2009

Finalist in the IaaC Self-Sufficient City Competition, completed with Andrew John Wit. 

For this entry to a competition considering strategies for self-sufficient cities, we developed a strategy to confront the expected 85 centimeter sea level rise over the next sixty years in the San Francisco Bay.

San Francisco Bay is littered with suburban communities built on reclaimed land. With projected sea level rises, these areas will soon be repossessed by the bay, and residents will be forced to find new homes. 

Foster City, CA: A low-lying suburb, built on reclaimed land during the 1950's is one of several communities that will soon be flooded.  Rather than viewing the impending deluge as a tragedy, could it instead be treated as an opportunity? Rather than taking drastic steps to mitigate the inevitable flooding, can't we develop a strategy to face it?

A projected water level rise of just 33" would completely inundate Foster City. Rather than transplanting the displaced suburbanites to a different sprawling community, is there an alternative that minimizes the impact on land and water?

Has the suburban dream turned into a nightmare?

Can't we say goodbye to the endless traffic and commutes?

Treasure Island, (soon to be flooded), provides an optimal staging area for the manufacture and construction of a new floating city.

In the middle of the bay, and with easy access to the ocean, the island is optimally located for launching Submergia, a new network of floating self-sufficient cities.

Submergia's ocean location provides several advantages: the bay is left open for the reemergence of wetlands, the ocean waters are prime locations for energy harvesting, and the ocean provides easy maneuverability to optimize sunlight capture.

The new community of Submergia vessels will be moored off the Pacific Coast.

The floating structures contain all of the amenities of the suburbs, in a compact footprint.

The support systems make the structures self-sufficient.

Wave harvesting, along with other strategies, provides Submergia's electricity.

A section through a Submergia vessel at sea.

What to do on another fine morning in Submergia?

Schools, restaurants, parks, bars, shopping, theaters, offices, athletic fields, cycling paths, swimming pools, and community spaces are all within short walking distances.

San Francisco and other floating Submergia vessels are only a short ferry ride away, allowing for all the mobility without the noise and hassle of daily life.

"Sure beats the old commute!"

Former residents of Foster City do not need to give up their waterfront lifestyle.

The swimming pool is a great place to splash flood worries away.

Submergia's internal "market street" provides all of the delicacies of dry land, and more.