUNZI AND HIS TEAM HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF MANUFACTURING A FLAWLESS PRODUCT.

LEONARDO: WE ORIGINALLY RECEIVED A CONCEPT DESIGN BY MARCO, THE ARCHITECT OF THE SEAHORSE.

I THOUGHT, "THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OTHER GUYS WHO WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN."

IT TOOK ME JUST ONE MEETING TO UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS THEY WERE.

NARRATOR: FOR THE PAST 4 DECADES, CLAX ITALIA HAS BEEN PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF ACRYLIC PRODUCTION.

THEIR CATALOG OF WORK INCLUDES THE WALKWAYS THROUGH SOUTH AFRICA'S 350,000-GALLON TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM.

BUT THE SEAHORSE WILL BE THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET.

THE SLIGHTEST FLAW IN THE ACRYLIC WINDOW COULD SPELL DISASTER.

LEONARDO: THE WORST CASE FOR AN ACRYLIC PANEL, YOU CAN HAVE AN EXPLOSION.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONS OF WATER.

IT HAS TO BE SUPER-SAFE BECAUSE ONE MISTAKE MAY CAUSE THE EXPLOSION OF THE WINDOW, AND THE ENTIRE UNIT MAY SINK.

NARRATOR: TO ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THE TEAM MUST CONDUCT METICULOUS CHECKS AT EVERY STAGE OF PRODUCTION.

TO FORM EACH OF THE PANORAMIC PANELS, A CLEAR ACRYLIC RESIN IS POURED INTO PRECAST MOLDS.

THESE ARE THEN HEATED IN AN INDUSTRIAL OVEN TO 650 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT TO ENSURE AIR BUBBLES BOIL OUT OF THE MIXTURE BEFORE BEING PRECISION-COOLED.

LEONARDO: AND EVERYTHING HAS TO HAPPEN WITHIN A VERY TIGHT GAP OF TEMPERATURE.

ABOVE OR BELOW THIS GAP, THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION LOT IS LOST.

NARRATOR: ONCE EACH PANEL HAS BEEN CHECKED AND APPROVED, THE NEXT STAGE IS TO SAND IT INTO SHAPE TO FIT MARCO'S EXACT REQUIREMENTS.

HE WANTS THE WINDOWS DESIGNED TO COPE WITH 10 TIMES MORE PRESSURE THAN THE 19 PSI THEY'LL FACE IN THE SHALLOW WATERS OFF DUBAI.

JUST ONE FAILURE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, SO HE'S TAKING NO CHANCES.

LEONARDO: WE HAVE TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT IN ALL THE PRODUCTION PROCESS.

IT TOOK US 40 YEARS TO BUILD OUR REPUTATION AS IT IS NOW, AND IT MAY TAKE ONE FAILURE TO DESTROY IT FOREVER.

NARRATOR: 3 WEEKS AFTER LEAVING THE FACTORY IN ITALY, THE CUSTOM-DESIGNED ACRYLIC PANELS HAVE ARRIVED IN DUBAI AND ARE BEING INSTALLED IN THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM.

AN EXPERT TEAM FROM ITALY HAS TRAVELED 2,600 MILES TO FIT THE WINDOWS.

TO ENSURE THEY'RE WATERTIGHT, THEY'RE USING THE STRONGEST SILICONE SEALANT ON THE PLANET.

TESTING THE SEAL ON DRY LAND IS NOW THE ONLY WAY TO SEE IF IT'S WORKED AND PREVENT A COSTLY DISASTER ON WATER.

BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE WATER, WE HAVE TO DO SOME TESTS.

WE WOULD DO A PRESSURE TEST FROM INSIDE AND THEN MONITOR WHETHER WE'RE LOSING ANY SUBSTANTIAL AIR, AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE OUGHT TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL AND SEE THAT... WHERE IS THAT LEAKING AND THEN ATTEND TO IT.

MARCO: FINALLY, WE ARE READY FOR THE PRESSURE TEST.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE GAUGE FOR THE PRESSURE.

WE SEALED OFF THE COMPLETELY UNDERWATER LEVEL.

NOW IT'S AIRTIGHT.

WE PUMP AIR INSIDE UP TO TWO PSI, AND WE CHECK, WE WAIT FOR ONE HOUR.

IF THE PRESSURE GAUGE DROPS, IT MEANS THAT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE HULL.

THEY START THE COMPRESSOR.

WE'RE READY TO PUT PRESSURE IN THE...

IN THE UNDERWATER LEVEL.

0.2 PSI.

WE NEED TO GO TO 2 PSI.

THE PRESSURE IS BUILDING UP.

WE ARE 1.5.

WE'LL SOON REACH 2, AND WE'LL STOP THE COMPRESSOR, AND WE WAIT FOR ONE HOUR AND SEE IF THE PRESSURE INSIDE IS STABLE OR IF IT'S DROPPING.

IT WILL BE STABLE.

NARRATOR: MARCO FACES A NERVE-RACKING 10-MINUTE WAIT WHILE THE UNDERWATER FLOOR PRESSURIZES.

A BIT MORE.

WE JUST REACHED THE 2 PSI.

WE TURNED OFF THE COMPRESSOR.

NOW WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE GAUGE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR.

NARRATOR: BUT AFTER ONLY 5 MINUTES, THERE'S A MAJOR PROBLEM.

NARRATOR: THE PRESSURE GAUGE SHOWS AIR IS LEAKING FROM THE SEALED ROOM.

IT WAS 2.

IT'S NOT ANYMORE.

THIERO, COME.

NARRATOR: IF THE SEAHORSE HAD BEEN AT SEA, WATER WOULD NOW BE COMING IN.

MARCO: I'M GLAD WE DISCOVERED IT BEFORE WE PUT IT IN THE WATER.

THAT WOULD BE EVEN WORSE.

NARRATOR: THE PROBLEM NOW IS LOCATING EXACTLY WHERE THE AIR IS ESCAPING FROM.

MARCO: WE HAVE A HOLE.

OUR BICYCLE TIRE IS PUNCTURED.

NARRATOR: THE SOLUTION FOR SUCH A FUTURISTIC BUILD IS SURPRISINGLY LOW-TECH-- SOAPY WATER.

THE PRESSURIZED AIR WILL BE PUSHED THROUGH ANY HOLES AND FORM BUBBLES ON THE SURFACE.

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO FIND A PUNCTURE IN A BICYCLE INNER TUBE, BUT ON A MASSIVE SCALE WORTH MILLIONS.

MARCO: WHAT ABOUT HERE?

NARRATOR: AFTER 5 HOURS OF SOAPY INVESTIGATION...

BUBBLE.

NARRATOR: A LEAK IS FINALLY DISCOVERED.

HERE, SEE?

THERE IS A BUBBLE, A VERY BIG BUBBLE.

NARRATOR: CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS THE WINDOW SEALANT HAS FAILED.

SILICONE CREW WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND REPAIR IT.

NARRATOR: TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO OTHER LEAKS, THE SEARCH FOR MORE BUBBLES CONTINUES LONG INTO THE NIGHT.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE SILICONE TEAM IS BACK ON SITE.

3 DAYS LATER, THE SEALANT HAS SET HARD.

THE CRUCIAL PRESSURE TEST IS BACK ON.

MARCO: WHEN WE'LL BE READY TO START THE...THE TEST, THEY WILL CONNECT THE...

THE COMPRESSOR HOSE TO THIS, AND WE WILL PUT AIR, WE'LL PUMP AIR INSIDE THE UNDERWATER, UP TO 2 PSI.

HOW LONG WILL YOU WAIT FOR?

WE WILL WAIT TO SEE IF THE GAUGE WILL MOVE, IF THERE IS ANY DROP IN THE PRESSURE OF IT.

NARRATOR: AS AIR IS ONCE AGAIN PUMPED INTO THE SEALED BEDROOM, MARCO FACES ANOTHER ANXIOUS WAIT TO FIND OUT IF THE ROOM IS NOW AIRTIGHT.

I'M CONFIDENT THIS TEST WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

NARRATOR: AFTER ONE HOUR, THE PRESSURE INSIDE THE UNDERWATER ROOM REMAINS AT THE MAGIC 2 PSI.

AT LEAST WE KNOW THAT WE DID A GOOD JOB BEING WATERTIGHT IN THE UNDERWATER LEVEL.

AT LEAST THAT.

NARRATOR: THE SEAHORSE IS NOW ALMOST READY TO TAKE TO THE WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

JANUARY 2016.

THE SEAHORSE TEAM IS JUST 3 DAYS AWAY FROM PUTTING THE FULL-SCALE PROTOTYPE OF THEIR LUXURY FLOATING HOUSE TO THE TEST ON WATER.

THE EXERCISE WE ARE DOING HERE IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS TO BE PRIORITIZED, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT CANNOT BE DONE ONCE THE SEAHORSE IS IN THE WATER.

NARRATOR: THIS TEST WILL REVEAL FOR THE FIRST TIME HOW STABLE THE SEAHORSE IS.

EVERY PART OF THE FLOATING HOUSE HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITH STABILITY IN MIND.

IT'S NOW CRUCIAL THAT EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE TO DELIVER ACCURATE RESULTS.

THIS INCLUDES LINING SECTIONS OF WALLS AND FLOORS WITH THE FINEST ITALIAN MARBLE.

AT OVER $3 MILLION A VESSEL, NEW OWNERS WILL EXPECT THE BEST.

SEND THEM BACK.

NARRATOR: BUT MARCO HAS SPOTTED A PROBLEM.

MARCO: MARK WITH A PENCIL ALL THE DEFECTS, THE SCRATCHES, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE.

MARCO: THE MARBLE IS REALLY NICE.

IT'S A HIGH-END PRODUCT, OF COURSE.

IT'S MEANT FOR A PROJECT AT THIS LEVEL, BUT...

IT HAS NOT BEEN TREATED WITH THE SAME HIGH LEVEL, AND SO YOU SEE A LOT OF GRINDING MARKS.

WE ARE POINTING THEM OUT WITH THE PENCIL SO THAT WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO LAY THEM, THEY KNOW THAT THOSE AREAS HAVE TO BE REJECTED.

BUT NOW, AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE TO PUT THEM IN.

NARRATOR: AS THE TEAM PRESSES ON WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE INTERIOR, ON THE DOCK BELOW, THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DELIVERY FOR THE EXTERIOR.

THESE SPECIALIZED CONCRETE STRUCTURES WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR THE VESSEL'S VERY OWN CORAL GARDEN.

AS THE SEAHORSE MOVES UP AND DOWN WITH THE TIDE, THEY'LL OFFER A PERMANENT VIEW OF SEA LIFE, NO MATTER HOW FAR OFF THE SEABED.

MARINE BIOLOGIST MARIE GOARIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE COMPUTER-GENERATED IMAGES A REALITY.

MARIE: I'M DOING THE SEASCAPING, WHICH MEANS ARRANGING ALL THE CORALS IN FRONT OF THE WINDOWS, IN FRONT OF THE VILLA, WHICH IS SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW.

NARRATOR: AS WELL AS PROVIDING A UNIQUE VIEW FROM THE BEDROOM, THE CORAL STRUCTURES WILL ALSO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN WEIGHING THE SEAHORSE DOWN, AND EVERY ONE HAS A CALCULATED POSITION ON THE VESSEL.

MARIE: BASICALLY, A VILLA LIKE THIS WOULD NEVER SINK.

IT WOULD BE, LIKE, REALLY HIGH UP ON THE WATER.

SO WE HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF BALLAST TO MAKE IT, UH, TO THE RIGHT LEVEL SO THE WINDOW IS UNDERWATER, NOT ABOVE WATER.

NARRATOR: AS THE CONCRETE BASE STRUCTURE IS INSTALLED ON THE SEAHORSE, OUT TO SEA, ANOTHER TEAM IS AT WORK BRINGING MARCO'S UNDERWATER VISION TO LIFE.

ADRIAN: WE'RE GROWING CORAL BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO ESTABLISH AS MANY NATURAL HABITATS AS WE CAN.

CORALS ATTRACT A LOT OF FISH.

NARRATOR: ADRIAN EVANS AND HIS SPECIALIST TEAM OF DIVERS MAINTAIN JUST OVER 3,000 FEET OF CORAL NURSERIES THAT THEY'VE CREATED IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

WITH WATER TEMPERATURES AND SALT LEVELS WELL ABOVE THE RANGE FOR NATURAL CORAL TO THRIVE, IT MEANS THEY NEED CONSTANT HELP TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

ADRIAN: WE HAVE JUST UNDER 2,000 INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF CORAL.

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PROJECTS THAT ARE OF THIS SCALE.

NARRATOR: THE CORAL NURSERY IS COMPRISED OF 20 CAGES SUBMERGED JUST 10 FEET BELOW THE WATER.

THE SHALLOW DEPTH ALLOWS THE SUNLIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH THE WARM WAVES.

THE WATER MAY SEEM CLOUDY, BUT IT'S PACKED WITH MICROORGANISMS, WHICH ARE A KEY PART OF THE CORALS' DIET AND HELP THEM GROW.

ADRIAN: SO, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS DIVE IS TO INSPECT SOME OF THE CAGES AND THEN CLEAN SOME OF THE FOULING ALGAE FROM CORALS.

SO WE NEED TO CLEAN THESE AWAY FROM THE CORALS SO THE CORALS DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THEM.

THEY CAN GROW.

NARRATOR: ADRIAN'S TEAM FACES A DAILY BATTLE, KEEPING THE PRECIOUS CORAL PROTECTED, AND THEIR GROWTH IS PAINFULLY SLOW.

BUT THE MARINE TEAM HAS AN IDEA.

IF IT WORKS, IT COULD SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE CORAL NURSERY.

BACK AT THE SHIPYARD, IT'S 6 A.M. ON A FEBRUARY MORNING, AND THE SEAHORSE SITE IS A HIVE OF ACTIVITY.

THE GLASS OUTSIDE, WE NEED TO TAKE THEM OFF, PLEASE.

SEND SOMEBODY.

NARRATOR: TODAY, THE SEAHORSE WILL TAKE TO THE WATER FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN A NEARBY DOCK.

FOR THE VESSEL'S DESIGNER, MARCO BOLZONI, THIS IS THE DAY WHEN HE'LL DISCOVER IF HIS FIRST MARINE PROJECT ACTUALLY FLOATS.

MARCO: TODAY IS... IS THE MOVING DAY.

IT MEANS THAT THE SEAHORSE IS FINALLY GOING INTO THE WATER.

THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO INSIDE.

THEY MANAGED TO INCREASE THE WORKERS UP TO 50 PERSONS, AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S PRETTY HECTIC, WITH PEOPLE JUMPING IN AND OUT.

EXCITED BECAUSE YOU CAN FEEL THAT NOW THE PACE IS SPEED UP.

NARRATOR: WITH JUST HOURS TO GO UNTIL THE SEAHORSE BEGINS ITS SHORT JOURNEY TO THE WATER, THERE IS STILL A MOUNTAIN OF WORK FOR THE TEAM TO COMPLETE.

MARCO: PEOPLE ARE CLASHING WITH EACH OTHER, EVERY TEAM ON TOP OF THE OTHER, BUT THAT'S WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE DEADLINE IS CLOSE.

THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE GLASS.

THAT'S NORMALLY THE LAST THING TO ENTER.

WE ARE PUTTING THEM IN NOW BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE FINAL WEIGHT OF THE SEAHORSE.

I'M TELLING YOU, I'M TIRED FOR ALL THESE DAYS, BUT I WILL BE EXCITED WHEN THE FRONT-LOADER WILL COME AND START PUSHING.

THAT WILL BE THE START OF A NICE DAY.

I JUST HOPE THAT ALL WILL NOT END UP IN NOTHING BECAUSE THERE IS ANY LEAKS, BUT THAT'S VERY UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.

NARRATOR: WHILE MARCO OVERSEES THE FINAL DETAILS, PROJECT DIRECTOR UDHAY LALL IS TRYING TO ORGANIZE THE LAUNCH TIMES.

UDHAY: I'M GOING TO GO TO THE DOCK MASTER NOW AND FIND OUT.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT AT 9:30 FOR A SLOT.

NARRATOR: TRANSPORTING THE VESSEL ON LAND IS A MAMMOTH OPERATION THAT WILL BRING ONE OF DUBAI'S BUSIEST SHIPYARDS TO A STANDSTILL.

EACH VESSEL HAS A STRICT ONE-HOUR WINDOW, SO WHATEVER SLOT THEY'RE GIVEN, THE SEAHORSE TEAM MUST BE READY.

IF THEY'RE NOT, IT COULD BE WEEKS BEFORE ANOTHER SLOT COMES FREE.

BUT THE PRESSURE IS BEGINNING TO SHOW.

UDHAY: THE DRESSING FOR THE CABLES WILL BE FINISHED TODAY, YEAH?

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT, DOES IT?

NO.

WE NEED TO GET SOME HOUSEKEEPING DONE AS WELL HERE, GET...GET...GET THIS CLEANED UP HERE.

AGAIN, I'M USING ALL THE MEN, AS MUCH MEN AS POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE WORKS.

UDHAY: VERY HIGH TENSION AT THE MOMENT.

THE PRESSURE'S ALL OF US, YEAH.

WE'VE DONE OUR PRESSURE TEST.

IT SHOULD BE WATERTIGHT, 150%.

MY PRIORITY IS TO SEE THE SEAHORSE FLOATING, AND PROPERLY FLOATING.

IF THINGS DON'T WORK HERE, THEN, UH...

THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF, UH... A LOT OF TROUBLE.

NARRATOR: AS THE TEAM RACES TO GET THE SEAHORSE READY FOR THE WATER, UDHAY GETS THE CONFIRMATION FROM THE DOCK HE'S BEEN WAITING ANXIOUSLY TO RECEIVE.

UDHAY: WE JUST GOT A SLOT HERE FROM THE DOCK MASTER THAT WE CAN TRANSPORT THE, UM...THE SEAHORSE AND SUBMERGE IN THE WATER.

SO A QUICK MOVE.

WE'VE GOT A SLOT OF ONE HOUR.

NOW WE'VE GOT TO GET THE SEAHORSE OVER.

NARRATOR: THE SEAHORSE WILL BE TESTED IN A 30-FOOT-DEEP DOCK.

IT'S JUST 650 YARDS AWAY.

BUT GETTING THE 235-TON SEAHORSE TO THE TESTING SITE IS NO SMALL FEAT.

IT'S A 4-STAGE PROCESS, AND IT'S MARCO'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THIS MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR VESSEL GETS TO THE WATER IN ONE PIECE.

MARCO: NOW THE OPERATION WE ARE DOING IS TO PUT EVERYTHING IN A SAFETY SO THAT WHEN THIS THING IS GOING TO MOVE, NOTHING IS LOOSE OR NOTHING IS ABOUT TO FALL AND BE DANGEROUS.

NARRATOR: AFTER 8 WEEKS OF CONSTRUCTION, THE WATERTIGHT STRUCTURE AND MOST OF THE INTERIOR OF THE FLOATING SEAHORSE IS FINALLY COMPLETE.

IT'S NOW TIME TO SEE IF IT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME.

[ENGINE ROARING] THE FIRST STAGE OF THE JOURNEY TO WATER IS A 90-YARD EXCURSION ON RAILS.

THE SEAHORSE HAS BEEN BUILT ON A GIANT TROLLEY, AND THE DOCK IS CRISSCROSSED BY TRACKS.

THIS ALLOWS SHIPS AND SEAHORSES TO BE MOVED ON LAND.

AS MARCO WATCHES NERVOUSLY, A FRONT-LOADER LOCKS ONTO THE TROLLEY, AND THE SEAHORSE IS ON THE MOVE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

IT'S MOVING.

VERY EXCITING.

VERY, VERY EXCITING.

VERY EMOTIONAL.

MARCO: SO FAR, SO GOOD.

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE APPROACHES THE END OF THE FIRST STAGE OF ITS TRAVELS, THE FRONT-LOADER EASES THE 30-FOOT-TALL STRUCTURE ONTO A GIANT SLIDING PLATFORM.

THIS WILL GLIDE THE SEAHORSE 500 YARDS TO THE FAR END OF THE DRY DOCK.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO CARRY SHIPS WEIGHING UP TO 6,000 TONS, SO TRANSPORTING THE SEAHORSE, THE FRONT-LOADER, AND THE 50-STRONG WORKFORCE IS A WALK IN THE PARK.

AS THE SLIDING PLATFORM COMES SAFELY TO A HALT... [ALARM BEEPING] THE NEXT STAGE IS A 90-YARD TRACK TOWARDS THE LIFT, WHICH WILL LOWER THE SEAHORSE INTO THE WATER.

IT SHOULD BE FUN, BUT IT REMINDS ME OF AN ITALIAN FUNERAL.

SO THAT...

IT'S A STRANGE FEELING BECAUSE WE ARE ALL WALKING ALL TOGETHER, FOLLOWING A CART.

UDHAY: IT IS VERY EMOTIONAL, VERY, VERY MUCH SO, YEAH.

I MEAN, JUST WATCHING IT MOVE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, AND PEOPLE SHOWING INTEREST.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF PERSONAL INTEREST HERE JUST BY THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED HARD ON IT.

HEARTBEAT.

HA HA HA!

NARRATOR: 20 MINUTES AFTER THE OPERATION BEGAN, THE SEAHORSE IS ROLLED ONTO THE MIGHTY SYNCROLIFT.

THIS HUGE MECHANICAL PLATFORM IS CAPABLE OF LIFTING 6,000 TONS IN AND OUT OF THE DOCK 20 FEET BELOW.

IT'S A TENSE MOMENT FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

AFTER MONTHS OF WORK, THEY'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT IF THE SEAHORSE FLOATS, AND NO ONE IS MORE ANXIOUS THAN MARCO.

MARCO: WE EXPECT NOT TO HAVE ANY LEAKAGE, OF COURSE.

THAT WOULD BE OUR FIRST WORRY, THAT IT'S WATERTIGHT.

NARRATOR: THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM IS GENTLY LOWERED INTO THE DOCK.

INSIDE, THE TEAM FRANTICALLY MONITORS FOR LEAKS.

AS THE WATER REACHES THE HALFWAY POINT... MARCO!

THERE'S BAD NEWS.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION DOWN THERE?

THERE'S A LEAK HERE AT THE BACK WINDOW.

HUH?

THE BATHROOM.

OK. HOW FAST IS THAT?

IT'S A BIG ONE.

BUT WE HAVE TO SEE IF IT FLOATS.

[SIGHS] A LEAK.

NARRATOR: A LEAK IN THE SUPPOSEDLY WATERTIGHT ROOM IS THE TEAM'S WORST NIGHTMARE, BUT ABORTING THE TEST NOW WOULD PUT THE PROJECT BACK WEEKS.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

OK. ALL RIGHT.

NARRATOR: WITH THE LEAK CONTAINED FOR NOW... WELL, LET'S JUST SUBMERGE IT.

LET'S CARRY ON MOVING IT DOWN HERE.

LET'S SEE.

NARRATOR: UDHAY MAKES THE BRAVE CALL TO PRESS ON WITH THE TEST.

HE'S GONNA GO SLOWLY FURTHER DOWN AND SEE IF WE'VE GOT ANY OTHER LEAKS.

LET'S SEE.

LET'S SEE.

NARRATOR: WITH THE INSPECTION TEAM STILL ONBOARD, IT'S AN EXTREMELY RISKY MOVE.

NO, NO, NO, NO!

UP, UP, UP!

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE LOWERS FURTHER INTO THE WATER...

IT'S TILTING IN SUCH A MANNER, IT'S SURPRISING.

NARRATOR: THE VESSEL STARTS TO ROLL DANGEROUSLY TO ONE SIDE.

IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

NARRATOR: THE TILT SUGGESTS A SERIOUS MISCALCULATION WITH MARCO'S DISTRIBUTION OF BALLAST.

IT'S UP TO CERTIFICATION OFFICER OMUR SAHINOGLU TO DECIDE WHETHER IT'S SAFE TO LET THE TEST CONTINUE.

OMUR: NO, NO.

I KNOW.

I KNOW.

I KNOW.

WAIT.

UP, UP, UP!

UDHAY: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAPPENING?

LEAKAGE AND THE LISTING.

WE NEED TO STOP IT.

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE CONTINUES TO TILT, IT'S GETTING PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO CAPSIZING.

WITH TEAM MEMBERS STILL ONBOARD, OMUR HAS NO OPTION.

HE HAS TO ABORT THE TEST.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE FIRST PRIORITY TO KEEP THOSE GUYS SAFE WHO ARE ONBOARD.

SO THIS IS THE REASON WE KILLED THE OPERATION.

YOU HAVE A 9-DEGREES LISTING.

SO WE DON'T KNOW.

IF THEY LOWER IT MORE, IT MAY CAPSIZE.

TO AVOID ANY, YOU KNOW, CASUALTY RISKS, WE SIMPLY HAVE TO KILL THE OPERATION RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: THE TEAM IS DEVASTATED.

UDHAY: THIS IS A BIG, BIG SHAME FOR US, WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] A...SAD DAY, OF COURSE.

THE TWO THINGS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, THEY BOTH HAPPENED.

WE HAD A LEAK IN THE BATHROOM, AND, UH, THE BALLAST HAS NOT BEEN, UH...

DISTRIBUTED PROPERLY.

NARRATOR: THE LEAKING WINDOW IS A CONCERN, BUT THE DRAMATIC LISTING SUGGESTS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW.

UNLESS THE LACK OF STABILITY CAN BE RESOLVED BY REDISTRIBUTING BALLAST IN THE HULL, THE ENTIRE DESIGN THAT'S COST OVER $20 MILLION SO FAR MAY HAVE TO BE SCRAPPED.

WE CELEBRATE ON OUR WAY HERE BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST BIG STEP.

DISAPPOINTMENT COMES BECAUSE I WANTED SO MUCH TO...TO HAVE IT GO RIGHT, THAT... NOW THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND ATTEMPT OR MAYBE THE THIRD AT THIS POINT.

BUT I WANTED SO MUCH TO BE ALL PERFECT AT THE FIRST TRIP, THAT NOW THAT'S WHAT THE DISAPPOINTMENT COMES FROM.

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE MAKES ITS WAY BACK ACROSS THE DRY DOCK, MARCO MUST FIND A WAY TO REBALANCE THE DESIGN... AND FAST.

IT'S NOT JUST MARCO THAT'S UNDER PRESSURE TO DELIVER THE PROMISED FANTASY.

OUT IN THE PERSIAN GULF, THE MARINE TEAM HAS 60 CORAL REEF GARDENS TO CREATE THE CORAL NURSERY IS STARTING TO BLOOM, BUT THE TEAM IS CONCERNED WITH HOW LONG IT'S TAKING.

ADRIAN: SO, THE LARGE NUMBER OF CORALS WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO PROVIDE IS A VERY AMBITIOUS TARGET, AND WE NEED TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS AND LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE CORALS FOR THE CORAL REEFS.

NARRATOR: TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS, ADRIAN AND MARINE MANAGER DANNY NAULD HAVE CREATED A SYSTEM TO FAST-TRACK NATURE.

IT'S CALLED AN ELECTRO-REEF, AND IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE GROWTH BY UP TO 8 TIMES.

YOU HOLD THE BOX OPEN.

DANNY: THIS SYSTEM WAS COMMISSIONED AND INSTALLED JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND WE ACTUALLY CONNECTED THE WIRES YESTERDAY.

IT'S BRAND SPANKING NEW.

AND WE ARE HOPING FOR GOOD RESULTS.

NARRATOR: THE TEAM'S ELECTRO-REEF IS SUBMERGED IN SHALLOW WATERS 10 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.

THE 200-FOOT FRAMEWORK OF STEEL MESH CARRIES A LOW-VOLTAGE CURRENT.

THIS SHOULD DRAW OUT THE LIMESTONE IN THE WATER TO FORM ON THE STEEL.

LIMESTONE IS KEY TO GROWING THE YOUNG CORAL SKELETONS, SO BY GRAFTING LIVE CORAL ONTO THE LIMESTONE, ONE PART OF THEIR GROWTH PROCESS IS TAKEN CARE OF.

THIS FREES THEM UP TO FIGHT OFF DISEASE AND HOPEFULLY GROW AT SPEEDS NEVER SEEN IN NATURE.

ALL THEY NEED IS A CONSTANT 12-VOLT SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.

ADRIAN: THESE BATTERIES ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO POWER THE REEF OVERNIGHT, AND THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SOLAR PANELS WILL RECHARGE THE BATTERIES.

OK. NARRATOR: WITH THE SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING, ADRIAN NOW FACES AN ANXIOUS WAIT TO FIND OUT IF THE ELECTRO-REEF WILL PRODUCE THE RESULTS HE NEEDS TO SUCCEED.

ADRIAN: WE'LL BE DEVELOPING A BRAND-NEW CORAL REEF IN AN AREA THAT DOES NOT HAVE ONE, WHICH WILL BE GREAT FOR CONSERVATION AND FOR DIVERSITY OF FISH AND OTHER MARINE LIFE.

NARRATOR: IT'S 3 WEEKS SINCE THE SEAHORSE NEARLY CAPSIZED ON ITS FIRST WATER TEST.

MARCO HAS CONFIRMED THE CAUSE WAS THE DISTRIBUTION OF STEEL BENEATH THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM AS WELL AS THE ARRANGEMENT OF CORAL IN THE UNDERWATER GARDEN.

HAVING NOW REDISTRIBUTED OVER 10 TONS OF BALLAST AND RESEALED THE LEAKING WINDOW, MARCO IS CONFIDENT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

MARCO: WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS, BUT WE FINALLY SPOT THEM SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM.

SO I'M OPTIMISTIC.

NARRATOR: AS SOON AS THE NEW SEALANT HAS DRIED, THE SEAHORSE IS ON THE MOVE ONCE AGAIN.

UDHAY: KEEP THE FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE TEST GOES WELL.

HAPPY, HAPPY DAYS.

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE IS LOWERED INTO THE DOCK FOR THE SECOND TIME, IN THE UNDERWATER ROOM, THE TEAM, INCLUDING MARCO, WATCH FOR ANY SIGNS OF ANOTHER LEAK.

UDHAY: SAFETY COMES FIRST HERE.

SLOW AND SAFE.

MARCO IS INSIDE.

WE LOOK TO BE STABLE IN THE WATER.

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE LOWERS EVEN FURTHER, THE SEALANT IS HOLDING FIRM, BUT... RAJ, WAIT!

NARRATOR: AS THE HULL SETTLES ONTO THE SURFACE, THE STRUCTURE STARTS TO LEAN BACKWARDS IN THE WATER.

THE STRUCTURE NEEDS TO BE EVEN.

NOW, IN OUR FIRST TEST, WE HAD A STRUCTURE LISTED ON THE STARBOARD SIDE.

RIGHT NOW, WE FIXED THAT PROBLEM, BUT THE STRUCTURE IS NOW HAVING A TRIM ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE.

NARRATOR: MARCO WAS CERTAIN THE STABILITY ISSUES HAD BEEN RESOLVED, BUT JUST IN CASE, HE INSTALLED A SYSTEM TO COPE WITH THIS VERY EVENT.

LOCATED AT EACH CORNER OF THE HULL ARE 4 BALLAST TANKS.

THE TEAM CAN SIMPLY PUMP WATER FROM THE REAR OF THE SEAHORSE TO THE FORWARD TANKS.

THE REDISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT ALLOWS MARCO TO PRECISELY BALANCE THE VESSEL ON THE WATER.

IT...IT LOOKS GOOD.

NARRATOR: AT LAST, THE SEAHORSE IS FLOATING SAFELY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

IT'S TAKEN 6 WEEKS LONGER THAN SCHEDULED, BUT THE PROTOTYPE IS ALMOST READY TO LEAVE THE DRY DOCK.

FINAL TESTS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE OPEN SEA.

UDHAY: UM, GREAT JOB.

VERY, VERY GOOD.

GOING TO DOCK OUR SEAHORSE ONTO THE FLOATING DOCK TOMORROW MORNING FIRST THING AT 7:00.

NARRATOR: THE NEXT DAY, THE WORLD'S FIRST FLOATING HOME WITH AN UNDERWATER BEDROOM IS ON THE MOVE.

BUT WITH NO MEANS OF PROPULSION, IT NEEDS HELP.

A FLEET OF TUGBOATS, NORMALLY USED TO MOVE OIL TANKERS, WILL TOW THE VESSEL ON A SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE DOCK TO ITS NEW HOME.

THE FINAL DESTINATION-- A MANMADE, HEART-SHAPED ISLAND 2 1/2 MILES OFF DUBAI, WHICH ULTIMATELY WILL BECOME A COLONY FOR OVER 90 SEAHORSES.

ONCE IN POSITION NEAR THE ISLAND, THE SEAHORSE WILL BE LOWERED INTO THE SEA AND TOWED TO SHALLOW WATERS, WHERE IT WILL BE PERMANENTLY ANCHORED TO THE SEABED.

MARCO: WE HAVE ALMOST REACHED THE DESTINATION, AND IN QUITE A SMALL TIME, WE WILL HAVE... WE WILL SINK AND LEAVE THE SEAHORSE AFLOAT.

NARRATOR: THE MAN TRUSTED TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE SEAHORSE INTO POSITION ON THE WATER IN MARINE CONSULTANT SPYROS SOKARIS.

SPYROS: WE WILL DO EVERYTHING SLOWLY.

LET'S GO.

NOTHING IS STRAIGHTFORWARD IN THE SEA, AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY PRECAUTIOUS, VERY CAREFUL.

SMALL STEPS, ONE STEP AT A TIME.

THE WIND IS SOMETHING UNPREDICTABLE, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BE AHEAD OF THAT AS WELL, AS MUCH AS WE CAN, OF COURSE.

NARRATOR: WITH THE FLOATING DOCK IN POSITION... MAN: COME ON.

NARRATOR: SPYROS ORDERS HIS CREW TO OPEN THE DECK'S BUOYANCY TANKS.

AS THE TANKS FILL WITH WATER, THE PLATFORM LOWERS INTO THE SEA.

WHEN THE SEAHORSE STARTS TO FLOAT, IT WILL BE PULLED OUT INTO OPEN WATERS 160 FEET DEEP.

BUT THIS IS WHERE IT'S MOST VULNERABLE.

JUST LET HER TRIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN WE WILL ATTACH HER TO THE DREDGES, AND WE'LL START, UH... WE'LL START THE JOURNEY TO HER POSITION.

NARRATOR: THE FLOATING HOUSE WAS NOT DESIGNED TO MOVE IN WATER LIKE A BOAT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A HYDRODYNAMIC HULL OR EVEN A BOW OR STERN.

WAVES OR A HEAVY SWELL COULD COMPLETELY UNSETTLE THE PRECISELY BALANCED VESSEL.

I JUST DON'T WANT MISTAKES.

NARRATOR: THE CHALLENGE FOR THE TEAM THAT INCLUDES ENGINEERS IN THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM AND DIVERS IS TO GET THE SEAHORSE OUT OF THE FLOATING DOCK AND ACROSS TO THE SHALLOW WATERS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

SPYROS: NO MISTAKES SO FAR.

EVERYTHING IS GOING SMOOTH, BUT I NEED TO BE READY TO CORRECT ANY POSSIBLE MISTAKE.

NARRATOR: A SYSTEM OF ROPES AND PULLEYS IS NOW THE ONLY WAY OF MANEUVERING THE LUXURY HOUSE.

WITH THE SEAHORSE SECURED, THE DIVERS CAN MOVE IN CLOSER.

THEIR JOB IS TO HELP GUIDE THE VILLA OFF THE DECK AND OUT INTO THE OPEN WATERS.

IS SHE FLOATING?

CHECK WITH THE DIVERS.

IS SHE FREE?

WAIT, WAIT.

THE DIVER IS CHECKING.

WAIT, WAIT.

OK. SHE'S FULLY FLOATING.

NARRATOR: THE SEAHORSE MAY BE FLOATING, BUT ONCE AGAIN, SHE'S LISTING TO ONE SIDE.

OH, SHE HAS CORRECTED ON THE OTHER SIDE.

LOOK, LOOK.

NARRATOR: TO BRING HER LEVEL, THE TEAM MUST QUICKLY REBALANCE THE WATER IN THE IN-BUILT BALLAST TANKS.

PUT IT IN THE TANK.

COME ON, DAMN IT!

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE GETS EVER CLOSER TO CAPSIZING, MARCO AND SPYROS CAN ONLY WATCH WHILE THE BALLAST TANKS ARE RECALIBRATED FROM INSIDE.

I WANT THE WATER OUT OF THIS SIDE.

COME ON, BABY.

COME ON.

COME ON, BABY.

SHE'S GOING ON THAT SIDE.

OK.

THIS COMING UP, THIS SIDE COME UP.

SHE'S CORRECTING.

YOU CAN CHECK THIS CORNER HERE.

COME ON, BABY.

NARRATOR: AFTER 10 NERVE-RACKING MINUTES, THE SEAHORSE HAS LEVELED TO A NON-CRITICAL ANGLE.

SPYROS: SHE'S A VERY SENSITIVE PIECE OF WORK, OK?

AND WHENEVER YOU PUT WEIGHT, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE WRONG SIDE, SHE...SHE GETS CRAZY.

OK?

NARRATOR: WITH THE SEAHORSE NOW FLOATING ALMOST LEVEL ON THE WATER... CLOSE THE MANIFOLD, AND...AND LET'S START THE OPERATION.

[HORN BLOWING] NARRATOR: IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

SPYROS MUST GET THE SEAHORSE OFF THE OPEN SEA AND ACROSS TO THE SAFETY OF THE CALM, SHALLOW WATERS, WHERE IT WILL BE ANCHORED TO THE SEABED.

SPYROS: GO ON THE OTHER SIDE!

ALL, EVERYBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE!

NARRATOR: TWO TUGBOATS WILL TOW IT THE 650-FOOT DISTANCE TO THE MOORING.

IT'S A PRECISION EXERCISE AND REQUIRES BOTH TUGS TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY.

ANY DEVIATION, AND THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SEAHORSE COULD BE TORN APART.

SPYROS: COME ON.

PUT IT STRAIGHT, PLEASE.

NO, NO, NO.

SANTOS, PUT HER IN LINE!

PUT HER IN LINE!

TAKE HER AWAY FROM THERE!

LET'S GO!

LET'S GO!

TAKE HER IN THE CHANNEL!

YES!

WHAT...WHAT ARE THEY DOING FROM THE BACK?

NO!

DON'T CORRECT THAT WAY!

DON'T CORRECT THAT WAY!

ONLY THIS WAY!

YES!

NARRATOR: AS THE SEAHORSE FLOATS IN OPEN WATERS, IT'S HIT BY 20-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS.

IT'S WRONG!

HEY!

THAT WAY!

CORRECT IT!

NARRATOR: THE TWO TUGBOATS BATTLE TO KEEP CONTROL.

SPYROS: THE WIND, MY FRIEND.

THE WIND IS PULLING IT OUT.

NO!

ON THE OTHER SIDE!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?

AMATEURS.

WHAT'S WRONG TO UNDERSTAND?

NARRATOR: SPYROS HAS SEEN ENOUGH.

SPYROS: SO, LET'S GO!

LET'S GO!

NARRATOR: IT'S TIME TO TAKE OVER.

SPYROS: MAINTAIN POSITION!

YES!

YES!

YES!

NARRATOR: HE DIRECTS THE BOAT CLOSER TO GET THE OUT-OF-CONTROL SEAHORSE IN CHECK BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES.

SPYROS: OK. OK. YOU LOOK GOOD BECAUSE THE WIND...THE WIND...

YES, YOU LOOK GOOD.

COME, COME, COME, COME!

PAULO, LOOSE A LITTLE BIT THE ROPE AND PULL BACK!

SLOWLY, VERY SLOWLY.

NARRATOR: AFTER A TENSE 45 MINUTES OF MANEUVERING, THE SEAHORSE IS OUT OF DANGER.

SHE'S ALL RIGHT, MAN.

NARRATOR: IT'S FINALLY MADE IT TO THE SHALLOW WATERS, AND SPYROS CAN NOW RELAX.

SPYROS: IT WAS ROCKY.

IT WAS DIFFICULT.

SHE'S VERY FRAGILE AND TRYING TO ACT, YOU KNOW, STRANGELY.

THANK GOD WE MANAGED TO DO IT NOW.

WE JUST DO THE FINAL TRIMMING HERE, AND, UH, THAT'S IT.

THE FINAL DESTINATION IS HERE.

NARRATOR: IT'S TAKEN 8 WEEKS OF CONSTRUCTION AND OVER A YEAR OF PLANNING, BUT THE SEAHORSE IS FINALLY FLOATING SAFELY IN THE SHELTERED WATERS WHERE IT WILL REMAIN.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THE WATERTIGHT SEALANT HOLDS AND THE VILLA REMAINS AFLOAT.

IT'S BEEN 6 WEEKS SINCE THE SEAHORSE WAS MOORED NEXT TO THE MANMADE ISLAND OFF DUBAI.

HAVING HAD THE LAST FINISHING TOUCHES FITTED AND INSTALLED, THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR STRUCTURE STILL GLISTENS ON THE HORIZON.

DAILY CHECKS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE HOUSE IS FULLY WATERTIGHT.

HAVING PROVED IT WORKS, FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION IS SET TO COMMENCE STRAIGHTAWAY, CREATING A COLONY OF FLOATING SEAHORSES RIGHT HERE.

TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR $3.5 MILLION, MARCO HAS TRANSFORMED THE EMPTY SHELL INTO A SHOWCASE FOR THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY VACATION HOME ON THE SEA.

MARCO: WE FINALLY CAN SEE HOW THE SEAHORSE TURNED OUT TO BE, AND IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE GREAT.

NARRATOR: INSIDE, MARBLE AND POLISHED TEAK PROVIDE A LUXURIOUS FINISH WHILE RESISTING THE TEMPERATURES AND SALT IN THE AIR.

MARCO: THIS LEVEL, THIS IS THE WATER LEVEL.

WE HAVE A LIVING ROOM WITH A SEATING AREA, A TABLE FOR DINING, AND A SMALL KITCHEN.

I LOVE THE WAY WE MANAGED TO KEEP COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT AND VERY MINIMAL WITH THE PROFILE OF THE WINDOW TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL VIEW ENTERING THE...THE LIVING ROOM.

NARRATOR: WHILE THE VIEWS FROM THE FIRST TWO LEVELS ARE IMPRESSIVE... DOWNSTAIRS, THEY'RE OUT OF THIS WORLD.

MARCO: THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT, THE UNDERWATER BEDROOM.

THE ONE-MILLION-DOLLAR VIEW, IT'S WHAT WE BUILT THE SEAHORSE FOR.

AN EFFECT LIKE THIS YOU CANNOT SEE ANYWHERE ELSE.

THIS IS THE FIRST ROOM WITH SUCH A VIEW.

NARRATOR: THE STRUCTURE BY ITSELF HAS PROVED A MASSIVE HIT WITH MARINE LIFE, AND THE ARTIFICIAL CORAL GARDEN IS ALREADY ATTRACTING ATTENTION AS PLANNED.

THE ONLY PROBLEM NOW IS KEEPING THE $50,000 WINDOWS CLEAN TO ENJOY THE VIEW.

ADRIAN: I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH CLEANING IS INVOLVED.

BIO-FOULING OR GROWTH ON THESE STRUCTURES IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

NARRATOR: TO KEEP THE WINDOWS SPOTLESS, ADRIAN AND HIS EXPERT DIVE TEAM WILL NEED TO CLEAN THEM EVERY DAY.

ADRIAN: IF YOU KEEP MOWING YOUR LAWN, IT KEEPS GROWING BACK.

WE HAVE THE SAME BATTLE HERE ON THE FLOATING SEAHORSE.

WE CONTINUOUSLY HAVE TO CLEAR ALGAE AND BARNACLES THAT ARE GROWING ON THE WINDOWS AND ON THE REEF, BLOCKING ANY VIEW OUT.

THIS IS WINDOW CLEANING FOR THE SUPER RICH, AND WITHOUT IT, THE MILLION-DOLLAR VIEWS WOULD BE ECLIPSED BY ALGAE IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

IT'S A PAINSTAKING PROCESS, BUT FOR MARCO, THE ARCHITECT BEHIND THE SEAHORSE, IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR A VIEW THAT HAS NO RIVAL.

MARCO: PROBABLY THE FISH LOVE THE SEAHORSE EVEN MORE THAN WE DO BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE PUT IT IN THE WATER, THEY JUST GATHER AROUND IT, CREATED THIS MAGNIFICENT VIEW.

IN FRONT OF US, THERE IS THE WATER, TRYING TO ENTER THE ROOM, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT HOW IT TURNED OUT TO BE AND ALL THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT CAME AND LOOKED AT IT.

[MUSIC PLAYING] TO BE HERE NOW IS REALLY AN EMOTION, TO BE INSIDE, AND THIS IDEA AND THIS CONCEPT TURNED INTO REALITY.

I AM REALLY PROUD.