Cities Floating in the Air

Bucky Fuller also proposed cities that would float in gigantic spheres in the air. Enclosed in geodesic domes one-half mile or greater in diameter, and called “Cloud Nines,” they would float because at such a large size, their weight would become negligible compared to the volume of air inside them. Thus once built, when the air inside was heated by sunlight, the spheres would rise off the ground (since, as we all know, “hot air rises”). And at night, a sealing system would allow the air inside to be retained, remaining warm enough to keep the sphere aloft.

Such cities could free up “wild areas” on the ground, preserving habitat for animals and plants and leaving space for human recreation. Indeed, they could be anchored over scenic wild areas, allowing for not only a magnificent view from above, but the opportunity for on-the-ground recreation when the inhabitants desired it. (Of course, there could be some opposition to the appearance of such cities, floating over national parks and the like. But it seems that they could also present a surreal “Star Trek” sort of appearance that people might grow to love.)

But no such constructions (not even design prototypes) seem to have ever been built, and while the concept of such floating cities is intriguing, the potential issues of supply and waste disposal (the “comings and goings”) of such a design could still present myriad challenges.

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