paios

Paios are a term used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to describe a class of modular, semi-autonomous social-technical systems designed to support cooperative living and sustainable resource use in a fictional archipelago. Each piao operates as a compact unit that integrates housing, agricultural plots, and governance mechanisms, enabling residents to pool labor and share resources while maintaining local autonomy.

The word is derived from a fictional language used in the archipelago of Pairoa, where the concept originated. In the language, pai means "together" and -os marks a collectivity, reflecting the emphasis on communal effort.

Structure and types: A piao typically consists of a central hub building that houses common facilities, multiple modular plots that can be reconfigured, and an insertable governance layer that records decisions and allocations. Some variants emphasize intensive farming and water management, while others prioritize crafts, education, or trade. All variants share core principles: subsidiarity, participatory decision-making, and ecological balance.

History: The concept first appeared in speculative fiction and theoretical writing in the late 21st century and has since been used in multiple worldbuilding projects and discussions of sustainable communal living. It is often discussed as a thought experiment illustrating models of shared resource management and resilience.

See also: cooperative models, participatory governance, sustainable design, intentional communities.