04. LIFE AQUATIC IN FLOATING CITIES

Climate change is going to eventually eliminate existing coastal cities as sea levels rise. One solution is potentially building an artificial metropolis, a floating city that could withstand floods, tsunamis, and hurricanes. The floodproof city itself would be groups of interlocking octagon or hexagon or triangle shaped floating platforms. The city would rise with the sea and produces its own food, energy, and freshwater.

1) Cages underneath the platforms could be used for bivalve farming to harvest clams, mussels, scallops as well as farming kelp, and other seafood.

2) Aquaponic farming systems could use waste from fish to fertilize plants grown on the platforms. And the fish could be another food resource.

3) Seaweed could be used as a raw material for building houses as it is non-toxic, naturally fireproof, exhibits outstanding acoustic properties, and has the ability to absorb and give off moisture – thus helping to regulate the indoor climate.

4) Electricity would be powered mainly by solar generated on-site, and sewage would be treated locally and repurposed as manure for plants.

5) As an alternative to air conditioning, the city could use deep water sea cooling, which involves pumping cold water from the deep sea to help conserve energy.

6) Smaller offshoot communities consisting of floating homes could be built closer to the new coastline.

The downsides to this idea are feasibility, cost, the wisdom of building new infrastructure offshore when so much of what we have on land needs upgrading. There's the socioeconomic aspect like could this idea be affordable or would it be exclusive to the wealthy. Also this might not be the solution for all cities. Like if a city has a population of over a million people, they could possibly still be displaced.

A floating community somewhere in New Virginia Beach, VA. Year 2340.