Xinyu Lai
About
Harvard GSD Design Discovery program
July 2022
Human pollution continues to accelerate the melting of glaciers, and scientists estimate that sea levels in East Boston will rise by approximately 6.4 feet (195 cm) within the next 100 years. To address this, our project“Last Land” program proposes an urban planning solution to mitigate the effects of future sea level rise. Base on the principle of being responsive to and respectful of nature, the plan envisions a future where the remaining habitable land in East Boston will gradually be withdrawn from human use over the course of a century. This land will be allowed to regenerate, providing a sanctuary for native flora and fauna.
As a response to this shift, humans will relocate to floating islands powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and tidal power. These islands will support a self-sustaining way of life, with systems in place for recycling waste and generating electricity. Residents will rely on fishing for food, while vegetables, fruits, and livestock will be cultivated on rooftops that remain above the rising sea level. Over time, the majority of roofs will be repurposed for growing crops and trees, with the produce transported to the floating islands for consumption.
This approach aims to address the challenges posed by the depletion of natural systems by prioritizing ecological sustainability. By retreating from vulnerable land, humans will seek to create a harmonious balance with nature, living on floating islands that minimize their environmental impact. The concept draws inspiration from “Laputa,” the floating island in Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki, suggesting a vision of a future where technology and nature coexist in a way that allows humanity to adapt to environmental changes while preserving the planet’s resources.
Drawing 2022-2025
“Therefore, the places in which we have experienced daydreaming reconstitute themselves in a new daydream, and it is because our memories of former dwelling-places are relived as day-dreams that these dwelling-places of the past remain in us for all time.”
― Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space
― Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space
Self Portrait 12x12’’ 2022 Ink, charcoal on paper