Underwater Cities and Artificial Islands

Someday, it might prove practical and desirable to build cities under the sea. Numerous obstacles, like the extreme pressure of the water, would have to be overcome, yet the sea-floor contains vast “unused” real estate.

In fact, Bucky Fuller envisioned cities submerged beneath the sea, with only “vertical entrance towers” protruding above the water’s surface. And of course, Jacques Cousteau and others have experimented with underwater “habitats,” but these have merely been submerged dwellings for a few people at most.

While not actually submerged, the Trilobis 65 floating dwelling designed by Giancarlo Zema contains four levels, including a sizeable underwater viewing room, and could be anchored in sheltered areas such as those suitable for large houseboats. But unlike those large, square houseboats, Zema’s design is rounded and streamlined, shaped something like a “deviled egg” and indeed is named after the Paleozoic fossil creature the trilobite. For short self-propelled excursions, it will have two 300-horsepower electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel cells, with a speed capability of 10 knots.

The Israeli government has considered creating artificial islands off of its Mediterranean coast, in order to provide more living space without moving people into the desert. And two palm tree-shaped chains of artificial islands have been constructed in the United Arab Emirates, just southwest of Dubai, a place which is fast becoming a major world tourist destination. These islands are visible from space – try looking for yourself with Google Earth.

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