Next step in the arcology

In his column in today's New York Times, Paul Krugman extols the virtues of renting over home-ownership. Certainly, when you look at land-use issues, commute-distances, and eco-impact, multi-family housing is a greener choice than single-family buildings. With that in mind, maybe it is time to revisit our old dream of the arcology. And what could be better than a building that's home to many, generates its own energy, and feeds its inhabitants? Obviously, a floating building that's home to many, generates its own energy, and feeds its inhabitants!


The Lilypad is a design for housing climate change refugees in offshore floating towns that would offer homes to 50,000 people. The design is entirely theoretical for now, but if I'm lucky, when New York finally sinks and I move into my new Lilypad, at last all those hours of my youth spent playing Frogger will finally pay off.

Hat tip: Inhabitat.