Floating City: Shadow Ecologies

Contributors

Varun Gandhi (M.Arch. '26)
Eavan Flanagan (M.Arch. '26)

Class

ARCH 5112 Core Design Studio II: Relational and Ecological Design

Instructors

Christopher Battaglia
Farzin Lotfi-Jam

The Floating City – Shadow Ecologies investigates the hidden networks of maritime labor and the infrastructural realities of shadow fleets—unregulated tanker ships that extend their operational lifespan beyond conventional limits. These vessels, often unseen by the public, play a crucial role in the global oil economy while existing in legal and logistical limbo. Drawing from the fluidity and resilience of maritime systems, this project envisions a self-sustaining floating city in the Bay of Bengal, reclaiming space on the high seas for the workers of these shadow fleets. It transforms decommissioned oil rigs and tanker ships into an adaptable infrastructure, providing a hub for rest, repair, and community.

The city evolves from a network of docking points into a thriving ecosystem, utilizing modular docking strategies and triangulated connections to enhance stability and circulation. At its core, Floating City – Shadow Ecologies challenges traditional notions of sovereignty and territory, offering a new vision of habitation beyond national borders—where labor, infrastructure, and autonomy intersect in the open ocean.

It is designed as a modular infrastructure, integrating docking, living, and communal spaces to support the shadow fleet community. The city evolves through phases of expansion, beginning as a hub for ship-to-ship oil transfers and growing into a self-sustaining maritime settlement. Key spaces include docking platforms optimized for stability and efficiency, repair facilities for ship maintenance, and lodging quarters repurposed from decommissioned tanker hulls.

A recreational ship functions as the central public space, with old oil tanks converted into parks and walkways. The observatory rig serves as a landmark and cultural center, housing a museum, viewing tower, and water feature that extends the experience beyond the industrial framework. A circular sky bridge provides connectivity across the triangulated docking system, reinforcing the city’s adaptability and resilience within the shifting maritime landscape.