Article Date: 6th Jan, 2026
As Australia grapples with rising land values and housing affordability challenges, Chien Ming Wang, Vice President of SFSS and Professor at The University of Queensland, has proposed a bold solution: building cities on the ocean.
A world-leading authority on Very Large Floating Structures (VLFS), Professor Wang has spent over 25 years researching massive, stable floating platforms capable of supporting urban populations. Drawing inspiration from Japan’s Mega Float project in Tokyo Bay, his work demonstrates that large-scale floating infrastructure is both technically viable and increasingly practical with modern engineering tools.
Professor Wang argues that with global urban populations projected to reach 4.9 billion by 2030, the ocean represents an underutilised frontier. Beyond housing, floating cities could harness renewable energy from waves, wind and solar, treat seawater for potable use, and integrate sustainable marine-based food systems.
Globally, progress is already underway. The Maldives Floating City is currently under development, offering government-issued property titles and sustainable waterfront living. Meanwhile, Japan-based design firm N-Ark has proposed Dogen City, a circular smart healthcare floating city designed to accommodate 10,000 residents and withstand extreme weather conditions.
While floating developments near Australia’s major coastal capitals would require significant investment — potentially exceeding $1 billion — Professor Wang believes rising land costs may eventually make ocean expansion economically viable.
With technology advancing rapidly, floating cities are transitioning from conceptual ambition to realistic urban innovation.
Source: RealEstate.com.au