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Oceanix City - Scale Magazine

Oceanix City: A Blueprint for a Modular Maritime Metropolis

By 2050, 90% of the world’s largest cities will be exposed to rising seas. The vast majority of coastal cities will be impacted by coastal erosion and flooding, displacing millions of people, while destroying homes and infrastructure. As part of UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda, Oceanix and BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) have proposed a vision for the world’s first resilient and sustainable floating community for 10,000 residents. Oceanix City is designed to grow, transform and adapt organically over time, evolving from neighbourhoods to cities with the possibility of scaling indefinitely. A cluster of six villages forming modular neighbourhoods of 2 hectares create thriving self-sustaining communities of up to 300 residents with mixed-use space for living, working and gathering. A larger protected harbor is formed in the heart of the city. Floating destinations include six specialised landmarks with a public square, market place and centers for spirituality, learning, health, sport and culture drawing residents from across the city. Each building spans out to self-shade internal spaces and public realm, providing comfort and lower cooling costs while maximising roof area for solar capture. All communities regardless of size will prioritize locally sourced materials for building construction, including fast-growing bamboo that has six times the tensile strength of steel. Floating cities can be prefabricated onshore and towed to their final site, reducing construction costs. Paired with the low cost of leasing space on the ocean, this man-made ecosystem is anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, channeling flows of energy, water, food and waste to create an affordable model of living.

These factors mean that affordable housing can be rapidly deployed to coastal megacities in dire need. The first Oceanix Cities are calibrated for the most vulnerable tropical and sub-tropical regions around the globe.

Oceanix City - Scale MagazineOceanix City - Scale MagazineOceanix City - Scale Magazine
Compiled by Aarthi Mohan