Neo-Genesis Pacific: A Solarpunk Aquatic Refuge for Urban Regeneration and a Self-Sustaining Community

Far Eastern University (FEU), Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts (IARFA)

Project idea

The Neo-Genesis Pacific is a visionary architectural response to the escalating threat of large-scale seismic and tsunami events triggered by the Philippine Trench. Rooted in the principles of Solarpunk resilience and aquatic urbanism, the project reimagines human habitation through a self-sustaining aquatic refuge that can adapt to rising seas, unstable land, and geologic disruption. Designed for vulnerable coastal populations, it aims to address the urgent need for future-ready, climate-resilient infrastructure in disaster-prone regions.
This project seeks to develop a resilient urban aquatic refuge that remains stable and functional during earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters by incorporating floating capabilities and disaster-responsive building technologies. These include advanced systems such as viscous dampers that absorb seismic energy and hydraulic lifting caisson foundations that allow the platform to adjust in elevation and float when necessary, reducing wave impact and structural stress. Furthermore, Neo-Genesis Pacific will implement a resilient and inclusive livelihood system, integrated with spatial planning strategies to support both pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster continuity.
A key component of the project is the farming hexagonal module, which enables productive food systems across water. These modules double sustainability by combining land-based and aquatic cultivation, enhancing year-round food security while reducing land dependency. At its core, the refuge is designed for flexibility, usability, comfort, and long-term sustainability, aiming to redefine future standards of living in the age of climate uncertainty. It also enhances emergency response capabilities while minimizing social disruption, creating systems that are adaptable and community driven.
The projectl further aspires to develop advanced structure protection systems by integrating both engineered innovations and natural ecological barriers such as wave-dampening forms, energy-absorbing materials, and mangrove-inspired systems to mitigate environmental damage while preserving and restoring critical ecosystems and infrastructure. Finally, Neo-Genesis Pacific aims to foster social organization and recovery in aquatic urban communities by reducing socio-economic disparities, promoting equality in access to refuge and resources, and offering a model of proactive, holistic adaptation to coastal risks.
Neo-Genesis Pacific is more than just an architectural solution it is a prototype for survival and renewal, inspiring a “neo-genesis” or new beginning for life in the Pacific in the face of ecological collapse and tectonic instability.

Project description

Natural disasters continue to escalate, posing severe threats to coastal communities especially in high-risk zones like Catanduanes, where the Philippine Trench has the potential to generate earthquake of magnitude 8.3 or higher, potentially triggering a massive tsunami. In response, Neo-Genesis Pacific envisions a new standard for coastal living: an innovative urban refuge that merges survival, sustainability, and urban regeneration.
The Neo-Genesis Project is a visionary response to post-apocalyptic scenarios, addressing how coastal communities survive and sustain themselves in the long term. This refuge includes sustainable farming spaces, livelihood areas, research and community engagement centers, and living station for coastal dwellers, fishermen, and farmers. It supports the growth of the Agri-fishing sector, ensuring the project’s long-term viability.
By leveraging natural resources, the project fosters a self-sustaining economy while enhancing resilience. Rooted in Solarpunk architecture, it promotes human habitation that coexists with nature and restores the environment. Aligned with its design intent, Neo-Genesis builds a cohesive, adaptive, and resilient community system transforming scattered coastal populations into unified community equipped to withstand future disasters. Neo Genesis Pacific symbolizes a new beginning in the Pacific Ocean, urging us to step forward into a new frontier where water becomes the foundation of our future.

Technical information

(1) Viscous dampers in the Neo-Genesis Pacific structure are designed to absorb and dissipate energy from both lateral (horizontal) and vertical forces caused by tsunami waves and seismic activity. These devices work by converting the kinetic energy of movement into heat through fluid resistance within a cylinder. When massive wave pressure or ground shaking occurs, the dampers reduce the amplitude of vibration, stabilizing the structure and preventing collapse or deformation. This passive control system enhances the overall resilience and survivability of the urban refuge under extreme geophysical stress. (2) The hydraulic caisson system enables the entire building platform to elevate in response to rising water levels or tsunami waves. Integrated with mechanical lifts and buoyant chambers, the caisson structure adjusts vertically, reducing the direct impact of water surges on habitable spaces. This allows the facility to float temporarily or adjust elevation based on disaster risk levels. As a hybrid solution combining both fixed and adaptive foundation strategies, it supports long-term survivability on unstable or subaqueous terrain. (3) The farming hexagonal modules are designed as modular, floating systems that integrate aquatic and terrestrial farming, effectively doubling sustainability by shifting agriculture from land to water. Each unit supports multi-layered production aquaponics or hydroponics below and vertical plant systems above maximizing space and yield within a compact footprint. The hexagonal geometry enables seamless interlocking, forming a resilient farming network that floats and adapts with the rising sea. This water-based farming innovation reduces dependency on land-based resources, creating a self-sustaining food system that thrives even in submerged or post-disaster environments.