Abstract:
This research presents the design of an offshore floating settlement situated in the lagoon waters off Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep, India. Conceived as a network of modular, buoyant platforms—each housing residential units, communal facilities, aquaculture zones and eco-tourism pavilions—the project seeks to demonstrate a
scalable model of marine architecture that is both self-sustaining and culturally resonant.
Rising sea levels, increasing cyclone intensity, and population pressures on limited land area demand innovative urban responses. Conventional shoreline defences and inland migration undermine the social fabric of island communities and incur heavy carbon footprints. In this context, buoyant neighbourhoods emerge as an adaptive strategy to secure habitation, preserve local identity, and accommodate sustainable growth without expanding the carbon footprint.
Building on precedents from floating developments in the Netherlands and resort structures in the Maldives, this study investigates the environmental, social, and technological dimensions of aquatic living in a tropical marine lagoon. A detailed analysis of Lakshadweep’s tidal currents, wave regimes, and coral-reef ecology
informs structural mooring and wave-attenuation systems. Concurrently, an ethnographic study of island social networks guides the spatial organisation of communal spaces, ensuring cultural continuity. Technical feasibility is assessed through material selection, energy-generation schemes (solar photovoltaics, smallscale wind, and wave energy converters), and integrated water-waste management systems. Environmental impact assessments evaluate potential effects on marine ecosystems, while participatory workshops with local stakeholders explore sociocultural implications.
By synthesising sustainable design principles with indigenous knowledge, the research defines guidelines for floating settlement functionality, covering structural resilience, resource loops (aquaponics and greywater recycling), and low-impact tourism. The outcome is a resilient, eco-friendly, socially inclusive urban model tailored to archipelagic regions confronting climate change and urbanisation challenges.
Keywords: Lakshadweep Islands; Rising Sea Levels; Sustainable Urbanisation; Amphibious Communities; Archipelagos.
