Architectural and design projects will be presented in the coming days as Milan Design Week begins. Among the topics that will be discussed in more depth will be research in improving the relationship between man and the planet, looking for environmentally sustainable solutions and others that curb the negative consequences of pollution. Rising sea levels as a cause of rising temperatures is one of the issues designers are considering most for future city designs. Among the designers are those from UN-Habitat, Oceanix and BIG, who have submitted a rendering of the world’s first floating, sustainable community for 10,000 residents.

It is a modular, maritime metropolis divided into two-hectare, self-sufficient neighborhoods capable of housing up to 300 residents. All aspects related to natural integration with nature are calculated in the project, which is why the height of the buildings never exceeds seven stories, with indoor gardens for self-cultivation.In the floating city, underwater cultivations of seaweed or mussels are also planned, creating a perfectly self-sufficient and human-scale ecosystem.
Oceanix, this is the name of the project, also includes places of worship, for sports and culture. The prefabricated buildings are designed to be transportable to the sea, which would also make it possible to expand landlocked metropolises into the water as well, avoiding intervention in rural areas or small towns in the suburbs.
The project may sound apocalyptic, but expert opinion says that by 2050, 90 percent of the world’s largest cities will be exposed to rising seas, so better not to underestimate this glimpse into the not-so-distant future.