3. Polynesian Voyagers
Long before Columbus, Cook, and Vasco de Gama, the Polynesian people were great
seafarers. In order to travel (and migrate) to islands scattered thousands of miles apart the
Polynesians built large double-hulled vessels that would carry several dozen people, plants,
animals, and sufficient supplies to last the entire voyage.
This history leads me to believe that a village does not need to be in a static location, but
can be moveable
Furthermore, since oceans cover 71% of the earth's surface villages and cities need not be
located on land
4. Northwest Coast Native Americans
Native Americans on the Northwest
coast of America built massive
dwellings called longhouses. These
longhouses were typically 60 to
100 feet long structures which
housed up to 20 families who
shared in the many responsibilities
of the village
The Native Americans teach us
that we can live communally,
utilizing less resources and space,
and sharing in the responsibilities
that are essential to the community
6. Ocean City is a community of individuals who live on a large floating vessel. The vessel
has no fixed location, but travels upon the oceans from one land mass to another as
dictated by the needs of the community
7. Community
The most important part of Ocean City is its community of 2000 to 5000 individuals. The
community consists of families and individuals without regard to nationality, race, religion,
sex, age, or other discriminating factor. The aim of this community is to create an
environment of respect where diversity and sustainability are celebrated. In fact Ocean
City is a place where people strive to understand each other and the environment they
live in through active dialogue and interaction with one another
8. Ocean City: Philosophy
Ocean City is built to ensure three ideals;
The well being of the individual
The well being of the family, and
The well being of the community
Well being is defined as having five core elements;
Physical wellbeing
Spiritual wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing
Intellectual wellbeing, and
Environmental wellbeing
9. Ocean City embodies the principle
that "it takes a village to raise a
child". If this mantra is to be
achieved, healthy interactions
between all members of the
community are not only important
but also need to be promoted and
maximized
10. Communal-Shared Space
Communal Space is designed to maximize
healthy interactions between community
members, and includes;
Communal space in the "longhouses"
(kitchen, living room)
Recreation area (shops, theatre,
restaurants)
Sports fields, parks which promotes
people to slow down, play, and interact
11. Ocean City also believes that spiritual wellbeing
requires that people need personal space and
time for deep reflection
12. Personal Space
Personal Space is designed to provide
individuals and families privacy and
time alone, and includes;
Personal residential space in
"longhouses" (private apartment)
Green space (parks) designed to
provide individuals privacy and quiet
space
Personal office/workshop space
13. Ocean City is a place where individual, family, and community
achievement are all equally celebrated
14. Ocean City is a place where the community not only helps and supports each individual
achieve their personal ambitions, but also…
15. …a place where individuals provide service to the entire community so that the community
thrives and achieves its goals
16. This idea is based on the philosophy that when you provide service, not only are
other individuals and the entire community benefited, but it also benefits and
builds you as an individual
17. Community Self Governance
Ocean City will be self governed by a
council who are elected by the
community (similar to a city council
and mayor)
Additionally, all other community
members will have responsibilities
within the community (e.g.-
sanitation, safety etc.) to ensure
community wellbeing
18. Ocean City Engineering
Ocean City is built using advanced engineering methods utilizing recyclable
resources, and equipped with the most up to date technological advancements.
The engineering methods, technology, and materials are all utilized in a manner to
maximize the wellbeing of the community. As such the goal is not that individuals
become slaves to the technology, but that the technology serves the (highest)
purposes of the individuals
20. Residents will choose to live in one of many 'longhouses' each of
which will accommodate several families, and individuals
21. Each house will have both private (private apartment) and communal/shared
residential spaces (kitchen, living room, laundry, bathrooms)
22. This design is aimed at providing the privacy that each individual and
family need, as well as increasing interactions between the residents in
the house whereby all those who live in each longhouse will build close
relationships and become akin to an extended family.
Communal/ shared space also cuts down the amount of resources
needed to support the residents (e.g.- one kitchen instead of 20 kitchens)
23. Work Space
While many Ocean City residents tele-commute for firms located elsewhere, others provide
services directly to the community
Office space will be modeled to provide all professionals private working spaces designed
for their needs, with shared access to common office resources to cut down waste
24. Education
Education from nursery, to graduate, to post-graduate studies are available
through various mediums (online, live etc.). The purpose of education is not as
much to develop someone to fill a job, but to develop an individual who is
capable of reasoning and understanding complex local and global issues that
face them and their community, and helping to find solutions for these
25. In addition to the many recreational activities available, there will be various cultural
festivals celebrating the diversity and sustainability of the community that will be
held at regular intervals throughout the year
26. Spiritual Center
At the center of the vessel will be a spiritual center where residents can
meditate, and hold spiritual meetings
27. Green space is what will transform a drab floating platform with various structures
into a pleasing living space
Green space will be designed in such a way as to make the vessel seem larger than it
really is (curved pathways, tall trees etc.)
29. Energy
Ocean City will utilize renewable resources including solar, wind, and wave energ
to provide power to both the vessel (as it sails), and the community
30. Water
Fresh water for community use will come from desalination plants
on the vessel
31. Food
The vessel will contain a large area on which to
grow the necessary plant life to sustain the
community indefinitely and will include an
orchard, community vegetable garden, and apiary
32. The ocean with its abundant animal and plant life will
also be utilized in a sustainable way to feed the
community. Very little fresh meat will be available as
raising livestock consumes enormous amounts of
resources
Other foods such as grains, sugar, and oil which cannot
be produced or grown in Ocean City will be purchased by
the community once the vessel lands at different
locations
33. Sewage & Garbage
Ocean City strives to be a zero waste community, and thus utilizes recycling technology
in a comprehensive way. Sewage & green waste are treated using technology such as
UV rays, and algae to make them reusable for irrigation and composting. Other waste
products are recycled to produce various beneficial products
34. Transportation
Ocean City residents do not have heavy commuting needs. As such the residents will use
bicycles, small electric and hydrogen powered vehicles for commuting around the vessel
A network of pathways to accommodate these vehicles will be built connecting the major
sections of the vessel (gardens, residential space, offices, school, shopping district etc.)
35. Ocean City itself is an ocean traveling vessel powered by wind, solar, and
wave energy. As such the vessel will travel to various destinations
around the world where the residents can experience the various cultural
traditions of the world (e.g.- USA, Brazil, Tonga, Australia, China, Japan,
India, South Africa, England, Greece etc.)
