Zenbird Editorial TeamN-ARK Corporation unveiled its business blueprint for a maritime city dubbed “Dogen City.” This venture’s mission is to create “NEW OCEAN,” an ambitious economic space, fostering collaboration between academia, government, and various industries. The “NEW OCEAN Consortium” will spearhead the cause, making “NEW OCEAN” a tangible reality.
N-ARK’s industrious efforts are evident in the progress seen in Hamamatsu City since October 2022. The corporation initiated operations in the latter half of 2021, fostering the development of “Green Ocean,” a marine farm based in Lake Hamana. The objective is to erect a demonstration device of “Green Ocean” by the Lake Hamana Flower Expo in March 2024.
Dogen City emerges from the challenges and solutions inherent to marine businesses. To achieve sustainability and solve existing problems, the confluence of policies, business strategies, and technology is necessary. This amalgamation creates a new maritime economic zone – the central principle of the “Dogen City” business concept. The project, bolstered by various companies, government entities, and universities, seeks to realize “NEW OCEAN,” a new era of maritime business innovation.
Dogen City takes a twofold approach: fostering social and economic impact. Socially, it gears to respond to natural disasters, enhance the marine environment, and accept climate refugees. Economically, it looks beyond traditional shipping, resources, and defense to encourage development through novel technology and businesses.
Dogen City is set to span about 1.58 km in diameter and approximately 4 km in circumference, reflecting the Japanese concept of “1 hour ri“. A ri, set by the Meiji government, is about 4 km (or 36 towns), roughly an hour’s walk. The city, expected to host about 10,000 residents, will offer city-level facilities with a livability reminiscent of a cozy village.
Dogen City is a pioneering maritime hub set to feature a trio of infrastructural elements: a protective ‘Ring’ offering liveable space and public housing, an ‘Undersea Edge Data Center’ delivering high-value, energy-efficient services, and adaptable ‘Floating Architecture’ circumventing land restrictions. Beyond infrastructure, Dogen City ambitiously combines healthcare, food, and housing, providing unique medical tourism experiences, an innovative culinary scene fueled by seawater agriculture and aquaculture, and seawater hot springs. Additionally, it commits to aiding disaster victims and climate refugees while offering advanced educational opportunities.
As it stands, the roadmap predicts the completion of Dogen City by 2030, setting a new precedent for sustainable urban development in a marine environment.
