Saudi Arabia unveils its $8 billion turtle-shaped floating city

If you're getting a little bored of your neighbourhood and looking for a change of scenery, why not move into a giant floating turtle?

The answer seems obvious now, doesn't it?

Yes, you asked and Saudi Arabia listened as now, the plans to create their $8 billion floating city Pangeos are officially underway. And not a moment too soon, if you ask me!

The 'terayacht' project, designed by Italian studio Lazzarini, will hold approximately 60,000 people as well private houses and apartments, a shopping mall, and a rooftop garden.

At its widest point, Pangeos will stretch to 610 metres wide and 550 metres long, so they won't exactly be stuck for space.

The city's 64 apartments will be located in each of the turtle's feet, while villas will be found in the turtle's wings. Plus there'll be space for hotels for any tourists who might want to stop by.

Lazzarini

The floating city will not only have ports for other ships to dock, but a landing space at the top of the turtle's shell for flying vehicles to drop in.

And don't worry, this mega yacht will be relying on green energy supplies to power its city, using energy from the ocean's waves and the ship's solar panel roofs.

If you were wondering how this massive structure is going to stay afloat (a concept that'll definitely freak you out if you think about it too much), the yacht's base will be made out 30,000 'cells' working to keep it above water, as well as a basement made of steel, with 30 metres of draft.

Though Pangeos is set to be based in Saudi Arabia, it will be able to cruise through waters at a speed of five knots.

Lazzarini

So, when can we move in?

Construction on Pangeos could start as soon as 2023, though it's expected to take about eight years to finish... so maybe don't start packing your bags just yet.

Designers are proposing a square kilometre of sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia as the building site for this monster yacht, and already have their eye on the King Abdullah Port as the best bet.

If this sounds like a bit of you, you can put down a deposit on some Pangeos real estate right now.

With the option to choose between VIP apartments, houses, villas, and super villas, eager future residents can claim their new property now with the help of the Metaverse. We really are living in the future.

Lazzarini

"We believe a virtual space is the first step into a real development of the project", the Pangeos website explains.

"For this reason an Unreal Engine Metaverse is now under construction."

All that means, when the virtual reality version of Pangeos launches in the Metaverse, you can buy a virtual home as an NFT.

If you buy an NFT property, it'll be your way in to the Pangeos Metaverse, as well as a deposit on the real space when it's finally built a decade from now.

Erm, yeah. Maybe I'll just come and visit on a holiday.