The Future of Architecture: Floating Cities Leading the Way
In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable urban development, the architectural firm BIG has unveiled their latest project in Busan, South Korea – a series of floating platforms that will serve as the foundation for a new type of city infrastructure. Partner Daniel Sundlin explained, “We were more making sure that the concepts that we developed for the city infrastructure could house a great degree of variation of different kinds of architecture.”
The unique shape of the Busan platforms, rounded hexagons, ensures stability in the face of waves and winds, a crucial consideration for a city built on water. Working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and marine engineering firms, BIG has designed these platforms to withstand the forces of nature, including hurricanes.
One of the key features of these floating structures is their ability to increase biodiversity and ecological health in the harbors where they are anchored. By providing a habitat for marine life such as oysters and mussels to grow, these platforms help restore the ecology of the surrounding waters.
Floating cities like Busan are paving the way for a new frontier in urban development, but they also face challenges in terms of international regulations and standards. With the support of the United Nations, projects like Busan are setting the bar for sustainable development goals at a global level.
Naomi Hoogervorst of UN-Habitat emphasized the importance of technological innovation in projects like Busan, noting that Korea’s dedication to promoting smart marine cities has positioned them as leaders in this field. The mayor of Busan is committed to making the city the top smart marine city in the world, driving rapid progress in this cutting-edge urban development.
While floating cities may seem like a futuristic concept, Sundlin pointed out that living on water has been a common practice throughout history. From floating markets to houses on stilts, water-based architecture has long been a part of human civilization. As we look towards the future of urban living, projects like Busan are leading the way in reimagining the possibilities of city infrastructure.
