For the man (or woman) who has everything, including 100 million dollar spare cash, there will soon be another alternative to the super-yacht — a floating city. Soon, the wealthy can buy brand new islands (Called Seasteads) with an attached resort and a swimming pool.
Artist’s impression of the Seastead Project
The Seastead project involves building moveable man-made islands that will be able to house 225 individuals, plus 50 guests at the attached resort having 70 sqm apartments, each with a sea-view terrace. Homes will be powered by solar energy and will receive water via rainwater harvesting. Of course, helipads will make hopping back to the mainland an easy task.
The pilot project is funded by US non-profit organisation ‘The Seasteading Institute’ (established by billionaire founder of PayPal, Peter Thiel) with the aim of exploring an ‘alternative social system’ that will house self-governing individuals, free from any government laws and taxes.
But how feasible is the project? Will countries allow the promoters of this project to create a base within their territorial limits, with ‘substantial political autonomy’? Well, this is what they’re trying to figure out!
And even if the ‘Seastead’ doesn’t serve the initial, intended purpose of the project, it could soon be something that most super-rich may want to buy, an alternative to the super-yacht!
So, will the Seastead project find any buyers in India? Of course some of our leading businessmen could afford it, but not sure about our Bollywood stars…probably not yet. Is this better left to the Hollywood biggies?
