THE CORAL SAVIOUR
In the ocean, there are creatures, which are host to a quarter of the biodiversity of the oceans, while holding barely one percent of the oceans area, which are marveling us withthousand different colours, and which could be our saviour in the era of climate changeand natural disasters-if we consider sustaining and nurturing them. Of course, I amtalking about corals.
Our project for the State of Kiribati-and most importantly, for the city of South Tarawa-isnamed after corals for a reason. At the very base of it resides the notion, that the coralsare the heart of this region. Their decay could bring death to it, but its revival, on thecontrary-to a great development of the region.
Our proposal is a two-component system. The first long-term component is plantingartificial coral reefs and islands, thus providing the local population with a shield againsttsunamis and unwanted sea level rise, and additional land in perspective. The second,short-and middle-term component, is building floating urban housing, which could be thencombined to create floating districts in the bay area of South Tarawa, which would removethe heavy residential load off the city. This should lead to different possibilities inside theexisting city, like building parks and bringing back nature to the places, which have beenslums otherwise.
The artificial coral reefs and islands are also bringing us diverse possibilities for sea-farming, planting mangroves and expanding the biodiversity of the region. In the longperspective, they would grow and take territories so vast, that it would be possible to buildon this foundation. The state of Kiribati dwells primarily on the coral atolls. So the slogan ofour proposal would be-let's return to the roots of indigenous nature and build the city ofthe future on the coral foundations.
