A Country Underwater: Innovation in Facing Climate Change.

Floating City. Malé, Maldives. CNN recently published an article discussing a new floating city currently under construction 10 minutes (by boat) from the Maldivian capital, Malé. The floating city is one of only a few options available to an island nation (1,198 small islands) sitting at sea level. In 1988 authorities claimed the sea could completely cover the Maldives within 30 years (2018). The Maldivian government had been looking at purchasing land from other countries- but floating, sustainable cities might be their best solution to the climate change crisis. This is a global issue as 90% of the world’s largest cities are vulnerable to erosion and flooding from rising seas. The Netherlands is another country at sea level and it has been experimenting with floating buildings for decades. Therefore, the Maldivian government has formed a joint venture with property developers, Dutch Docklands who then commissioned Dutch architects, Waterstudio, to design the city. The first floating units were unveiled this month and residents could possibly begin moving in as early as 2024. The floating community is designed in a pattern similar to brain coral and consists of 5,000 floating units including houses, restaurants, shops, and schools- with canals running between. It’s essential that the cities be designed for the masses, with priority given to affordability, scale, and speed. The modular units are built at a shipyard, towed to the floating city, and attached to a large underwater concrete hull and secured to the seabed. The environmental impacts have been rigorously assessed, notably by coral experts. It’s important that the floating cities be self-sufficient and sustainable- power is generated by solar, wind, and waves- water can be harvested and sewage is treated and repurposed. Floating cities are also a positive alternative to land reclamation, which is proving to have substantial negative impacts on the environment. As technologies advance- floating architecture could have a significant impact on urban planning and property development.