Oceanic City-states

"Oceanic city-states" is a blueprint for sustainable offshore Living.

In the preceding decade, there has been a documented 1.0°F elevation in the Earth’s surface temperature and a 25cm rise in sea levels. Prospective projections indicate that a significant segment of Italy’s expansive coastline will face intermittent inundation or total submergence by the end of the century. Among these areas, Venice stands as the most prominent example. Countless individuals who once resided in these coastal regions now confront displacement or substantial distress inflicted by the destructive forces of flooding and storms.

One of the main catalysts for the escalation of global warming is humanity’s unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels. The site—a massive offshore oil platform—stands as a stark reminder of this relentless endeavor. With the gradual cessation of oil extractions across the nation, could these structures—formerly contributors to rising sea levels—be transformed into new habitats for those displaced by environmental crises? Could they signify a transition towards a more harmonious relationship between humans and planet Earth? Here, amidst the vast ocean, settlers have the opportunity to pioneer a lifestyle marked by self-sustainability, waste minimization, and harmonious cohabitation with other species.

At the heart of the initiative lies the creation of a carefully planned energy cycle, harnessing renewable resources bestowed by nature and recycling waste generated by human activities. By seamlessly integrating human lifecycles into Earth’s ecosystem, the project aims to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between humanity and the natural world.

Each oil platform will undergo a transformation into a self-contained microcosm, hosting its own resident community. Furthermore, each platform will serve a specialized role that contributes to the collective functionality of the entire cluster. With quite a few platforms dispersed across the offshore landscape, complementing one another’s functions, the concept of a fully operational and well-equipped “union” emerges—reminiscent of medieval Italy’s city-state confederations, but oriented towards a resilient and prosperous future.