Droughts, wildfires, and floods are all becoming more common as a result of global warming. According to the research, global warming is irreversible, implying that these threats will continue to exist. Fortunately, some countries have begun to plan ahead.
The Republic of Korea’s Busan Metropolitan City, UN-Habitat, and OCEANIX have teamed up to create the world’s first prototype sustainable floating metropolis as a way to avoid bodily harm, Reported the Business Insider.
A group of builders, engineers, and architects gathered at the United Nations more than two years ago to debate an ambitious concept: a floating city capable of surviving natural calamities such as floods, tsunamis, and Category 5 hurricanes.
Designers and developers have dreamt about establishing artificial islands and metropolises on the water for decades. Around 13 centuries ago, even Homer envisioned a fabled floating metropolis. However, those visions were famously difficult to realize — often because local governments refused to sign off on the plans, claiming fears that the land could be put to greater use.
On Thursday, the UN-backed project cleared another hurdle when the city of Busan, South Korea, agreed to host a floating metropolis in partnership with the project’s designer, OCEANIX, and the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). Busan, like many other coastal cities, is at risk from increasing sea levels.
The floating metropolis of OCEANIX is essentially a cluster of hexagonal platforms floating in the ocean. Hexagons are often regarded as one of the most efficient architectural designs, allowing architects to save both space and material. Consider the neatness of a beehive’s interior, which is effectively a web of interlocking hexagons.
A limestone coating two to three times tougher than concrete, yet still buoyant, would be applied on the city’s platforms. Underwater minerals are exposed to an electric current to form the substance. It becomes stronger over time and can repair itself in the presence of that current, allowing it to resist extreme weather conditions.
The idea is to build a flood-resistant metropolis that rises with the tide and provides its own food, electricity, and freshwater. Scallops, kelp, and other types of seafood might be housed in cages beneath the platforms. In addition, fish faeces could be used to nourish plants in aquaponic systems.