A company is planning to launch the world's first autonomous floating island into the Pacific Ocean by 2022.
Moored off the shore of Tahiti, and conveniently outside of government regulations, the Floating City Project will be covered in houses, offices and designer hotels.
The NZ$72 million project is backed byNew Zealand's favourite adopted billionaire and Paypal founder, Peter Theil.
The appeal of a private designer island that can be relocated around the Pacific are manifold, and not just to the enemies of regulation or those looking for a patch of paradise which can be built to specification.
The Maui's Hook design offers shelter from the Pacific Ocean. Illustration / Supplied
Researcher and project spokesperson, Nathalie Mezza-Garcia claimed that one day these island communities could provide shelter for refugees displaced by climate change. With Pacific nations increasingly concerned about rising sea levels, Tahiti was a willing pilot for the ambitious ocean-faring project.
Speaking with CNBC Mezza-Garcia said "There is significance to this project being trialed in the Polynesian Islands. This is the region where land is resting on coral and will disappear with rising sea levels.
"Once we can see how this first island works, we will have a proof of concept to plan for islands to house climate refugees."
Among the island's private – and extremely exclusive – residential buildings will be a range of hotels and business centres.
The company Blue Frontiers released concept art for the French Polynesian project at the end of last year.
The design took inspiration from the fish hook of Maui, by way of homage to the project's Polynesian heritage, but also as a structure which can provide shelter for smaller islands and moored vessels.
Designs feature green landscaped roofing and sandy beaches for the extremely wealthy and regulation-free patrons.
It will be a one of a kind destination. Holiday makers will also be able to skip the line at the bureau de change, as the island's proposed currency will be the cryptocurrency: Vayron.
The Seasteading Institute has proposed floating islands as a solution to the world's future problems. Illustration/Supplied
However, the purpose of the project is not to create the next ultra-exclusive party island. Floating in international waters brings with it great advantages, not all of them related to tax and legal status.
Think-tank The Seasteading Institute, which was co-founded by Paypal founder Peter Thiel, has proposed this pioneering settlement should use its autonomy to pursue far more lofty "moral imperatives".
Among the list of utopian-sounding goals include the aim to "liberate humanity from politicians" and finding an end war.
If the project keeps to schedule, the floating island will be welcoming its first visitors in the next five years.
Though a beach getaway on one of these floating designer resorts is not guaranteed to be very relaxing, amongst the island's very earnest and wealthy "Aquapreneurs".
