Questioning a Floating City for Haiti

The City Fix's Erica Schlaikjer takes a look at the idea, how relevant it would be and how it compares to other similar ideas.

"The 'Harvest City,' as it is called, was recently profiled in Inhabitat as a 'key player in Haiti's recovery.' Developed by Boston-based architect E. Kevin Schopfer and Tangram 3DS, the city is a collection of man-made 'islands,' or floating modules, spanning two miles, that would be secured to the bottom of the ocean by a cable designed to withstand hurricanes and typhoons. (Although, what happens when, God forbid, a tsunami hits?) Each island would be divided into four zones connected by a canal system. The city would be dedicated mostly to farming, with one-third of the economy involved in 'light industry.' Schopfer says he also hopes that Harvest City will be established as a 'charter city,' which would serve 'as an example of a new and advanced economic model specifically developed for struggling nations.'

Inhabitat says Harvest City 'would be a place for Haitians to live and start their lives again.' But what about their current quality of life? Does the prospect of a futuristic development assume that Haitians aren't 'living' to the fullest now? Why wait to renew their health and happiness?"