A floating city to transform the oceans into a new economic zone

Japanese maritime startup N-Ark recently revealed plans to build a new floating city, capable of coping – according to the project’s ambition – with any sea rise due to climate change. This proposal will integrate food production, architecture, data, energy and water into a single symbiotic system that will use the ocean as a new resilient economic zone called NEW OCEAN.

“Through private ocean business innovation, we will create the NEW OCEAN Consortium,” the sturtup writes, “a joint venture of industry, academia and government that integrates various sectors, technologies, laws and regulations to realize this economic space.” This project will then be powered by three levels. The first is the creation of an independent, decentralized maritime city adaptable to climate change. The second level revolves around building an underwater data infrastructure to help develop the marine business model. Finally, N-Ark wants to exploit the open waters to create a new tourism industry that connects to space, using the land as a launch and landing site for rocket services.

With a circumference of about 4 kilometers, Dogen City estimates it can accommodate 10,000 permanent residents, and up to 3 times that number of tourists at any one time. In plan, the project is divided into distinct areas: the habitable ring, which consists of the main living area; an underwater data center naturally cooled by the sea and containing city management and medical research facilities; and a floating architecture within the artificial bay created by the ring structure.

Within the circular structure-in addition to the launch and landing platform for air rockets-will also be introduced green areas, food production facilities, a school, sports areas, hospitals, parks, stadiums, hotels and offices. It is not yet known precisely where the project will be located or its budget, although N-Ark expects it to be in operation by 2030.