PHOTO: Dogen City is envisioned as a “medical city on the sea,”
Japanese designers are proactively preparing for the effects of rising sea levels by developing plans for a massive floating city called Dogen City.
This ambitious project aims to create a self-sufficient habitat for 40,000 people, with a significant proportion being permanent residents.
The city consists of three primary components: an outer ring encompassing essential living areas and infrastructure for water, sewage, and energy; floating buildings that can freely move around, with residents traveling by boats; and beneath the water’s surface, an undersea data center and advanced medical research facilities.
Resembling the shape of a ship, the outer frame of Dogen City serves as a defensive barrier against tsunamis, providing shelter for victims of natural disasters and climate refugees. Additionally, the city incorporates various amenities such as a sports stadium, floating parks, cemeteries, places of prayer, and residential hotels.
Dogen City is envisioned as a “medical city on the sea,” offering comprehensive healthcare services and medical tourism opportunities, ensuring residents receive daily medical care. The city also employs innovative agricultural techniques that utilize seawater to cultivate fresh vegetables. With a circular design and a circumference of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), Dogen City aims to enable residents to reach any location within the city in under an hour. The developers, N-Ark, have set a target completion date of 2030, although specific details about the project’s budget and proposed location have yet to be disclosed. Notably, this floating city concept is not the only one making waves this year. In February, plans were unveiled for an eco-friendly floating village, designed by an international team of architects led by Luca Curci Architects and Tim Fu Design, capable of accommodating up to 50,000 people in the face of potential mass flooding caused by global warming.