In Busan, South Korea, a 15-acre prototype floating community is being developed as a potential solution to rising sea levels. Spearheaded by Oceanix, a blue tech company based in New York, this project aims to create sustainable, flood-proof living spaces. The project, known as OCEANIX Busan, is designed by a team of experts, including the BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and SAMOO, and was unveiled at the Second UN Roundtable on Sustainable Floating Cities.
Sustainable Floating Community Design
OCEANIX Busan will consist of interconnected neighborhoods designed for living, research, and lodging. The project features innovative systems such as zero waste, closed-loop water systems, and net-zero energy production, ensuring sustainability and resilience against climate threats. Each neighborhood is built on floating platforms with photovoltaic panels and greenhouses, capable of expanding based on the city’s needs.
Partnership with Busan
The partnership between Oceanix and the City of Busan began in 2019, aiming to transform Busan into a green smart city. Busan’s port and shipbuilding resources make it an ideal location for this prototype. The project is funded by both the Korean government and Oceanix, with the goal of proving the concept and reducing construction costs for future floating cities.
Benefits and Future Goals
The floating city aims to alleviate land shortages and protect coastal cities from rising sea levels. By moving port-related infrastructure onto floating platforms, cities can free up valuable land for other uses. The project also addresses the need for resilient designs capable of withstanding extreme weather. Oceanix collaborates with MIT and Korean shipbuilders to ensure the structures can endure severe storms, with the long-term goal of establishing a universal building code for floating cities through the United Nations.
Addressing Climate Change and Sovereignty
Marc Collins Chen’s commitment to floating cities was inspired by his time as Minister of Tourism for French Polynesia, where he witnessed the threat of rising sea levels to Pacific Islands. The floating city concept aims to help island nations maintain their sovereignty and prevent displacement due to climate change. By developing sustainable and resilient floating communities, Oceanix hopes to provide a viable solution for coastal populations facing the impacts of global warming.
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Source: AJOT
