THE GREAT CHALLENGE: INTEGRATING BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL & VIRTUAL

Pico Velasquez and Matteo Pietrobelli discuss the future of cities, integration of physical and virtual worlds, and implications of what this has to do with the metaverse and Web3 based on the floating city project Oceanix.

Oceanix is a visionary approach that considers different problems related to rising sea levels, overpopulation, and climate change. Its solution is an approach to climate adaptation, re-creating habitats and building them in coastal cities as a modular plug-in. Oceanix has the advantage of being completely decentralized by any legacy network. It’s not connected to the water grid, which allows it to be completely sustainable and use the UN’s SDGs as a design driver. “It all began with a desire to transform our vision in Oceanix from what is perceived as just a physical asset to a digital asset,” said Pietrobelli, CTO of Oceanix. “It became inevitable to associate the design with a smart city design.”

Velasquez highlighted the benefits of this approach: “By integrating physical and virtual components, we can create an immersive and dynamic data-based experience for residents and visitors. It allows us to think beyond the limitations of a traditional city, including its direct translation as a digital double, to create something truly unique and innovative.”

Velasquez explained that the virtual aspect of the project is crucial to its success. “The physical structures are just one aspect of Oceanix,” she said. “Its virtual infrastructure, from architecture to commerce and data management, is equally important, and we must ensure they are integrated seamlessly.”

Given this project’s architectural and infrastructural complexity, Oceanix wants to focus more on the integration of physical and virtual. How will this play out? When speaking about the metaverse, most people initially associate it with virtual reality and video games. They think it will be a parallel platform not integrated with the physical world. Velasquez said that the highest value comes in one becoming the extension of the other.

How do these worlds feed each other the utility that they each bring? For this, Velasquez and Pietrobelli spoke about the different layers of spaces and programming, analysis and data, virtual extensions, commercial transactions, and more that can happen in integrating physical and virtual cities.

Pietrobelli, who is focused on the physical engineering of Oceanix, echoed Velasquez’s sentiment. “It’s not just about building structures that float,” he said. “We need to think about the entire ecosystem—from energy and waste management to transportation and community spaces.”

Within Oceanix, there will be residential, commercial, educational, cultural, and agricultural mixed programming. How does each of these spaces behave? And how is all that data being transacted between these parts? From its economy, currency, and marketplace to the type of experience that happens within them, these are all aspects that need to be designed. Additionally, these cities will have areas or extensions that will only be built out virtually, capable of hosting hundreds of millions of virtual citizens at the same time. The future of physical + Web3 cities will be broken down in many categories and verticals. In Oceanix, one of them is the fact that it’s floating. The infrastructure and technology that go into these designs are very complex. When we envision a city, its physical and geographical placement, and the solutions to these environmental conditions are just the beginning. It’s then followed by different layers of data and its interpretation and optimization with IoT. These include traffic management, operating efficiency, and energy conservation. But another part is thinking that Oceanix will be decentralized, meaning citizens will own their data in a transparent manner, increasing trust and traceability across the network.

Velasquez and Pietrobelli challenged that with all these different nuances and technologies, how do you make a city more viable, evolving from infrastructure and economic transactions to becoming human-centric? This led them to discuss how the digital and physical assets that enhance the well-being of citizens and visitors can be captured to further improve future city experiences.

Bjarke Ingels, founder of BIG, the architecture firm supporting the Oceanix vision, highlights the need for a “holistic approach” to creating sustainable and livable communities. “Oceanix’s goal is to create a city that is not only self-sustaining but also provides a high quality of life for its residents,” he says. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement and collaboration in designing and building a floating city that meets the needs of its inhabitants.

Pico Velasquez is a thought global leader and metaverse visionary. Trained as an architect and computational designer with distinction from Harvard University, she has been the computational architect and creative director of prominent multimedia projects, including Google’s new headquarters at BIG, Oculus at Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, and the video game Superforest. As the founder and CEO of VIIRA, Velasquez aims to further evolve the art, culture, and entertainment sectors by bringing companies into the metaverse and integrating them with blockchain, NFTs, and DeFi.

The first physical build of Oceanix is planned to be in Busan, South Korea, simultaneously hosting a digital economy and community. The opportunities for such are not only economical but social as it will create inclusion. It will allow people who cannot travel to South Korea to experience it virtually. It might not be the same type of experience, but it will provide a limitless framework of creativity, as well as help in envisioning how this type of solution can be integrated in other parts of the world.

Pietrobelli added, “The success of this project relies on our ability to collaborate and work together to create something truly groundbreaking. By leveraging the strengths of both the physical and virtual aspects, we can create a floating city that sets a new standard for sustainable urban design.”

Overall, Velasquez and Pietrobelli are excited about the potential of Oceanix to be a model for sustainable, human-centered resilient urban development. “It’s not just about building a floating city,” said Pietrobelli. “It’s about creating a new way of living that is in harmony with the environment and meets the needs of communities.”

Velasquez agreed, adding, “There is a unique opportunity with Oceanix to push the boundaries of what’s possible in city development. By integrating physical and virtual architectural developments, we can create a truly innovative and sustainable city.”

Matteo Jean Pietrobelli CTO & Chief Engineer, Oceanix New York, New York

Matteo Jean Pietrobelli is a structural, civil, and systems engineer with a track record executing complex multibilliondollar construction projects spanning transportation, marine, and highrise structures. He currently works as the chief engineer and CTO of Oceanix City, a cutting-edge climate/ blue technologies development and integration company for floating infrastructures.