The idyllic life in the Maldives is now developing for the future. It's about being able to offer something out of the ordinary despite climate change and rising sea levels. The Maldives Floating City project is both magical and technically complex.
By as early as 2050, up to 80 per cent of what currently constitutes the Maldives could be uninhabitable. A fact that has prompted the Dutch development company Dutch Docklands to present its plans for what is to become a floating city. Maldives Floating City will be housed in a lagoon within a 200-hectare area and will offer luxury accommodation, hotels, shops, a marina and its own town. An important element when we talk about the sea here is the corals and the importance of protecting them. Here, the shape of the coral has now been used to create the city's form and geometry. The project has already attracted a considerable amount of attention, including from MIPIM Awards who are known for handing out what they call an ’Oscar for Global Development’. The Maldives Floating City is listed under the heading ’Best Future Mega Project’.
– With its unique paradise location next to President Island, and with support from the Maldivian government, we are extremely proud to present the first Floating City in the world. This will be a magical place where locals and expatriates can buy their dream home at an affordable price, says Paul HTM van de Camp, CEO of Dutch Docklands. Currently, the first floating houses are being developed by Bison, which will be transported to the lagoon after the summer holidays. These will then serve as a model for what is to come. A total of 5,000 houses are planned, linked together to create a unique environment. The price tag for a home on this island starts at 250,000 dollars. Construction will commence early next year and the project is estimated to take between 4-5 years.
