Swim or Sink is a fascinating architectural project, envisioned by architecture grad student Mayank Thammalla for his final year thesis, that considers moving the population of Maldives onto existing oil rigs. Maldives is a low-lying island whose future is threatened by rising sea levels.
The prospect is real and scary, with Maldivians already looking to purchasing land abroad to secure their future. Thammalla's project imagines moving 400,000 people into massive semi-submersible oil rigs which would take the place of the Maldives' gorgeous natural islands. The rigs would include all the facilities and amenities of any city, with housing constructed using traditional local materials.
Swim or Sink is undoubtedly an audacious plan fraught with challenges, but such out-of-the-box thinking will be necessary to secure the future of the people of the Maldives.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Rising Sea Levels
- Opportunity for innovative solutions to protect low-lying areas from the effects of climate change.
- Adaptive Architecture
- Potential for architectural designs that can withstand changing environmental conditions.
- Population Displacement
- Demand for strategies to relocate communities facing the threat of natural disasters.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture
- Opportunity for architects to develop sustainable and resilient designs for coastal communities.
- Renewable Energy
- Growing need for alternative energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.
- Real Estate
- Emerging market for land and property solutions in areas affected by rising sea levels.
