As the Earth’s thermostat climbs to levels above the pre-industrial levels (1.2 degrees warmer), the heating reality of climate change is more evident than ever. Beyond just warmer temperatures, this drastic shift signals a cascade of consequences. One horrifying prediction is that 2100 sea levels could rise by 1 to 2 metres — this would mean submerging countless coastal cities and beloved tourist destinations that our future generations would only read in their history books ⁽¹, ²⁾.
In light of this impending crisis, the concept of floating cities, once an architect’s dream project, is now emerging as a necessary response to the climate emergency.
In our chance of survival, the floating cities of the Maldives and Busan (South Korea) are pioneers in this architecture. With a world-class facility, the Busan floating city will be electrified with solar energy and efficiently function with recycled water. But are these the only steps required to build such cities in the future?
Figure 1: A view of the OCEANIX (in Busan), a floating city ⁽³⁾
In addition to Sustainability, these structures need to be inclusive to all communities, ensuring that the burden of climate change does not fall disproportionately on the shoulders of the vulnerable. It is unjust that those who have contributed the least to this crisis should suffer its harshest consequences. Thus, the question arises: Are floating cities genuinely sustainable for everyone? Intersectionality is the answer.
What is Intersectionality?
Intersectionality is an approach that understands inequalities surrounding different groups and plans solutions that consider them all. In other words, Intersectionality in the concept of floating cities must ensure that the idea is accessible for all classes, rich and poor, and inclusive for all diverse communities.
The icing on the cake is that floating cities could be affordable, considering that the land below water is cheaper than the price of actual land. With floating structures that can resist hurricanes and are built at scale, affordability is no longer a problem, and floating cities can accommodate everyone ⁽²⁾.
In Malé, the capital of Maldives with a vast, bustling population, the need to expand the housing to the sea has never been felt more than now. Middle-class housing options in the floating city have been developed in single- or double-storey housing format. Fitted with solar panels, wind power, and seawater cooling systems that help reduce the AC need, these houses seem to work. However, the real issue is carbon emission, which must be tackled for a place like Malé, where no beach exists as they are just ½ m above the sea level and are at threat of sea level rise⁽⁴⁾.
Figure 2: Many parts of the Maldivian islands are threatened by rising sea levels⁽⁴⁾
The costs of such houses range from 150,000 to 250,000 and are more suited to the upper middle class living in the Maldives⁽⁴⁾.
Far above, in a neighbourhood in the Netherlands, 60 new floating city homes have been constructed, owned, and rented. Residents feel at ease and at peace and stay in houses built on floating cubes that rise and fall with the tide. These homes require more maintenance than the ones that are built on land, and hence, such houses are built as modular construction.
Figure 3: An image of floating homes in the Netherlands⁽⁵⁾
Interestingly, geopolitics have a role to play here. Countries with vast coastlines can benefit from building floating cities and gain an advantage over other countries.
In essence,
Floating cities should be designed with an intersectional approach that understands the needs of diverse communities. By providing equal opportunities and resources for all residents, regardless of economic status, floating cities have the potential to become truly sustainable. Building affordable houses, developing economic opportunities that make living worthwhile and inexpensive, and providing sustainable work opportunities are some ways builders and governments can tap into to make their floating city a dream for all to live.
The floating city of Maldives, with tourism as a popular source of income and the vast waters surrounding the land as a venue for more floating cities, can symbolise exemplary architecture if it achieves equity.
Credits
The article was strategised by Deepa Sai, founder of ecoHQ
The article was authored by Jenifer F Dsouza, an environmental consultant with an M.S. degree from The University of Manchester, U.K. She has over seven years of experience in water technologies and is an ESG consultant. She advocates for environmental consciousness and is a content and technical writer for ecological issues. She has authored 11 peer-reviewed journals during her academic research with collaborative projects with MIT University, Boston.
References
- “Our underwater city, what sea level rise will look like around the globe, future https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/12/world/3-degrees-sea-level-rise-climate-central/index.html, Oct 2021.
- 2) Floating cities as an innovative response to climate change | DW Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0oGaoqSAl0, June 2023.
- This is what the world’s first floating city will look like, World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/04/south-korea-floating-city-climate-change/, April 2022.
- A Floating City cant sink, SPIEGEL International, https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-floating-city-can-t-sink-battling-climate-change-in-the-maldives-a-6f2ca9c2-7e2e-4b39-8b6f-693326e2ba26, August 2023
- This Dutch floating city could help tackle city density and sea level challenges, World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/netherlands-floating-village-schoonschip-density/, Feb 2021.