For all its pleasures, owning a private island comes with certain challenges. Transportation certainly tops the list, particularly in remote locations. For those who have access to small planes, the time it takes to get to one’s own slice of paradise can be greatly reduced. Airstrips are a necessary component for these lucky island owners.

Building an airstrip firstly requires permission from the local government, even in countries with few building restrictions. It is essential that the proper planning and zoning rights be obtained prior to construction. Many engineering firms will undertake private airstrip construction, but for some intrepid island owners, do-it-yourself is a possibility. Read more »

Build your own island! A unique and very low-maintenance option for a beautiful garden, floating “Islandscapes” use sod and flowers to create miniature islands in ponds, streams and placid rivers. Not only are these little islands pretty and easy to care for, but they will serve as a refuge for wildlife species and contribute to the general health of your surrounding ecosystem.

To construct a floating island garden, purchase an Islandscape or similar product, and cover it with ordinary turf. Seed or plant it with wetland plants and hardy wildflowers such as daisies, lilies and baby’s breath, and set the island adrift.  Only the most minimal care may be needed, as while the island can be tied to a line and pulled in for watering or fertilizing, it will also grab needed nutrients from the surrounding water. The benefits to Islandscapes are numerous. A solution to the murky, clouded water often found in shallow ponds or placid streams, the islands act as a biofiltration system that attracts solids and improves water quality.  And since the islands are more isolated than most waterfront areas, they become a safe haven for ducks, geese and other waterfowl.

Particularly suited for garden enthusiasts to create on their island or vacation properties that are used seasonally, no watering or maintenance is generally required. The use of tough perennial flowers and plants will also ensure that your Islandscapes will naturally regenerate each year, greeting you with gorgeous blooming flowers when you return to your island in warm weather.

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From Canada, to Mexico to Dubai, for centuries humans have been building islands. The major limitation in the construction of islands is that they can only be built in shallow water due to the expense and resource intensiveness of construction. However, this is a limitation that may soon be history with the development of a new deep water platform.

Developed by Versabuoy International the deep water platform uses articulating spars that can absorb intense waves making large scale development safer and more feasible. The innovation is touted as bringing deep water land mass creation closer to fruition. What this means for potential island owners is that it is now possible to create man made islands in deep ocean waters. With nearly 71% of the earths landmass located in deep water, the new deep water platform opens up the oceans to development that was not possible even just a few years ago. Truly the depths of the oceans are a new frontier for island lovers

In 1969, construction began at the site of what is today Ontario Place on Toronto’s waterfront. Conceived as an effort to revitalize the city’s lakeshore following the intense industrialization of the 1960’s, the architectural endeavour was ambitious for its time, using previously unexplored construction techniques to support the designs to follow.

Those techniques involved the sinking of three Great Lakes freighters to create three fifty-acre parcels of land, anchored to the lake’s bedrock and covered with landfill. In previous years, much of the city’s waterfront had been developed using landfill in similar ways. Ontario Place, however, is an excellent example of what can be done by recycling old, man-made materials and creating an artificial reef capable of supporting enough weight to permit the development of the park’s existing attractions.

Before you toss that rusted old dinghy, think about its possibilities.