Floating cities as an innovative response to climate change / Dw Documentary Sea levels are rising due to climate change. Many coastal cities are at growing risk of flooding. Architects are trying to react to this development with new ideas, such as floating cities. But this concept is not without its problems. Architect Koen Olthuis is constructing a floating city in the Maldives, sustainably cooled with sea water. In the Netherlands, Sacha and Jan live in a waterborne section of the Steigereiland neighborhood. It’s based on a complicated feat of engineering – but also depends on cooperation and solidarity. If one home is too heavy, it raises the one next door. Yet Sacha and Jan like its collaborative nature. The residents of the floating neighborhood all love living by the water, not far from the heart of Amsterdam. In Germany, a University of Kiel project goes even further. Biologist Martina Mühl is researching the possibility of implementing aquaculture very close to home, so residents can tap their own fresh local supply of fish and seafood. Hamburg and Bremen have been responding to rising tides by constructing ever higher levees. But soon even this will no longer be enough to cope with the growing impact of climate change. This documentary shows possible alternatives to levees and how we might be able to cope with the rising sea levels in the future.

How the MALDIVES plans to survive SEA LEVELRISE ( shocking ) The Urbanist EP1 — How THE MALDIVES plans to survive SEA LEVEL RISE. Sea level rise is a major concern for the Maldives. As the sea continues to rise, the Maldives is at risk of losing its land and becoming uninhabitable. To address this issue, two solutions are being developed. The first is a land reclamation project (Hulhumalé), which has involved creating new land from the sea by dredging sand from the sea bed. The second solution is the Floating City Project, which involves building a city for 20,000 people on a platform that floats on the water. This would allow the Maldives to maintain a presence in the area even as the sea level rises.

Can A Floating City Be Singapore’s Answer To Rising Sea Levels ? Global warming and melting ice-caps are a threat to countries like Singapore – and floating structures may be the solution. “We have close to 700 sqkm of sea space which we can easily use,” says Lim Soon Heng, founding president of the Society of Floating Solutions. For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER!
/ cnainsider Countries like Japan and the Netherlands are developing concepts for floating cities and ports respectively. Shimizu Corporation’s Green Float, for example, could house up to 50,000 people. In Singapore, GL Engineering & Construction has built a concrete platform used as a floating dry dock for ship repairs. It could also be used for land-intensive industries such as petrochemical refineries, ports, and even recreational purposes. Meanwhile, Keppel Data Centres is moving its data centres onto water, with a model designed with low carbon footprint. WATCH MORE: Where Singapore’s future homes could be built • Where Singapore’s Future Homes C…

City of the future Singapore -Full Episode / National Geographic With visionary thinkers and innovators as the guides, City of the Future: Singapore dives deep into the latest innovations and technology being created and implemented to blaze a path into the future.

FIGHTING THE TIDE -The race to reclaim land in the Maldives as sea level rise Sea level rise is a lived reality in the Maldives. But are land reclamation and other manmade engineering projects enough to protect the people? With many of the Maldives’ 1,200 islands under threat from rising sea levels, CNA looks at land reclamation efforts and other innovative resilience measures: https://cna.asia/3wWayas

Posted: 06/03/24

REAL ESTATE

Underwater Cities and Floating Homes: The Future Visions of Global Real Estate

Explore visionary concepts reshaping how we live in response to climate change and urbanisation. We delve into the possibilities and challenges of these innovative housing alternatives. 

Author: Lucy Kirkpatrick 

Share article:

Real estate could be witnessing a transformative shift as architects and engineers explore innovative solutions to address the challenges of rising sea levels, land scarcity, and urbanisation pressures. Among those visionary concepts are underwater cities and floating homes, which offer promising alternatives to traditional land-based living.

Let’s delve into the future visions of global real estate.

Rise of Underwater Cities

Underwater cities represent a bold response to the existential threat of rising sea levels induced by climate change. Projects such as Ocean Spiral and Aequorea are the innovators driving the development of habitable structures beneath the sea.

The Ocean Spiral, proposed by the Shimizu Corporation in Japan, envisions a self-sufficient settlement capable of accommodating thousands of residents. This spiralling metropolis, anchored between 1,500 and 4,000 meters below the ocean’s surface, is expected to cost around ¥3 trillion (approximately £20 billion) and will harness marine resources to sustain its population. While still in the speculative phase, the Ocean Spiral underscores the potential for underwater living to become a reality by 2030, with the right technology.

Aequorea, a visionary underwater village designed by architect Vincent Callebaut, embodies the principles of sustainability and eco-consciousness. Constructed from 3D-printed plastic waste, Aequorea aims to house up to 20,000 inhabitants off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. However, building underwater cities presents formidable engineering challenges, necessitating technological advancements and meticulous planning to ensure their viability and safety.

Floating Homes

In contrast, within real estate, floating homes offer a contemporary take on waterfront living, blending modern architecture with natural landscapes. Communities in cities like Miami and Seattle exemplify the allure of floating homes. While commanding premium prices ranging from $600 to $1,100 per square foot, floating homes promise a unique lifestyle experience characterised by tranquillity and connection to nature.

Environmental and Economic Considerations

Both underwater cities and floating homes hold promise as environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional urban development. However, careful attention must be paid to the potential drawbacks, including habitat disruption and resource consumption. This requires comprehensive environmental impact assessments and sustainable practices. While initial investment costs for underwater and floating structures may be substantial, the long-term benefits include reduced infrastructure maintenance and increased property values. However, financing and insurance present challenges due to the unique risks associated with these novel forms of real estate.

Future Outlook

The future of underwater cities and floating homes hinges on technological innovation, market demand and regulatory support. Advances in construction materials, renewable energy, and marine engineering will drive their feasibility and scalability, paving the way for a more resilient future. Continued dialogue among stakeholders, including governments, developers and environmental organisations, is indispensable to navigate challenges and capitalise on opportunities presented by these ground-breaking housing alternatives.

To conclude, underwater cities and floating homes represent promising solutions within real estate to the pressing challenges of urbanisation, climate change, and environmental sustainability. By addressing technical, economic, and social considerations, these innovative housing alternatives have the potential to reshape the global real estate landscape, ushering in a new era of resilient, inclusive, and environmentally conscious communities.