Building on dry land? That was in the 20th century. The Italian architect Luca Curci is already anticipating the problems of rising sea levels by devising floating vertical mini-cities.

As far back as 1933, Le Corbusier had the solution to the urban pollution and overpopulation problems cities faced. His thinking focused on two modern utopias: la Ville Radieuse (Radiant City) and the Ville Contemporaine (Contemporary City). Both were based on the construction of massive skyscrapers, housing as much residential as manufacturing, recreational, catering and nursery functions. In short, true “urban ecosystems” built at height.

But while the COP23 closes gloomily, and the outlook for climate is coming close to overheating, Corbusier’s heirs are proving more imaginative than ever. One of them is an Italian architect: Luca Curci. Inspired by the French master, he is getting ready to build the “Vertical City”, an XXL building whose foundations would lie on the water.

750 metres high and capable of housing 25,000 people, the tower would consist of hundreds of apartments, villas, offices and public spaces. Honeycombing all around the façade would provide air circulation and the sunning of the structure’s parks and gardens (200,000 m²). A photovoltaic membrane surrounding the structure would provide the energy the inhabitants need.

The “Vertical City” would be accessible by air, water and land. To prevent the Vertical City being isolated from the continent, the architect plans to build semi-immersed tunnels through which to get back on land by car, public transport or on foot. Luca Curci has conceived this tower as a visionary to stop sea level rise, scheduled for 2100. The first one should be built in a few years along the Italian coast.

Tags: architecture, Le Corbusier, Luca Curci, sea level rise, Vertical City