The country of French Polynesia is on the verge of permitting a floating city, funded by wealthy Silicon Valley interests and sustained by utopian dreams.
Melia Robinson reports on a radical development proposal from the Seasteading Institute: a floating city, located in the South Pacific.
The idea behind the Seasteading Institute is to construct a "floating city that would serve as a permanent, politically autonomous settlement," according to Robinson.
The Seasteading Institute was founded in 2008, but made news recently by finding a state partner to help build the project: French Polynesia. "[President Édouard] Fritch is currently reviewing a memorandum of understanding, a document that would cement the government's intent to work with the Seasteading Institute," according to Robinson. "The government has not begun drafting the legislation that would permit the seastead's development."
Robinson quotes Seasteading Executive Director Randolph Hencken throughout the article, but Seasteading is also notable for its famous co-founders: a particularly famous billionaire, Peter Thiel, along with a Google software engineer with a very famous last name, Patri Friedman.
The article includes more discussion of utopian and futurist concepts that motivate the project proposal.
FULL STORY: Silicon Valley's dream of a floating, isolated city might actually happen
YIMBYs Attacked from the (Far) Left
Pro-housing activists in San Francisco are blamed for displacement of vulnerable communities because they support luxury housing developments. A report from the independent progressive website, Truthout, ties YIMBYs to the "alt-right."
Designing a City on the Sea
Winners have been announced in an open competition to design what could become a permanent, sea-based, autonomous living facility.
New Frontier for Development: The Ocean
The Seasteading Institute, a group that advocates creating sovereign nations in international waters, announces the winner of their seastead design contest.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)