Greg Keeffe - Sink or Swim

Sink or Swim Design strategies to confront sea level rise on the East Coast of the United States

Authors: Greg Keeffe

Noor Abdulkhaleq, Klytaimnistra Avgetidou, Sijia Chi, Hyun Jun Cho, Jin Kyung Cho, Eduardo Cilleruelo Teran,Yang Du, Xinyue Geng, Valentina Haro, Lulin He, Jason Huang, Shhrruti Jain, Mingfeng Jiang, Ohjin Jo, Minjae Koo, So Min Lee, Tongbi Li, Haotian Ma, Thakan Navapakpilai, Eric Peters, Phasit Rattanachaisit, Sampriti Sheth, Aubrey Sterling, Weijia Sun, Haoyuan Wang, Xingyao Wang, Yunqin Wang, Ziqi Wang, Chuyi Wu, Fanghong Xu, Connor Yocum, Xiaobai Zhao

Sink or Swim

Content

Title: Sink or Swim Design strategies to confront sea level rise on the East Coast of the United States

8

Introduction

44

Propositions

70

Provocations

168

What’s Next?

Authorship: Greg Keeffe and Cornell M.S. AAD Candidates 2021-2022 Studio Course Fall Semester 2021

Editors: Supervisor: Greg Keeffe General: Eduardo Cilleruelo Teran, Eric Peters Drawings and Color Palette: So Min Lee, Minjae Koo, Weijia Sun and Sijia Chi Notes and references advisor: Noor Abdulkhaleq Revision: Connor Yocum, Valentina Haro

Printing: February 2022 ISBN: 978-0-9972602-6-7 Cornell Print Services, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY 14850 Funding provided by the Department of Architecture

Fonts: Roboto

Creative Commons: This book includes materials from other authors. Please see the citation chapter for more information. All of the materials are creative commons available for publication or are own elaborations.

4

01

Submarine City

02

Shifting Sands

03

The Zone

72

04

Metal Straws

108

Up and Out

07

Double Velocity

08

Bubble City

132

84

96

06

144

05

120

Sedimentary Coral

156

5

Manifesto Greg Keeffe ‘Mutability is the epitaph of worlds. Change alone is changeless. People drop out of the history of a life as of a land, though their work or their influence remains.’

G Linnaeus Banks. The Manchester Man 1876.

America’s East Coast is dissolving into the Atlantic due to delayed effects from the last ice age, and this sinking process is being exacerbated by global warming, which is raising sea-level by an alarming and increasing rate. Gradual sea level rise isn’t the only issue – there is also increased storminess due to planetary heating which is leading to storms with incredible surges associated with them. This is some of the most densely populated land in the US: something has to give. If we are to continue to live by the sea – our cities and their architecture will have to adapt – and quickly… by the end of the century, sea levels will be more than a metre higher than now – and storm surges due to hurricanes could add another 10 meters to that.

Climate Adaptation is one of the most difficult challenges of not only this century but also beyond. Climate change will not stop suddenly: it is likely that it will continue long beyond this millennia.

This long-term impact challenges us as designers to think beyond a singular intervention and understand adaptation as a continual re-adjustment: a series or process of re-negotiations with nature.

We need to realize that our existence is contingent with these forces.

There are also serious ethical issues – leaving the mess for the next or future generations, when it is us and our parents who created the problem is not fair – but investing now in changes that may not be needed for a century or more is equally pointless. We need solutions that deal with both these conflicting positions. This indeed is the most wicked of problems.

A wicked problem is one that is open-ended and has actors and their actions as part of the problem. Sea level rise is just that: in the middle-ages King Canute of England famously showed the weakness of man in the face of the geologic:

6

“With the greatest vigour he (Canute) commanded that his chair should be set on the shore, when the tide began to rise. And then he spoke to the rising sea saying “You are part of my dominion, and the ground that I am seated upon is mine, nor has anyone disobeyed my orders with impunity. Therefore, I order you not to rise onto my land, nor to wet the clothes or body of your Lord. But the sea carried on rising as usual without any reverence for his person, and soaked his feet and legs. Then he moving away said: “All the inhabitants of the world should know that the power of kings is vain and trivial, and that none is worthy of the name of king but He whose command the heaven, earth and sea obey by eternal laws”.

(Henry of Huntingdon, Historia Anglorum) Unlike Canute, we are not so humble and have treated the coast as a man-made and permanent structure. We are now beginning to see the error of our ways: the coastal condition is a dynamic equilibrium, not a static one and our cities will have to adapt to extreme sea-level rise sooner or later.

This book starts to describe the problem and develops a range of design propositions about adaptation, that are then applied in a range of cities along the coast. This methodology is known as ‘research by design’ where we use design as a tool to test and visualise the future impact of actions, in order to sensitivity-test situations and learn about how we can change the status quo through designed interventions. This iterative process allows us as designers to move in complex contexts where other more empirically based disciplines cannot.

The designs presented are future focussed and rigorous; many create new contexts that are radical in effect, but all start with a series of overlaid, simple, process-based adaptations of known technology. The future is ours to shape: as Buckminister Fuller famously said, ‘The best way to predict the future, is to design it!’.

M.S. AAD Class‘22 The coming years present a pivotal moment in the history of our planet. Carbon neutrality is no longer a best-case scenario for the next decades, but an absolute necessity if we hope to slow climate change. As global leaders negotiate a deal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, we as designers must prepare for drastic change in the built environment. It is widely understood that it is too late to prevent any sea level rise in the coming decades. According to NASA, “Global sea level has risen by about 8 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880. It is projected to rise another 1 to 8 feet by 2100. This is the result of added water from melting land ice and the expansion of seawater as it warms.” Humans have pumped too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is too late. That said, there is still hope. We must work quickly and boldly if we hope to mitigate future impacts of climate change, designing our cities to not only save ourselves, but also the planet.

This re-imagining of the American city investigates complex infrastructural shifts while also considering the socio-cultural impacts of a changing way of life. These futures, at times strange and absurd to the average citizen, explore what it means to live in a rapidly changing environment. No longer can we continue to live as we once did. Instead, a new way of community building, economic development, and daily life must occur to adapt to the critical threat the rising sea level presents to our communities.

The climate crisis is a vast and complex problem, one which quickly forms a web of other complicated and seemingly unanswerable questions. Through the explorations to come, we have focused in on a few key factors in re-imagining the coastal city. These include an increase in severe weather, a rise in sea level of up to 5 meters, and shifting climatic conditions. What is not fully considered are some of the tertiary effects of these environmental shifts, including but not limited to a spread of disease, food scarcity, and refugees. Instead, through a series of eight audacious case studies, we can begin to more fully understand the possibilities of such a vast undertaking. This collaborative effort of thirty-two students serves as a framework for the future of determining the fates of coastal communities. Only through intensive teamwork, discussion, disagreement, and resolution can we hope to find innovative and ideas. Though this case study of collaborative design efforts has taken place over a very short period of time, we can only hope that future collaboratives will continue to explore and expand upon the ideas within this volume.

We believe that the creation of the city of tomorrow is dependent on the forethought and imagination of designers today. We believe that climate change must be dealt with boldly, and that reactionary methodology is no longer enough to save coastal communities.

We believe in the power of design, data, and imagination to create a more equitable, just, and environmentally aware future. Global leaders must decide here and now, will we sink or swim?

7

INTROD

8

U CTION

9

Introduction Our studio is proud to share eight design proposals responding to the threat of rising sea levels. Using information collected from reliable federal, state, city, academic, and private sources, studio teams have assembled a vast network of information in order to create data visualizations that communicate the urgency and importance of addressing sea level rise. Our studio’s research utilized the most recent and accurate data available, however designing for future scenarios is inherently fallible. Sea levels may rise more slowly or quickly than projected, rendering some designs more appropriate than others.

The following designs are less solutions than they are responses. In aiming to address the immediate issues surrounding sea level rise, they do not take into account the full complexity of global climate change. Instead, they are vignettes of possible “futures experiments” in investigating one aspect of climate change. However, we believe these proposals are valuable beyond their surface level imagery, they are meant to be utilized as conversation starters, idea generators, and reminders of the potentiality of both an apocalyptic future if we change nothing, and a hopeful future if appropriate and timely action is taken. In this book, we present proposals ranging from serious to extravagant, passive to aggressive, and utopian to dystopian.

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Each chapter highlights one design strategy and one city. Timelines, maps, and imagery will provide relevant historical, climatic, and geographic context at the scale of the city. Additional mapping and drawings illustrate the response and how it transforms the city’s relationship with the sea. Our studio generated many more ideas that are not shown in detail in this book.

The last chapter, Alternative Futures, includes all the potentialities left out of the major chapters that may yet be viable and exciting responses to sea level rise.

Eduardo Cilleruelo Teran. Atlantic City inspirational image

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PORTLAND, MA

HISTORY History AND and LEGACIES

Our researchers andthe contributors to this historical preface his is introduction text for history are our genius Chieng, Aubrey, Jin,introduction Xingyao, Sampriti, sectionhis is the textXinyue, for Mingfeng and Connor.

NORFOLK, VA FT LAUDERDALE, FL

JACKSONVILLE, FL

history sectionhis is the introduction text for history section

CHARLESTON, SC

section

SAVANNAH, SC

This chapterThis investigates histories of eight along the is thethe introduction textcities for history eastern coastsection of the United have an increased risk ThisStates is thewhich introduction text for of sea level rise. The process involved thorough research of the history sectionThis is the introduction multi-layered histories to understand the significant events that text tofor history sectionThis isrelation the have contributed the development of the cities in to existing conditions.

Graphically abstracting historical introduction text is are lsotthese for history events across the eight cities a narrative text that is, sectionThis is generates the introduction forat the surface level, intuitive, brief, and playful, while on second history sectionThis is the introduction glance, complex, relevant, and dismal. Lastly, these themes are text chronological for history sectionThis isin order the organized in both and thematic structures to understand an interconnected highlighting similarities introduction texthistory for history section his among citiesis at risk. the introduction text for history

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ

NANTUCKET, MA

Legacies

12

Prehistory

1600

1800

1900

SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

TRANSPORTATION

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

JAXPORT

DREDGING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SHIP BUILDING

BEACH

Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

13

Prehistory

1600

180

Geology 1600

1800

TRANSPORTATION

DREDGING

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Geological Resource The protected harbor with deep water helps the city to develop marine industry.

2. Land as Pile of Sand Material deposits from glacial activity result in temporal land mass continually shaped by the forces of the sea.

3. Coastal Plain to Aquifer The coastal plain was formed after the glacial period, consisting of sand and clay beds which facilitated aquifers.

4.

Continued Shaping FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE SHIP BUILDING Willoughby Spit appears overnight due to a large hurricane, increasing the land area of the city.

SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

TERTIA

5. Fill-and-Build Continuous artificial fill-and-build process occupies the land of the sea and reshapes the geological features of the city.

6. Estuarian Lowland Estuarian lowland condition being reclaimed for urbanization resulting in inland flooding.

7. The River of Lakes Jacksonville is surrounded by wetlands making the St Johns River a river of lakes.

8. Dredging Waterways EngineersBEACH dredged the waterways deep enough for ships to sail in The New River and its tributary from the Atlantic Ocean.

Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

14 TRANSPORTATION

JAXPORT

1800

1900

Transportation SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

1600

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

1800

1900

1.

2.SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

3.

5.

6.

7.

TRANSPORTATION

1. Ice-free Railroad First international ice-free railroad was constructed, marking the importance of the city.

2. Limited Modes Exclusive means of transportation required to reach the island serve to further distance from the mainland.

3. Camden - Atlantic City Railroad A railroad connecting Philadelphia to Atlantic City was developed for entrepreneurial and health reasons.

4. Connected by Rail and Sea Railroad arrival establishes Norfolk as transportation and shipping hub.

4.

JAXPORT

8.

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

DREDGING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SH

5. Wide Street Planning The Grand Model of 1670 superimposed an efficient transportation structure on top of an undulating topography.

6. International Port for Trade Establishing ports for international trade and domestic connections via railroads.

7. Port of Jacksonville Jacksonville’s location has made the city a major transportation hub with many shipping lines since the 1920s.

8. Water Taxi People enjoy the ride with a refreshing beverage, a bright breeze, and fact-filled tours of the “Venice of America”.

T

Figure 04. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

15

1900

Civilization

URE

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

1600

1800

190

TRANSPORTATION

1.

2.

3. SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Burned and Destroyed Portland was burned down three times, once caused by an Independence Day celebration.

2. Inflatable Population Today’s population of the island varies by season, expanding in the warmer summer months and contracting in the winter.

3. Native American Displacement Native Americans were displaced after a treaty in 1851 with promises of support that never materialized.

4. Short-sighted Momentum Personal value of owning waterfront property outweighs financial value of moving inland.

JAXPORT

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

5. Military Mindset as Conqueror Charleston has always deployed expansion strategies to absorb more natural land for economic benefits.

6. First Planned City of USA Planning a city grid without considering landscape and natural contours.

7. Totems under the River Owl, pelican, and otter totems were discovered during underwater utility work.

8. Finger Islanding When studying the parallel canal system of Venice, the developer used a technique called “finger islanding.”

Figure 05. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

16 TRANSPORTATION

D

1600

1800

1900

Industry SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

1800

1900

TRANSPORTATION

DREDGING

JAXPORT

SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

2.

3. TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

4.

5.

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE 6.

7.

8.

1.

JAXPORT

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

DREDGING

1. Ships/Train Manufacturing Portland quickly developed into manufacturing industry with its abundant wood and railroad that was introduced.

2. Borrowed Materials The lack of resources native to the island forces inhabitants to rely on raw materials from nearby sources for industry.

3. Vacation and Leisure City Approx. 16,000,000 visited the city in 1940.

The vacation became a part of American lifestyle.

4. Ports Ports and support facilities are constructed on a mass scale, dominating the industry of the city.

SHIP BUILDING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SHIP

BEACH

5. Real Estate Value along Coast The newly filled land serves as the platform for the real estate industry to maintain its growing profit.

6. Increased Population Largest producer of cotton, city planning revolves around agriculture.

7. Ship Building The largest ship yard in Jacksonville expanded and built 25 ships in support of the war effort during World War I. 8. Yacht Manufacturing TRANSPORTATION JAXPORT The popular yachting destination has shifted from industrial to private ship building, focusing on yachts.

DREDGING

FIRST

Figure 06. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

17 FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SHIP BUILDING

BEACH

1600

1800

1900

Defense SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

y

DGE

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

1600

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Protected Harbor Series of islands along the coast formed the protected harbor of Portland.

2. Outside Dependency The island relies on foreign dependence in economics, architecture, population, transplanting vegetation, etc.

3. Camp Boardwalk During WWII, the city facilities include the boardwalk and hotels used as military training sites.

4. Naval Base US Navy headquarters established, making it the largest naval base in the world.

Figure 07. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

18 SHIP BUILDING

1800

BEACH

5. Walling-off Charleston walls itself against not only human invaders, but also the rising tides.

6. Siege + Fortify + Invest Sieging territories and fortifying them in order to protect land and resources.

7. Struggles for Territory From the 16th century to the 19th century, Jacksonville has been in power struggles between France, Britain and Spain.

8. Major US Naval Base During WWII, the US Navy constructed Naval Air Station, two satellite landing fields, radar and range finding schools, etc.

SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

TRANSPORTATION

ON

1900

Economics TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

DREDGING

JAXPORT

DREDGING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

1.

2.

5.

6.

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SHIP BUILDING

3.

SHIP BUILDING

1. Service and Tourism Portland relies heavily on service industry, including banking, healthcare, and tourism in the past few decades.

2. Value in Exclusivity Today’s leisure economy sees the island as an exclusive retreat in which greater exclusivity raises real estate values.

3. Casino City The development of casinos was part of the urban revitalization through tourism and revenue investment.

TRANSPORTATION 4. Sea-based Economy Norfolk’s economy is largely comprised of water-based industries ranging from shipping to leisure.

7.

BEACH

4.

BEACH

8.

5. Community Trading Act Municipal government uses economic approaches to reward the locals for efforts put into flood prevention.

6. Exploitation for Capital Gain Maximizing production by exploiting foreign labor sources and natural resources.

7. On the Beach Jacksonville is an economic center offering great quality of life for residents and an exciting destination for visitors.

8. SpringJAXPORT Break Destination DREDGING In the 1950s, the city became a favorite destination for college students for spring break.

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

Figure 08. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

19 JAXPORT

DREDGING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SHIP BUILDING

BEACH

1900

Politics SHIPS/TRAIN MANUFACTURE

TERTIARY INDUSTRY GROWS

1900

TRANSPORTATION

ROWS

1.

2.

5. TRANSPORTATION

6.

3.

JAXPORT

1. Religious Diversity The Second Awakening caused a shift in religion, bringing new religions to Portland along with immigrants.

2. Historic District National Historic District designation anchors the town to shifting land beneath them, ignoring the need for adaptation.

3. Urban Renewal After the WWII, the downfall of tourism led to urban deterioration along with desegregation and civil unrest.

4. Symbolic Representation Relationship with sea has morphed from fantastical to economical

7.

JAXPORT

DREDGING

4.

DREDGING

8.

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

5. Community Responsibility Mechanisms to engage the community with shared responsibility facing flooding crisis are common.

6. Agriculture Expansion Historic District is conserved and expansion happens outward toward coastline.

7. Dredging Projects Dredging projects deepened the channel of the river to enable deeper draft ships to reach the port of Jacksonville.

8. The Venice of America After the Venice of America concept, the city experienced increased interest and investment during the early 1920s.

SHIP BUILDING

TRANSPORTATION

Figure 09. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

20 TRANSPORTATION

JAXPORT

DREDGING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

SHIP BUILDING

BEACH

FIRST RA

Prehistory

1600

1800

Ecology

SHIPS/T

Prehistory

JAXPORT

1600

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Land Resources Abundant natural resources fostered the manufacturing industry.

2. Riding the Whale Whaling practices endangered a species as well as intervened in the natural ecology of the aquatic region.

3. Depletion of Ground Water The pine land and aquifers contains 17.7 trillion gallons of water in risk of saltwater intrusion and depletion.

4. Transient DREDGING Ecologies FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE Yellow fever arrives by sea, killing over two thousand people in Norfolk

TRANSPORTATION

180

JAXPORT

5. Re-purposing Military Battery Natural growth of marsh vegetation and wildlife is prohibited by the construction of re-purposed battery as new seawalls.

6. Encroaching Marshlands Marshland ecology being interfered with and disrupted by agricultural practices.

7. Native Settlements Native Americans used the river as a seasonal hunting ground, adapting to the periodical flooding.

8. Mangrove Clearing SHIP BUILDING BEACH Mangrove swamp were cleared to open the waterways for increasing numbers of ferries.

Figure 10. M.S. AAD candidates, Research Schemes

21 TRANSPORTATION

JAXPORT

DREDGING

FIRST RAILROAD BRIDGE

Team

Figures

Chieh Sheng Huang

Figures 01-10. Alena Artemova, Juan Pablo Bravo, Nubaia Karim Barsha, Angelina Clasen, Adrien Coquet, Solid Icon Co, Adrien Coquet, Gregor Cresnar, Emanuela Damiani, Deepz, Lagot Design, Phoenix Dungeon, Eucalyp, Flatart, Guiditta Valentina Gentile, Guan, Handicon, Harimulyono, Surima Iaila, Supalerk Iaipawat, Chanut is Industries, Made x Made Icons, Petai Jantrapoon, Kiddo, Martina Krasnayova, Landan Lloyd, Lastspark, Pham Thi Dieu Linh, Pham Thanh Loc, Lars Meietoberens, Solomakhina Maria, Made, Momkik, MRK, Nhor, Rizal Aditya Nugroho, Anthony Pliuta, Edwin PM, Paisan, Phumpsky, Praveen Patchu, Icons Producer, Hey Rabbit, Soremba, Till Teenck, Valeriia Vlasovtseva, Wahyakup, Orin Zuu, Siipkan Creative, Scott Witthoft,Dima Lagunov, Linseed Studio, Olguioo, Andrea Fajardo, Ben Didier, Adrien Coquet, Kimi Lewis, Matt Wasser, Yu Luck.

Aubrey Sterling Jin Kyung Cho Xingyao Wang Sampriti Sheth Xinyue Geng Mingfeng Jiang Connor Yocum

22

The Noun Project. https://thenounproject.com/

Xinyue Geng. Sea infrastructures drawing. We used the Townscaper (computer game software) for the above drawings

23

Climate Protocols

As the temperature of the Earth rises due to greenhouse gas emissions, oceans absorb over 90% of the excess heat. Since 1880 the Earth’s temperature has increased 1.18°C. This causes sea level rise in two ways.

Global Sea Level Rise

Water volume increases with temperature because of thermal expansion, and warmer air and ocean temperatures cause land-based ice sheets and glaciers to melt. If Antarctica and Greenland melted completely, this would lead to a total of 64 m of sea level rise worldwide.

People live within the especially vulnerable 9.75 m of the coast

600 million

Since the start of the twentieth century, global sea level has risen about 18 cm, and a rate of change that has nearly doubled. Currently, the sea level rises 3.4 mm every year. It might not sound like a lot, but this means 1.18 trillion cubic meters of water every year. This would move the shoreline inland at an average of 91 m for every 30 cm the sea level rises.

Figure 11. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Group

24

Macro-Scale Causes

Figure 12.

Consequences

Disappearance of islands

Flooding of coastal land

Erosion and infrastructure destruction

Saltwater intrusion on fresh waters

Figure 13.

Figures 12-13. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Group

25

Macro-Scale

Figure 14.

Figure 15.

Figures 14,15. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Group

26

Meso-Scale The acceleration rate of sea level rise along the East Coast of the United States is roughly 3 to 4 times the global average. Because the northeast coast is flat, it may cause significant loss of habitats.

RISKY COAST

Along the east coast, there are still spatial differences in the rising rate caused by the "post-glacial rebound effect."

SPATIAL DIFFERENCE

years ago

The Last Ice Age

30,000

Sea level drops, Ice forms on Land.

26,500

The weigh of the ice pushes down on the land.

Post - Glacial Rebound

7,000

As the Ice melts the sea level rises.

With no ice to hold it down, the land begins to rise again(rebound) Now 2020 Rise Rate Map

Figure 16. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Group

27

Meso-Scale

Sea Level and City Elevation The different elevation of each city and the projected sea level rise creates a different percentage of flooded area in 2100. The percentage of flooded area ranges from 1.7% to 85.40% along the East Coast.

Figure 17.

Figure 18.

28

Figures 17-18. M.S. AAD Candidates, Climate Research Group

Storm Surge - Category 4

Figure 20.

Storm Surge - Category 1 Hurricane Storm Surge Up to 3’

Greater than 6’

Hurricanes (2010-2020) 1

5

Coastal Flood Hazard Composite

Figure 21.

Storm Surge - Hurricanes

Cold Air

Storms Cloud Formations Humidity

+70%

Water Surface Temperature

+27 C o

Sea

Sea water begins to evaporate

Sea water begins to evaporate

Hurricane Formation Figure 19.

Figures 19-21. M.S. AAD Candidates, Climate Research Group

The maps show storm surge inundation scenarios created by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) Storm Surge Unit with the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) model.

SLOSH is used to calculate storm surge heights and the extents of inundation for hurricane evacuation studies. Hurricane storm surge heights are influenced by many factors, including hurricane intensity (categorized by the Saffir‐Simpson hurricane wind scale, ranging from 1 to 5), size (radius of maximum winds), forward speed, the angle of approach to the shoreline, and the characteristics of the coastline. For each category of hurricane (1-5), the depth of storm surge inundation is displayed in ranges of water depth above ground—from less than 1 meter above ground to greater than 3 meters above ground. Areas within storm surge zones for a category 1 hurricane have the greatest exposure.

29

Micro-Scale YEAR 2100 Scenario I (Low)

Figure 23.

Figure 24.

Figure 25.

Figure 26.

PORTLAND

NORFOLK

ATLANTIC

CHARLESTON

Sea level rise: 0.47 m Population: 66595 Population at risk: 0.03% High Social Vulnerability Population: 0.02 %

Sea level rise: 0.73 m Population: 242742 Population at risk: 0.8% High Social Vulnerability Population: 22.4%

Sea level rise: 0.70 m Population: 33605 Population at risk: 4.33% High Social Vulnerability Population: 1.87 %

Sea level rise: 0.60 m Population: 120083 Population at risk: 4.0% High Social Vulnerability Population: 1.0%

Figure 27.

Figure 28.

Figure 29.

Figure 30.

SAVANNAH

JACKSONVILLE

FORT LAUDERDALE

NANTUCKET

Sea level rise: 0.73 m Population: 147780 Population at risk: 1.3% High Social Vulnerability Population: 0.09 %

Sea level rise: 0.61 m Population: 6472 Population at risk: 0.8% High Social Vulnerability Population: 0.3 %

Sea level rise: 0.54 m Population: 187160 Population at risk: 1.6% High Social Vulnerability Population: 4.3%

Sea level rise: 0.62 m Population: 11327 Population at risk: 0.3% High Social Vulnerability Population: 100%

Poverty Population 25.1& or more

10.1% to 15%

15.1% to 25%

2.1% to 10%

2% or less Figures 23-30. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Group

30

YEAR 2100 Scenario II (High)

Figure 31.

Figure 32.

Figure 33.

Figure 34

PORTLAND

NORFOLK

ATLANTIC

CHARLESTON

Sea level rise: 1.83 m Population: 66595 Population at risk: 0.85% High Social Vulnerability Population: 0.73%

Sea level rise: 2.09 m Population: 242742 Population at risk: 18.7% High Social Vulnerability Population: 28.4%

Sea level rise: 2.06 m Population: 33605 Population at risk: 80.76% High Social Vulnerability Population: 59.8%

Sea level rise: 1.93 m Population: 120083 Population at risk: 30.0% High Social Vulnerability Population: 2.0%

Figure 35.

Figure 36.

Figure 37.

Figure 38

SAVANNAH

JACKSONVILLE

FORT LAUDERDALE

NANTUCKET

Sea level rise: 2.09 m Population: 147780 Population at risk: 6.2% High Social Vulnerability Population: 1.6%

Sea level rise: 1.83 m Population: 37890 Population at risk: 4.6% High Social Vulnerability Population: 3.2 %

Sea level rise: 1.83 m Population: 187160 Population at risk: 18.7% High Social Vulnerability Population: 51%

Sea level rise: 2.01 m Population: 11327 Population at risk: 1.8% High Social Vulnerability Population: 99.5%

Poverty Population 25.1& or more

10.1% to 15%

15.1% to 25%

2.1% to 10%

2% or less

Figures 31-38. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Schemes

31

YEAR 2100 Scenario III (Extreme)

Figure 39.

Figure 40.

PORTLAND

Sea level rise: 3.29 m Population: 66595 Population at risk: 2.56% High Social Vulnerability Population: 2.2%

Figure 43.

NORFOLK

Sea level rise: 3.50 m Population: 242742 Population at risk: 62.5% High Social Vulnerability Population: 25.0%

Figure 44.

Figure 41.

Figure 42.

ATLANTIC

Sea level rise: 3.50 m Population: 33605 Population at risk: 96.58% High Social Vulnerability Population: 87.0%

Figure 45.

CHARLESTON

Sea level rise: 3.29 m Population: 120083 Population at risk: 69.9% High Social Vulnerability Population: 5.0%

Figure 46.

SAVANNAH

JACKSONVILLE

FORT LAUDERDALE

NANTUCKET

Sea level rise: 3.50 m Population: 147780 Population at risk: 15.2% High Social Vulnerability Population: 3.8%

Sea level rise: 3.05 m Population: 85225 Population at risk: 10.4% High Social Vulnerability Population: 8.3%

Sea level rise: 3.17 m Population: 187160 Population at risk: 84.0% High Social Vulnerability Population: 16.3 %

Sea level rise: 3.48 m Population: 11327 Population at risk: 2.6% High Social Vulnerability Population: 87.5%

Poverty Population 25.1& or more

10.1% to 15%

15.1% to 25%

2.1% to 10%

2% or less Figures 39-46. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Group

32

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS Year 2100

Scenario I (Low)

Scenario II (High)

Scenario III (Exteme)

FORT LAUDERDALE

FORT LAUDERDALE

FORT LAUDERDALE

Sea level rise: 0.54 m Population: 187160 Population at risk: 1.6% High Social Vulnerability Population: 4.3%

Sea level rise: 1.83 m Population: 187160 Population at risk: 18.7% High Social Vulnerability Population: 51%

Sea level rise: 3.17 m Population: 187160 Population at risk: 84.0% High Social Vulnerability Population: 16.3 %

Figure 47.A.

Figure 47.B.

Figure 47.C.

Figure 48.

Figures 47-48. M.S. AAD candidates, Climate Research Schemes

33

Team

Figures

Valentina Haro

Figures 11-12. M.S AAD’22 Candidate. Adapted from NASA, Global Climate Change, 2020. Figures 14-15. M.S AAD’22 Candidate. Adapted from USGS, 3D Elevation Program, 2019. Figures 17-47. M.S AAD’22 Candidate. NOAA, Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper, 2021. Figure 48. M.S AAD’22 Candidate (Image adapted from Google Maps). 2021. https://www.google.com/maps

Xiobai Zhao Yang Du Haotian Ma Lulin He Phasit Rattanachaisit Yunqin Wang Klytaimnistra Avgetidou

34

Eduardo Cilleruelo Teran. Atlantic City inspirational image

35

Territory: Geology of Coastal Landforms

1. World Projection Map: Land below water in 2100

As cities continue to grow and climate change marches on, the urban landscape will continue to act as the battleground of climate catastrophes.

Climate change is caused by a myriad of complex factors, contributed primarily by human intervention.

The intent herein is to study the process and impact

Figure 49. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

36

of sea level rise and storm surges on coastal landforms. The map above introduces the concept, showcasing coastal territories vulnerable to severe impact under sea level rise and storm surge.

Landforms along the coastline are primarily formed through a process of erosion or deposition caused by the force of adjacent water. These coasts constitute some of the most dynamic environments on the Earth, forming the incredibly vulnerable transition zone between land and marine ecosystems. These areas are often subjected to

changes in environmental forces such as cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, and climate catastrophes.

Through diagrams and mapping, varying case studies of interface between the water and the land are formed. Additionally, the impact of sea level rise and storm surges on the geographical landform at the scale of cities can be analyzed.

2. Cities for study along the east coast of the USA

The cities for the study are as follows: 1. On the Peninsula; Portland, Maine 2. The Sandy Coast; Nantucket, Massachusetts 3. Away from Mainland; Atlantic City, New Jersey 4. The Marsh Landform; Norfolk, Virginia 5. Estuary and Salt Marsh; Charleston, South Carolina 6. Low Elevation; Savannah, Georgia 7. The Coastal Lowland, Jacksonville, Florida 8. Network of Canals; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Figure 50. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

37

MARSH LANDFORM; Norfolk, Virginia

Figure.51 1. Natural Landscape Unlike other cities built on the wetland, Norfolk shows a landscape where only a small portion is maintained as green open spaces and the majority of the land is occupied by human developments including residences and commercial areas. In other words, the city needs a solution for the sea level rise submerging more man-made environments than natural areas.

Figure.52 2. Sea Level Rise Sedimentation has formed the shorelines of Norfolk, and thus the shorelines are constantly changing due to erosion, transpor tation, and deposition of sediments. For example, Willoughby Spit in Norfolk was created in 1749 by a hurricane that washed up 15 feet of sand, and the Great Coastal Hurricane of 1806 helped the formation of the spit.

Figure.53 3. Storm Surge Norfolk is a marsh landform built by a fast accretion over a long period of time. Norfolk marshes accreted over the last 2,000 years at the rate of 0.4 inch per year, from which the sedimentation process stopped creating a clifflike form along the coastlines. In this process, the coastline gets carved out decreasing the coastal footprint even before the sea level rise worsens it.

COASTAL LOWLAND; Jacksonvile, Florida

Figure.54 4. Natural Landscape Categorized as a delta landform, the city of Jacksonville is characterized by a distinctive feature of its landscape called marshes.

Because low coastal areas of Florida has been affected and shaped by sea level and storm surge, it has many riverside areas and wetlands.

Figure 51-56. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

38

Figure.55 5. Sea Level Rise As sea level rises, water penetrates the land along the riverside, shaping its profile. This leads to severe erosion of soil along the coast.

Sea level rise by 2100 is estimated to be 5 feet higher making many of the riverside areas of Jacksonville disappear.

Figure.56 6. Storm Surge As storm water strikes the coast, the land falls away and gis eroded, leading to the formation of marsh lands along the coast and between the sea and mainland.

ESTUARY AND SALT MARSH; Charleston, South Carolina

Figure.57 1. Natural Landscape Charleston is home to the greatest number of salt marshes along the coast. The estuary conditions and marsh landforms become critical interfaces during instances of sea level rise and storm surge in the city. The city comprises of island territories that have 3 rivers cutting across them. Therefore, in such a scenario, apart from coastal protection, it becomes essential to develop strategies for inland protection and flooding by the rivers.

Figure.58 2. Sea Level Rise During sea level rise, salt marshes move inland invading low-lying forests, agricultural fields and sub-urban areas. Sea level rise by 2100 is estimated to be 4 feet higher than it is today.

Figure.59 3. Storm Surge Storm surges, owing to their rapid occurence and greater magnitude, flood upland ecosystems increasing soil salinity and lead to contamination of groundwater. This further leads to inland inundation by the flooding of the rivers and also leads to replacement of upland vegetation by marsh plants.

ON THE PENINSULA; Portland, Maine

Figure.60 4. Natural Landscape Low-lying areas are easily flooded during high tide. Coupled with heavy rain, these conditions will get worse. The sea level rise in Maine since 1912 is similar to the global average. It may increase by 1 foot by the middle of this century, and by 2100 it may increase by 6 feet.

Figure.61 5. Sea Level Rise Forecasts of sea level rise range from 1 foot in 2021 to 6 feet in 2100. This canal will be used for evacuation in the event of flooding for nearby areas and will be effective in managing the estimated 6 feet of sea level rise.

Figure.62 6. Storm Surge Cross-sectional view of the northern and western coasts of Back Cove bordering Baxter Boulevard. Road and residential developments have eliminated the highlands and upper boundary estuaries, reducing high and low swamps.

Figure 57-62. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

39

SANDY COAST; Nantucket, Massachusetts Nantucket was formed during the recent Wisconsin Glaciation, shaped by the subsequent rise in sea level. The low ridge across the northern section of the island was deposited as glacial moraine during a period of glacial standstill.

N a n t u c ke t b e c a m e a n i s l a n d when rising sea levels covered the connection with the mainland, about 5,000–6,000 years ago.

Most of the soil on the island is sand and gravel deposited over many years, and the terrain stability is poor. When facing global level rise, the enclave will be submerged from all directions, endangering citizens.

Figure.63 1. Sea Level Rise Scenario in 2100

Figure.64 2. Storm Surge Scenario

Figure.65 3. Sea-Level Rising Anticipation 2040 / 2060 / 2100 Low elevation along the shore would submerge neighborhoods closest to the sea. Rest of the town can survive due to its relatively higher elevation.

40

Figure 63-65. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

NETWORK OF CANALS; Fort Lauderdale, Florida The city is known for its extensive network of canals; there are 265 km of waterways within the city limits. The city of Fort Lauderdale is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and includes 11 km of beaches.

Figure.66 1. Sea Level Rise Scenario in 2100

Figure.67 2. Storm Surge Scenario

Figure.68 3. Sea-Level Rising Anticipation 2040 / 2060 / 2100 As many of the communities were built into the lagoon with multiple canals, Fort Lauderdale will be entirely sunken at 2100.

Figure 66-68. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

41

LOW ELEVATION; Savannah, Georgia The city lies on the Savannah River, about 32 km upriver from the Atlantic Ocean and a second river, the Ogeechee River, flows in the south of the city. The overall low elevation makes the city prone to flooding especially on the east side where the four marsh islands developed for residential purposes are at the highest risk of erosion.

The west side of the city, affected by the southern marshland, also floods easily. Only the downtown area, significantly higher in elevation, can survive in the most extreme scenarios.

Figure.69 1. Sea Level Rise Scenario in 2100

Figure.70 2. Storm Surge Scenario

Figure.71 3. Sea-level Rising Anticipation 2040 / 2060 / 2100 The Downtown and Industrial Zones of the city would partially underwater during times, emerge from the canals eventually cover the entire east side.

Figure 69-71. M.S. AAD candidates, Landscape Research Group

42

AWAY FROM MAINLAND; Atlantic City, New Jersey A coastal city located on Absecon Island, the city has three main zones; wetlands, residential area and the commercial area. The area connected with Pleasantville is mostly wetland which is also the riskiest zone during flooding.

On the other hand, the beachside formed by sand and sediments is the highest land in the city.

Therefore, when sea level rises, land will be flooded from wetlands in the city instead of the coastal side. Because Atlantic City is an island apart from the mainland, it is especially vulnerable to water rise inland.

Figure.72 1. Sea Level Rise Scenario in 2100

Figure.73 2. Storm Surge Scenario

Figure.74 3. Sea-Level Rising Anticipation 2040 / 2060 / 2100 (Zoom-In) Along the beach of Atlantic City, since 2040, the low elevation would lead to most of the major neighborhoods underwater.

Figure 72-74. M.S. AAD’22 Candidates, Landscape Research Group

43

Team

Figures

Fanghong Xu

Figures 49-50. M.S. AAD Candidate (Image adapted from Climate Central, Coastal Risk Screening Tool: Threats from Antarctic Ice Loss, 2021). Figures 51-60. M.S. AAD Candidate (Image adapted from Google Maps).2021. https://www.google.com/maps. Figures 63-73. M.S. AAD Candidates’ 22.

(Image adapted from NOAA).2021. https://coast.noaa.gov/

Haoyuan Wang Hyun Jun Cho Ohjin Jo Shhrruti Jain Thakan Navapakpilai Tongbi Li Ziqi Wang

44

Thakan Navapakpilai. Futuristic leisure and economics platforms.

45

PRO POS

46

ITIONS

47

Retreat

an act of moving back or withdrawing

The act of retreat, often seen as an act of surrender, is one of the oldest and most used design strategies. That is not to say retreat is inherently negative. At times, pulling back from the front lines is the best solution, cutting your losses and starting fresh where safety is much more likely. Many cities are already organically doing this, pushing back their city edge from the original coast to a safer distance.

As roads fail from shorelines pushing in, they are shifted and rebuilt a few feet in at a time. Unfortunately, these actions rarely account for the long-term future of sea-level rise, instead acting as a reactionary remedy of climactic disaster. A planned retreat brings other opportunities though, a fresh start and a level of planning for the future which may otherwise be impossible.

38

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Xingyao Wang, Retreat Charleston. Figure 02. Eric Peters, Retreat Savannah

39

Evade

an act of escaping or avoiding

Evade differs from similar acts of escape or avoidance by an emphasis on the means through which these actions are committed. Rather than merely a physical action, evade embodies intellect, deceit, and ingenuity in how it is performed. This depth of meaning allows for greater diversity in methods of implementation as a strategic proposition. Among many other possible scenarios, evade may escape a physical object, a force, a moment in time, a particular effect of an action, a comprehension of reality, a political agenda, or a predetermined narrative.

Relating to issues of sea level rise, this proposition suggests a questioning of the issue as it relates to nonphysical effects. Can sea level rise cease to pose a threat if its negative effects are evaded through a theoretical shift in perspective, culture, or status quo?

40

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Connor Yocum, Evade Nantucket. Figure 02. Klytaimnistra Avgetidou, Evade Charleston

41

Flank

an act of being on one side

To flank something means to stand or to be alongside it. In the context of sea level rise, flank can be best interpreted by its militaristic meaning, which is at the side of an army or fleet of ships. In urbanism, flanking the rising water can be translated to attacking the intrusion in the city in an unexpected way or location. A city that flanks sea level rise is one that instead of reacting to and defending itself from the invasion of water, lets the water move, takes advantage of the problem and turns it into an opportunity. In a changing world where sea level is rising, we must also change the way in which we build cities; flanking may very well be the change we need.

42

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Valentina Haro, Flank Norfolk. Figure 02. Haoyuan Wang, Flank Savannah

43

Deflect an act of changing direction

Deflect shares many characteristics with other propositions such as defend, and attack. In a passive scenario, to prevent flooding, one can build a wall to defend, and the wall will deflect the water to avoid damage. Proactively, one could design devices that “attack” the flooding water and redirect it to where it is needed such as power plants or farms. In relation to sea level rise, deflect tends to suggest an effect that is a physical modification to the land.

44

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Chiehsheng Huang, Deflect Portland. Figure 02. Xinyue Geng, Deflect Jacksonville

45

Defend

an act of protecting from danger

Defend is the act of protecting and resisting an attack. Its performance embodies safety, shelter, support, and shield from harm or danger. Defend implies the act of covering and shielding from danger. These attributes represent ample opportunities of strategic design methodologies that utilize the proposition. In regards to issues of sea level rise, defend can provide micro and macro solutions.

These solutions raise the question of how long defense as a strategy can protect coastal cities from sea level rise?

How can the proposition as a design approach provide a radical solution to the issue of sea level rise?

46

Figure 01

Figure 01. Noor Abdulkhaleq, Defend Portland. Figure 02. Mingfeng Jiang, Defend Ft. Lauderdale

Figure 02

47

Assist an act of helping

After the wave, everything became quiet. No more traffic lights and loud people in the streets. Silence and ruins.

The proposition reflects on how we bring those feelings back to the surface; the process of reviving the humanities to recover the spirituality of a city, which in other words is the essence of the environment.

48

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figures 01,02. Eduardo Cilleruelo Teran, Assist Atlantic City

49

Float

an act of moving slowing in a liquid

Float can be both a serious and trivial strategy simultaneously. It enables us to imagine a fantastic future where all human beings live on unstable and flexible land, which further triggers fundamental and indepth reflections on our built environment. The concept of floating urbanism suggests an intimate relationship between humans and sea level rise. Individuals in the approaching future will have to deal with the aftermath caused by their own daily lives. However, in floating strategies, the previously built environment on land could be to some extent preserved. It compels us to watch familiar existences salvaged from the ocean floating on the sea and to associate them with our present world.

Imagine the scenes of a catastrophic future, and treasure the present.

50

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Fanghong Xu, Float Portland. Figure 02. Haotian Ma, Float Ft. Lauderdale

51

Absorb an act of soaking up

Sponges, towels, napkins, and even human skin have absorbent properties that can inspire dramatic solutions to rising sea levels. By aiming to absorb intrusive waters, we have imagined futures in which parks, dunes, waterways, streets, buildings, and entire cities can take advantage of rising sea levels. Instead of fighting back the inevitable rising waters, absorbent strategies present futures in which the water can be reused for drinking, bathing, washing, and even transportation.

52

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Chuyi Wu, Absorb Nantucket. Figure 02. Hyun Jun Cho, Absorb Norfolk

53

Engage an act of occupying

To engage is to utilize a soft-protection strategy against environmental disasters. As the term ‘soft’ implies, the approach implements a natural-based system with landscape design elements like dunes, marshes, and ponds. These elements usually have a shorter life span than the artificial structures, such as dams and walls; however, such deficits of features could be supplemented by hybridizing with the existing infrastructures around the urban areas: horizontal levees are the most common example. Therefore, in-between regions of urban and natural areas are the most tactical areas for this soft-protection strategy. These regions promote the coexistence of humans and nature by loosening boundaries between urban areas and wetlands and helping urban areas to increase their capacity for biological adaptation by providing a significant habitat area for species.

54

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. So Min Lee, Engage Charleston. Figure 02. Minjae Koo, Engage Jacksonville

55

Inter fere an act of taking part in an activity

To interfere is to prevent a process or activity from continuing or being carried out properly. To interfere with the progress of sea level rise is not avoiding it but impeding the normal process of the event. Interfering with sea level rise can be interpreted as slowing down the sea current, altering the direction of the tidal current, stopping the water flow, or adding a new residential unit on an existing residence. By implementing this strategy, the cities can take advantage of the rising sea level by turning it into a part of the cities’ facilities. The interfering strategy can prolong the time before catastrophe. It provides an opportunity for the cities to have enough time to plan and address the increasing sea levels.

56

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01.Thakan Navapakpilai, Interfere Atlantic City. Figure 02. Phasit Rattanachaisit, Interfere Nantucket

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Raise

an act of lifting to a higher level

Raise is no stranger to urban planners with the growing concerns of climate change and atmospheric degradation. One of the earliest ideas about raising the city infrastructures comes from the metabolism projects in the 1960s, where city platforms are raised to avoid war ruins and industrial pollution. Today, raising the city becomes even more relevant when the sea level rises at an accelerating rate, and the water continues to approach people’s houses every year. Still, raise only solves the urgency of invading water for a preset period of time.

The long-term problems are how high the city needs to be raised and how many times to extend the height, given the constant sea rising. Eventually, the city may have to grow vertically, becoming layers of raised infrastructure on top of flooded portions.

58

Figure 01

Figure 03

Figure 02

Figure 01. Weijia Sun, Raise Norfolk Figure 02. Ohjin Jo, Raise Jacksonville Figure 03. Ziqi Wang, Raise Ft. Lauderdale

59

Grow

an act of undergoing natural development

How can growth be an appropriate response to rising sea levels when so much of the problem is exacerbated by current political policies that rely on economic, population, and/or industry growth and their inherent un-sustainability? By investigating other methods and areas of growth, the studio has uncovered multiple ways of using growth as a climate disaster defense strategy.

Growing does not need to be reliant on policies that turn a blind eye to climate change- growth has the power to be a viable solution to it.

60

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Aubrey Sterling, Grow Norfolk. Figure 02. Sijia Chi, Grow Ft. Lauderdale

61

Cover

an act of putting on top

The word is usually used to describe an additional layer of a structure that is put over, on top or in front of the surface of another one in order to provide further protection, while constituting some sort of a shelter. Cities that were once assumed to be reasonably safe are becoming increasingly susceptible as the climate changes and sea levels rise. In this sense, “cover” could also be identified as a significant architectural design strategy for future disaster protection and mitigation at various scales of a city, assisting in facing the aftermath of the global climate change and adapting to the new sea level rise.

62

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01,02 Shhrruti Jain and Xingyao Wang. Cover Charleston

63

Dissolve an act of breaking down

Dissolving is imagined as an action of blending in as a metaphor for the city dissolving in water as a planned strategy. The strategy envisions the coexistence of water and cities which is achieved by the act of breaking down.

The city disintegrates into fragments that are on solid ground that still exist after flooding, while some smaller parts are imaged as independent and sustainable entities dissolving in the ocean and connecting back to the main city. The act of dissolving acknowledges the sea level rise and looks at the problem with an intention to make room for the flooding.

64

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Yang Du, Dissolve Atlantic City. Figure 02. Sampriti Sheth, Dissolve Savannah

65

Diffuse

an act of spreading over a wide area

Sea level rises; saline water slowly creeps into lower ground. Coastal islands are at great risk to lose long sand beaches, bay areas are in threat of losing abundant farmlands. By diffusing sea water, we borrow time to prepare or disperse our coastal cities.

66

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Tongbi Li, Diffuse Nantucket Figure 02. Jin Cho, Diffuse Atlantic City Figure 03. Xiaobai Zhao, Diffuse Jacksonville Figure 03

67

Attack

an act of taking action against

As the sea level is continuously rising and attacking the cities, they may take aggressive actions to “attack” the water so as to reach a neo-eco balance. Since the word is often used in a military context, city attacks could be analogies of pushing forward the front line as a practice of claiming territory, building upon, and then guarding the land. Thus, attacking might be about constructions of artificial islands, the discovery of an Atlantis-like underwater world, connections between individual pieces of land, etc. The main purpose is to expand beyond what is not influenced by the sea so that cities continue to grow and improve.

68

Figure 01

Figure 02

Figure 01. Lulin He, Attack Portland. Figure 02. Yunqin Wang, Attack Savannah

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PROVOC

70

ATIONS

71

01 72

Submarine City Portland, Maine As the earth’s climate system becomes warmer, the sea level is rising. Coastline cities are most vulnerable to coastal floods and storm surges. The City of Portland experiences 0.018 meters of sea level rise per year. At this rate, by the year 2100 the city’s sea level will rise to 3 meters. This rise in water levels will result in population displacement and hazardous living conditions for remaining structures. Submarine City is a solution to climate change that will affect Portland. In theory, the proposed city will aid Portland in its population displacement and economic crisis. Submarine City is a mobile underwater settlement that provides permanent habitat for displaced humans.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate

73

74

Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidate

Figure 03. MS AAD candidate

Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidate

75

< Portland sea level rise increase Sea level rise poses great threat to coastal cities like Portland.

Figure 02

> Portland sea level rise increase 12 Ft sea level rise is expected by the year 2300 in Maine.

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Figure 04. M.S. AAD candidate

Figure 03

Sea Level Rise & Storm Surge The next fifty years sea level rise will dramatically reconstruct Maine shoreline.

Figure 05. M.S. AAD candidate

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78

Figure 06. M.S. AAD candidate

Submarine City An oceanic habitat that provides a solution to the climate change effecting the city of Portland.

Figure 07. M.S. AAD candidate, 2021

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80

Figure 08. M.S. AAD candidate

81

Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Chiehsheng Huang Chiehsheng Huang earned his B.Arch from SCI-Arc and worked in the field of architecture for two years in the United States and Taiwan.

Lulin He Graduated with a B.Arch from South China University of Technology and Politecnico di Torino.

Noor Abdulkhaleq Noor graduated with a B.arch from Newschool of Architecture and Design and worked as an architectural designer for 1.5 year in Kuwait City.

Fanghong Xu Fanghong Xu graduated with a B.Arch from Chongqing university in China

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Notes Figure 01. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage

Figure 04. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

-Victoria Mansion. .Staib.2007. https://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/File:Victoria_Mansion,_Portland,_Maine_USA.jpg -Portland Observatory.Allen L. Hubbard. 1936. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Observatory#/media/File:Portland_ Observatory_1936.jpg -City Hall. Archive project: Old City Hall. 1904. https://archiveproject.com/old-city-hall-photos-ancestry-familyhistory?ref=recent-stories.

-Peter Cook. Museum of modern art, Graz. https://www. designboom.com/interviews/peter-cook

- Portland public Library. Portland, Maine 1800’s.https://www. portlandlibrary.com/topics/portland-history/ Figure 07. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage - Paul Bradbury. Woman Face Side. 2021. Getty Creative.

-VCG211133626429. Manhattan buildings. 2021. VCG. -FilippoBacci. Portland, Maine. 2021. Getty Creative.

-Hoiseung Jung / EyeEm. Underwater cluster of fish. 2021.

Getty Creative.

Figure 02. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage -S.S. Kresge Co. “Congress Street, Portland, ca. 1914.” (circa 1914). https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/26159 -Soule, J. P., “Canal Bank Building, Middle Street, viewed from Exchange Street.” (1866). Stereograph Cards : The Great Fire - 1866. 7.

-Penobscot Marine Museum. “Pulp pile, St. Croix Paper Co., Woodland, ca. 1910.” (circa 1910). https://www.mainememory. net/artifact/98636?popup=1 -Author unknown. Vintage image of Dawn Wells with fireworks. http://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2012/07/heresyour-4th-of-july-firecrackers.html -Maine Historical Society. “Immigrant students at Chapman School in Portland.” (1920). Portland Press Herald. 2017. https://www.pressherald.com/2017/10/08/paths-ofimmigrants-to-maine-differ-but-their-hopes-have-echoedthrough-the-centuries/ -Seng Kim. “Portland Maine Cityscape Skyline at Sunset Panorama.” (2011). https://captainkimo.com/portland-mainecityscape-skyline-at-sunset-panorama/ -Portland public Library. Portland, Maine 1800’s.https://www. portlandlibrary.com/topics/portland-history/

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02 WISCONSIN GLACIATION

TERMINAL MORAINE

LAND AS PILE OF SAND

CONTINUAL RESHAPING

Shifting Sands Nantucket, Massachusetts

SAND BARS BLOCK HARBOR

INDUSTRY VIA BORROWED RESOURCES

DECREASE IN LAND AREA = INCREASE IN BUILDING HEIGHT

OUTSIDE DEPENDENCY

WHALE ON FIRE

PREHISTORIC SEA LEVEL RISE

LIESURE ECONOMY

RELATIONSHIP TO MAINLAND

MODES OF TRANSIT

VALUE IN EXCLUSIVITY

DECREASED AREA = INCREASED VALUE

INFLATABLE POPULATION

“LITTLE GREY LADY OF THE SEA”

84

Nantucket as a geological formation is a pile of loose sand-like material deposited from a glacier’s terminal moraine.¹ Since its creation it has been in a constant evolution, continually shaped by the forces of the sea.

Perhaps a possible response to sea level rise for the island is informed by this information and works with the acting forces of the sea rather than against them.

The following proposal identifies future geological NATIONAL HISTORIC RESIDENCES ABOVE FLOOR RIDING THE WHALE trends and predictive effects of sea level rise in order to LANDMARK DISTRICT PLANE, COMMERCE BELOW guide a series of interventions aimed at maintaining the identity and land area of the island while highlighting and exploiting the transient nature of the land itself.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate

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Extreme sea level rise scenario In 2100, the sea level in Nantucket, MA could reach 3.48 meters in the extreme scenario which approximately 4.8% of the town will be flooded.

Figure 02

The vulnerable area Nantucket downtown which is located near the Nantucket harbor is one of the most vulnerable area of the island according to the projected flooding trend for 2100.

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Figures 02, 03. M.S. AAD candidate

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Figure 04. M.S. AAD candidate

Sea level rise will cost Nantucket about $3.4 billion in lost real estate value.²

In the next 1000 years, the forces of the sea will close the iconic wings of Nantucket’s outline, reshaping the island into a cocoon. This future projection is jarring mostly because of the assumption that the Earth as it stands today is how it has always been and any change upsets the status quo. In the case of Nantucket, the island’s sand has been continually shifting from the moment they were deposited as a terminal moraine. Today’s crescent-shaped Nantucket is merely a moment in an continually evolving territory.

This geological narrative is met abruptly by humanity’s vastly different scale of time. As an historic location, the entire island has been classified as a National Historic Landmark District as an attempt to preserve the character of a specific moment in time.³ The result is permanence, from the perspective of a human, impressed via policy on a place that is continually changing. How then, is the character of Nantucket

preserved if the island reduces in size by 25% and is dramatically reshaped over the next 1000 years? Is built space prioritized over open space, generating a more dense future island? Does each property owner agree to reduce their land by 25% such that everyone maintains a proportional ownership of the smaller island? Perhaps 25% of the current residents draw the short straw and are kicked out of the club.

As a highly sought after vacation destination, real estate on Nantucket is booming, with the median home value over $1 million and climbing.4 One could argue that the reduction of land area increases exclusivity, further raising home values. Another alternative, shown in the following pages, suggests a future in which the territory of Nantucket is sculpted through a series of interventions aimed at preserving the character of the island.

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Stacking House

2100 Residential Unit

Diffusion Bridge

Evacuation Policy

Landscape Barrier

2080 Sand Shifting

Soft Buffer

New Harbor

2040

Kelp Farm

2021

100-Year plan for Nantucket Island Four propositions for the solution to the problem of sea-level rise are planned respectively including absorb, interfere, diffuse and evade where they are interconnected overtime.

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Figure 05. M.S. AAD candidate

Figure 06

Figure 07

Figure 08

Figure 09

Figures 06, 07, 08, 09. M.S. AAD candidate

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Intervention Process To reduce the force of the sea acting upon Nantucket, the island is surrounded by a kelp buffer. Once in place, larger interventions in the form of harbors strategically carve land from vulnerable portions of the island and redistribute the land to protected areas according to future re-shaping trends. The process gradually morphs the shape of the island into a new coastline that maintians the island's area and responds to the islands characteristic shape.

Lastly, sand bars extending from the island offer a means of physical dispersion to nearby territories.

E

Legend: A. Kelp Buffer B. Harbors C. Sand Relocation Route D. Future Coastline E. Sand Bar

C

B C

A

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C A D C B

A

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B C Figure 10. M.S. AAD candidate

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Nantucket in 2100 This map represents the figure of nantucket as a result of strategic interventions over 100 years.

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Figure 11. M.S. AAD candidate

Image of Nantucket in 2100 This collage represents a scene of Nantucket after 100 years of strategic intervention aganst sea level rise.

Figure 12. M.S. AAD candidate

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Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Tongbi Li Tongbi graduated with a B.Arch and a B.Sci in Engineering Management from Jilin Jianzhu University and worked for one year in Beijing and Changchun, China.

Phasit Rattanachaisit Phasit graduated with a B.Arch from Chulalongkorn University and worked as an architect for five years in Bangkok, Thailand.

Chuyi Wu Chuyi graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute.

Connor Yocum Connor is a licensed architect in the state of Illinois where he worked for four years. Prior to that he earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University.

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Notes 1. G. C. Curtis and J. B. Woodworth, “Nantucket, A Morainal Island: A Geological Model of Nantucket,” The Journal of Geology 7, 3 (1899): 226-236, https://www.journals.uchicago. edu/doi/abs/10.1086/608348.

2. Based on projected 1000-year island transformation and 2019 US Census Bureau housing figures figures: 12,675 housing units at median value of $1,084,700. https://www. census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts.

3. Barry G. Rector et al., “Nantucket Master Plan: Prepared in Accordance with M.G.L. Ch 41, Section 81D,” (March, 2009): p.60, https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/1329/Parks-Recreation-MasterPlan.

4. United States Census Bureau. “Quick Facts: Nantucket County, Massachusetts.” Accessed October 31, 2021. https://www. census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts.

Figure 01. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

Historic View. Ca. 1890. Nantucket Historical Association.

Nantucket, MA. 11 Hussey Street. Nantucket Online. Nantucket, MA. - Phelan John. First Congregational Church, Hadley Massachusetts.

2010. Wikimedia Commons. Hadley, Massachusetts.

Jervie. Deep Ocean Photography Backdrop Printed Blue Sky White Clouds Sunshine Through Sea Surface Nature Background for Photo Studio. Amazon IT. Ridge on Sand Mountain, Topped by Broken Sandstone.

American Southwest. Little Sahara Recreation Area, Utah.

Figure 02. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

IBLUEYONDER, Nantucket Island - Official Promo Video, 2019, https://iblueyonder.com/portfolio/nantucket-island/ Endeavour Sailing Excursions, https://endeavorsailing.com/ Figure 03. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

Gordon Harris, 2021, https://bikenewengland. com/2017/05/04/nantucket-bikerides/ ABC News, 2019, https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/ safely-escape-flash-flood-experts/story?id=65973595 Imgur, 2014, https://imgur.com/Acd4YX2

Mohd RASFAN, AFP PHOTO, 2017,https://guardian.ng/news/ thousands-still-stranded-in-malaysia-floods/ Figure 04. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

Google Earth. Nantucket. 2021. Nantucket, MA. Figure 05. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

Nick Mayo,Collecting Drying Kelp, 2014, https:// www.remoteasiaphoto.com/photo/collecting-dryingkelp/?search=boats Endeavour Sailing Excursions, https://endeavorsailing.com/ Yahya White, Green Animation Drawing Mountain Png Backgrounds, Design, 2020, https://www.transparentpng. com/details/mountains-images-free-downloadmountain-23_29823.html Blair Austin, 2021, https://www.blarrel.com/ Courtesy of alwoodphoto - Fotolia.com, https://fr.123rf.com/ photo_52779794_phare-de-great-point-sur-l-%C3%AEle-denantucket-dans-le-massachusetts.html Türkiye, 2020, https://gocyclingturkiye.com/cappadocia Figure 06. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

Author Unknown, Imagining a More Resilient Nantucket, 2020, https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/2021/09/an-island-in-fluxenvisioning-a-more-resilient-nantucket/ Figure 07.M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

IBLUEYONDER, Nantucket Island - Official Promo Video, 2019, https://iblueyonder.com/portfolio/nantucket-island/ Endeavour Sailing Excursions, https://endeavorsailing.com/ Santoelia, shutterstock Figure 08. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage.

Koozarch, 2011, https://www.pinterest.com/ pin/157626055691571806/ Rusty and Ingrid, 2011, https://rustyandingrid.com/, Rockport, MA Figure 09. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage Figure Oldest House. Ca. 1860. Nantucket Historical Association. Nantucket, MA. Sandy Mountain from White Sand Against the Blue Sky. 2012.

ColourBox. Volgograd, Russia.

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The Zone Atlantic City, New Jersey

Under the scope of this uncertain scenario, we aim to propose a structure for the future development of Atlantic City. Although there are paths to explore defense systems implemented in the coastal barrier, our spirit is to consider the worst, and probably, upcoming scenario: a completely sunken city. Following the premise of our coursework, This Sunken Feeling, the strategy addresses a new lecture for Atlantic City. As we believe the entire urban area as a development to provide services for incoming movement population, our eyes are focusing in how we envision the floating future city of casinos and leisure of Atlantic City.

How will we interact with its ruins? Even the aftermath of this catastrophe allows a possibility for economics.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate

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98 Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidate

2020

Vice Floating City - The Zone

The Zone emerged as economic revival

Investments and Rethink

1980

Sinking Exodus

Borgota/Trump Tajmahal

Hollywood

Miss American

1854

Resort/Casino Paradise

Skyscraper By The Sea

Urban Renewal

1878 Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway

Haddon House

Boardwalk

United States Hotel

Health Resort

Pre-History

City Establish

Absecon Lighthouse

Camden City Railroad

Dr. Jonathan Pitney

Coastal Plain to Aquifer

Implement eelsewhere

2200

< The importance of time!

AC has been living between different economic, political and cultural waves, which serves as sudden alterating factors in how the context is evolving.

Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidate

The Zone addreses the possibilities of replication

The project brings the idea of a Floating Vice City, a structure and protocol to be implemented in order to bring floating services in order to become a gambling and non-regulated city, operating as a micro-state that will emerged from the ruins of the previous city.

Players, investors, curious and tourist will be welcomed to join this elevated structure, where communication happens mainly by sea, this living infrastructure will be constructed as an autonomous entity, obtaining resources from the salt water as well as providing farming and crops to feed visitants. Across the years, the macro-settlement will change, adding new hanging structures or developing more economic operators.

How do we imagine gambling after sea level rise?

The leisure city will emerge as a spotlight in the

middle of nowhere, between the regulations of the mainland and the freedom of the international waters.

The Zone addresses the possibilities of replication, encouraging other cities and excludively economic areas to implement floating solutions to have a chance of surviving the change to our ground level. Atlantic City has been fighting for decades to survive, and with this spirit, The Zone is the aftermath of bringing these demands alive after the storm.

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Coastal Flood Risk Area Low to Moderate Humanity Vulnerable Flood Zone Focus Design Area Atlantic City High Risk Vulnerable Zone (I) High-Tide Flood Category I-II-III-IV The back-bay area will be covered by water before 2050, the front before 2200.

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Figure 04. M.S. AAD candidate

0

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An adaptive infrastructure system keeps this city alive when sinking, which supports the existing buildings as well as manages all fundamental daily life supplements.

Figure 05. M.S. AAD candidate

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Figure 06 > Flooding Atlantic City in 2030

Figure 07 > Cadmen and Atlantic Road in 2050

Figure 02

Figure 08 > The Zone development in 2100

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Figures 06-09. M.S. AAD candidate

Figure 09 > New shoreline in 2080

Figure 10. M.S. AAD candidate

The Zone A Floating Vice City The proposal emerges from the water as a lighthouse in the sea, attracting visitors to a new regulated economic above-water exclusive area.

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< Atlantic County Pinlands aquifer supply drinking water to 3.5 million people in Southern New Jersey area. The sea-water instrusion can make the wider area uninhabitable.

Figure 11. M.S. AAD candidate

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Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Eduardo Cilleruelo Terán Master’s degree in Architecture from Universidad de Alcala in Madrid, Spain. He has been focusing his career on combining the practice of the profession, working for different firms while developing his interests in the academic field. Editor of the architectural magazine Momentum and candidate of the MSAAD program at Cornell since 2021.

Thakan Navapakpilai Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. He was working as an architect for 3 years in a Bangkok architecture firm and participated in interdisciplinary projects and competitions. Thakan is currently a candidate of the MSAAD program at Cornell.

Jin Kyung Cho Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Hongik University, South Korea. She has been practicing architecture in Seoul, New York and Beijing. Her recent interest focuses on interdisciplinary research on the built environment and ecology. She is an assistant researcher at CCL and candidate of the MSAAD program at Cornell since 2021.

Yang Du Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Wuhan University, China.

Previously worked as an architect assistant in Mad Architects, Woods Bagot and Ole Scheeren Beijing Office with one and a half year working experience in multi-functional design projects.

She is currently a candidate of the MSAAD program at Cornell University.

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Notes Figure 01.M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage

Figure 09. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021.

- Ivan Aivazovsky. Calm Sea Landscape with fishermen.

1887. https://www.wikiart.org/en/ivan-aivazovsky/calm-sealandscape-with-fishermen-1887

Proposition general map. Own ellaboration.

- Ivan Aivazovsky. Calm Sea. 1879 .https://www.wikiart.org/ en/ivan-aivazovsky/calm-sea-1879 Ridge on Sand Mountain, Topped by Broken Sandstone.

American Southwest. Little Sahara Recreation Area, Utah.

Figure 10. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage - William Trost Richards paintings. 1833. https://www. williamtrostrichards.org/

- Two Mile Trestle across Great Egg Harbor Bay. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City_and_Shore_Railroad Figure 02.M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Timeline Diagram - Katerina Gloushenkova. 2018. A counter-narrative for Atlantic City - Thesis Research 2018. https://issuu.com/kat.glou/docs/ kgloushenkova_thesis_researchbook_jan2019 Figure 04-05.M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Storm Surge Hazard Map - Zachry, B. C., W. J. Booth, J. R. Rhome, and T. M. Sharon, 2015: A National View of Storm Surge Risk and Inundation.

Weather, Climate, and Society, 7(2), 109–117. DOI: http:// dx.doi.org/10.1175/WCAS–D–14–00049.1 Figure 06-09. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage - Surging Seas Extreme Scenario based on the research of Katerina Gloushenkova. 2018. A counter-narrative for Atlantic City. Own ellaboration photomontages.

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Metal Straws Norfolk, Virginia

Metal straws, the daily utensils that protect the environment by eliminating plastic pollution, are now applicable to cities at the frontline of rising sea levels.

Norfolk is the first experimental site to implement this water-absorbing infrastructure, Metal Straws, transporting the overflowing sea water into vertical saline farming.

From the drain to the tower, the recycling system mitigates the flooding problem that has haunted the city for decades and promotes a sustainable urban life. Citizens whose houses have been endangered by sea level rise will also be hosted in the towers. Designed for a 200-year plan of Norfolk defending itself against climate change, Metal Straws marks the beginning of urban planning’s next stage that should be as sustainable and resilient as possible.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate

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“A lot of good things start in Virginia. We’re no stranger to firsts.”

Robert Hurt

1800

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Figure 02. Cornell M.S. AAD candidate, The Timeline of Norfolk in coming 200 years, 2021

Grow - Towers

2200 Absorb - Drains

US Navy HQ

Leisure Industry

2000 Rail Systems

Willhoughby Spit

Port Construction

Colonization

1600

Figure 03. Cornell M.S. AAD candidate. Existing urban condition and the intersted locations of the Metal Straws, 2021

Norfolk’s sea level rises by 2.5 cm every 4 years, and is costing over $4 billion in solutions.

Figure 04. M.S. AAD candidate

Figure 05. M.S. AAD candidate

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< WaterFall

Figure 06

> Urban Cruising The flooded downtown area fosters natural eco-systems, as water absorbed from the drain is implemented for vertical farming.

Figure 07

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Figures 06, 07. M.S. AAD candidate

The drain turns the absorbed water into water falls, creating sacred underground spaces for people to circulate and admire.

The Strawlines Following the city’s existing stormwater pipelines, the straws between the towers and the drains absorb flood water and reuse it for agricultural and residential purposes.

Figure 08. M.S. AAD candidate, The Flooding Map and Strawlines

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Figure 09. Cornell M.S. AAD candidate, Crusing to the Drainage

The Interior of the Towers: Saline Farming People from the flooded areas start to move into the towers, which are self-sufficient with saline farms and desalinated water tanks, taking advantage of the absorbed water from the drains.

Figure 10. M.S. AAD candidate. The Interior of the Towers: Saline Farming

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Figure 11. Cornell M.S. AAD candidate. Tower to Drain Underground Section

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Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Hyun Jun Cho Hyun Jun graduated with a B.Arch from Virginia Tech.

Valentina Haro Valentina worked as an architect in residential and commercial projects in Cordoba, Argentina, after graduating with a B.Arch from the National University of Cordoba in 2019.

Aubrey Sterling Aubrey graduated with a B.Arch from NC State’s School of Architecture and has four years of work experience along the East Coast of the United States.

Weijia Sun Weijia graduated with a B. Arch and a BA. Communication from University of Southern California.

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Notes Figure 01. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. An Inspirational Render, 2021 -Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, “Historical Images”, Accessed October 2021. https://nrha.photoshelter. com/gallery/Historical/G0000sjxf1Fx4fek/.

Figure 02. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. The Timeline of Norfolk in coming 200 years, 2021 -Nicholas Kusnetz, “Rising seas threaten Norfolk Naval Shipyard, raising fears of ‘catastrophic damage’,” U.S. News, Nov. 19, 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rising-seasthreaten-norfolk-naval-shipyard-raising-fears-catastrophicdamage-n937396 Figure 03. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. Existing urban condition and the intersted locations of the Metal Straws, 2021 -Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, “Historical Images”, Accessed October 2021. https://nrha.photoshelter. com/gallery/Historical/G0000sjxf1Fx4fek/.

Figure 04. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. Flooded Norfolk, 2021 -Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, “Historical Images”, Accessed October 2021. https://nrha.photoshelter. com/gallery/Historical/G0000sjxf1Fx4fek/.

Figure 05. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. Flooded Norfolk, 2021 -NOAA, Sea Level Rise Data Download (NOAA). https://coast. noaa.gov/slrdata/ Figure 06. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. WaterFall, 2021 Figure 07. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. Urban Crusing, 2021 Figure 08. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. The Flooding Map and Strawlines, 2021 Figure 09. Cornell MSAAD Candidates. Crusing to the Drainage

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05

Sedimentary Coral Charleston, South Carolina

Coasts constitute one of the most dynamic environments on the Earth signifying the transition zone between land and marine ecosystems that are incredibly vulnerable regions.

Technically an island, Charleston is one such dynamic coastal city surrounded by the Intracoastal Waterway and comprising of the Bohicket Creek as well as Stono, Ashley, Cooper and Wando rivers cutting its landform. The county is also home to abundant salt marshes, greater than any other county in South Carolina.

The estuary condition and marsh landform therefore become critical interfaces during instances of sea level rise and storm surge in the city. Envisioning the future of cities in 2100, Charleston is predicted to experience a 1.20 meters rise in sea level and severe storm surges.

This critical interface between the land and the sea, where Charleston resides is subject to severe environmental forces. In such a scenario with “cover” as the identified strategy, the chapter proposes interventions for disaster protection and mitigation at various scales of the city.

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Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate

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Rice Cultivation Adapting to Flooding

Fortification Fill-and-build

1680s

1690-2021

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S Ec lave on ry om So ic cie Bo ty om

Settlement Plan Grand Model

1670

00

Construction of Artificial Defensive Territory

Civ il W ar

2-Billion Seawall

Serving as Major Naval Base

at r ts rbo es a Cr n H 15 to p les To har C

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er oop d C one” n a me hley “As s beca r rive

< History Timeline of Charleston Charleston has been an aggressive city since its establishment with artificial superimposition on the natural land, expansion into the sea and initiation of warfare. In the decades to come, facing accelerating threats by flooding, the city may have to consider an opposite approach.

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Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidate

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Johns Island

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Atlantic Ocean

The proposed $2 billion dollar sea wall neglects more than 75% of Charleston’s population.

Charleston, the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina is known for its strong tourism industry and was ranked as the best city in the world in 2016. The city fitted into 10–13 square km as late as the First World War, but has since greatly expanded. The present-day city has a total area of 330 square km, of which about 280 square km is land and 50 square km is covered by water. The city consists of six distinct districts: [1] The historic downtown referred to as the Peninsula [2] West Ashley [3] Johns Island [4] James Island [5] Cainhoy Peninsula [6] Daniel Island Charleston has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters, hot humid summers, and significant rainfall all year long. The city lies south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Stono, Ashley, Cooper and Wando rivers. The tidal rivers are evidence of a submergent or drowned coastline. There is also a submerged river delta off the mouth of the harbor.

The estuary condition and marsh landform peculiar to Charleston therefore become critical and vulnerable interfaces that are often subjected to threats due to environmental forces. During sea level rise, salt marshes transgress inland invading low-lying forests, agricultural fields and sub-urban areas. Storm surges, owing to their rapid occurrence and greater magnitude, flood upland ecosystems increasing soil salinity and leading to contamination of groundwater. This further leads to inland inundation by the flooding of the rivers and also leads to replacement of upland vegetation by marsh plants. In such a scenario, apart from coastal protection, it also becomes essential to develop strategies for inland protection due to flooding by the rivers.

Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidate

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Legends Vulnerable zones in instances of predicted sea level rise Polulation density of more than 3,000 people per square km Regions comprising more the 25% of population below poverty line Proposed sea-wall as short-term solution Identified sites for immediate mitigation 0

1

2

Problem Map Population Density: Owing to its esstuary condition, dense city to experience severe inundation and flooding by the rivers Ignorance of the Vulnerable: Safe infrastructure being affordable by the rich, it is the economically deprived section who is in threat of survival in cases of severe flooding Future Land Expansion: Proposed infrastructural expansion onto the marshlands to further exaggerate city’s vulnerability to flooding Short-Term Solution: Existing sea wall serves as temporary solution of protecting the city

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Figure 04. M.S. AAD candidate

Legends Modular units in the dense city fabric Buoyant parcels in the marshlands and water

0

1

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Solution Map Walling out the water whilst living with it: The dense historic city is prone to inland flooding. The cover in such a scenario comprises of modular units that can be plugged into the peripheral city façade that can grow onto the city incrementally as the sea level continues to rise. This macro cover would thus serve as the soft edge between the land and the sea by housing activities that engage city dwellers with the sea.

Buoyant parcels buffering wave action: Charleston is abundant with salt marshes that are under severe threat of extinction due to the proposed expansion of inner city. The proposed meso cover would serve as an additional buffer to prevent inland penetration of sea water during flooding. These buoyant parcels would also prevent city expansion, thereby protecting the natural ecosystem of the city.

Figure 05. M.S. AAD candidate

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Figure 06

Figure 07 The New Normal The collages showcase glimpses from the existing submerged city with an intent to magnify into future scenarios when flooding would become the new normal.

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Figures 06, 07. M.S. AAD candidate, drawings

Sedimentary Coral The image represents the recreational buffer zone preventing inland penetration of sea water as well as future expansion of the urban fabric onto the sea. The backgrond comprises of the modular cover which have been designed for urban farming, recreation as well as filtration in the future. This waterproof layer is then covered by the biorock technology that acts as the soft porous edge between the land and the water.

Figure 08.M.S. AAD candidate

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Figure 09. M.S. AAD candidate

Micro Covers The concept of cover applies to a range of scales across the city. While the macro and meso covers focus on the critical condition of the peninsula and the marshlands respectively, the micro covers focus on a range of other edge conditions along the city.

1. Algae Farming The economically weaker section become most vulnerable to catastrophes. Algae farming serves as a means of livelihood in the marshy terrain and water body. This would begin an energy cycle by absorbing CO2, thereby contributing to the mitigation of hazards due to climate change.

2. Oyster Reef Additional buffer on marshland to prevent inland flooding by utilisation of waste products.

3. Floating sidewalks Adaptable sidewalks along the streets and critical facilities.

4. Sponge Tree Generation of energy cycle by aborbing CO2 and an additional buffer to mitigate the hazards of flooding.

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Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Klytaimnistra Avgetidou Graduated with a B.Arch from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.

So Min Lee Graduated with a B.Arch from Illinois Institute of Technology and worked as an architectural designer for three years in Chicago, US. Shhrruti Jain Graduated with a B.Arch from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology and worked as an architectural research and teaching assistant for two and a half years in Ahmedabad, India.

Xingyao Wang Graduated from Syracuse University with a B.Arch and minors in architectural history as well as museum studies.

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Notes Figure 01. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage - Charleston City Plan Team, “Charleston City Plan Land and Water Analysis, 2021 Figure 02. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Timeline - Chloe Stuber (City of Charleston), “Charleston City Plan “, 2021. https://www.charlestoncityplan.com/

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper, 2021. https://coast.noaa.gov/ - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sea Level Rise Viewer, 2021. https://www.noaa.gov/ - Resiliency and Sustainability Advisory Committee, City of Charleston, “All Hazards Vulnerability and Risk Assessment / Executive Summary”, 2019

- Christina Rae Butler. Lowcountry at High Tide: A History of Flooding, Drainage, and Reclamation in Charleston, South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 2020. https://search-ebscohost-com. libezproxy2.syr.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN =2293627&site=ehost-live Figure 03. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021.

- Dutch Dialogues Team, “Dutch Dialogues Charleston”, 2019. https://www.charleston-sc.gov/1974/Dutch-Dialogues - James Liphus Ward, Kalen McNabb, “Changing Landscapes and Lost Building Arts: The evolution of the Early Lowcountry Charleston Landscape and Lime-based Building Techniques - Kellie King, “Charleston, South Carolina: The Penisula: living with or walling out the water?”, 2020 Figure 06, 07. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage - Charleston Green Committee, “Charleston Green Plan, A Roadtrip to sustainability”, 2010 - Climate Central. Surging Seas: Risk Finder, 2021. https:// www.riskfinder.org/ -Martha A. Zierden, Elizabeth J. Reitz, “Charleston through the Eighteenth Century: Archeology at the Heyward-Washington House Stable, 2007 - Michael Oppenheimer, Bruce C. Glavovic, “Level Rise and Implications for Low-Lying Islands, Coasts and Communities”, 2019

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06 132

Up and Out Savannah, Georgia

As one substance dissolves into another, a series of transformations rapidly occur. No longer separate entities, an entirely new solution is created from the action. This design approach works in a very similar way, letting the city dissolve into the sea, creating disparate islands scattered around. As these islands form, the first step is pushing inward toward the high ground, also known as the old city.

Over time, these islands can then work to form a network of resources and communities which utilize vertical urbanism to provide for its densified population. As needs and desires for the city shift over time, further expansion is made possible through both layered verticality as well as a reclamation of the land left behind.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate, Savannah

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< Timeline of Events Savannah’s complex history serves as a foundation for its future, learning from past mistakes. Through a series of actions of time the city can be saved from sea level rise.

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Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidate, Timeline

Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidate, Savannah Key Point Map

Up and down Georgia’s 177-km coastline, locals are facing unprecedented floods thanks to climate change.1

Savannah is a rather unique city in Georgia. The 4th largest city in the state, it has a rich arts and cultural scene nestled into its historic downtown. As sea levels rise though, the surrounding residential and commercial districts find themselves under water, while the historic downtown remains safe.

This proposal is a multiphase one, allowing and expecting adaptation and innovation over its 100 year implementation. The first phase involves a coordinated retreat to the city center. This consolidation and acceptance of the fate allows for resources to be more responsibly distributed. Rather than attempting to save everything, focusing inward is a critical first step. This consolidation implements a vertical infrastructure that is super-imposed upon the historic district, allowing further densification without the need for destruction of landmarks.

The next phase flanks shifting coast. Though the city has already moved to higher ground, further control of the coast line is highly desirable. Through this flanking, hydro-electric production of power is made possible. This coincides with a further reclaiming of the land further out from the city. Now that the sea has risen, Savannah officials can assess the damage to surrounding habitats and begin to explore opportunities to occupy high ground left behind by the sea. These plots of land can be utilized for a variety of purposes, from wetland habitats to residential development. Finally, over time a full dissolution of the city, integrating it further into the water is made possible. That is not to say the city center disappears, rather an integration occurs making that which is rooted in the old city versus rediscovered or manmade in the new sea indiscernible.

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< Future Proof Can a city truly future proof itself? Already Savannah experiences some critical flooding from storms, affecting transportation and homes.

Figure 04

> Governing Bodies of Water As sea levels rise iconic landmarks find themselves underwater. How do is this new city navigable?

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Figures 04, 05. M.S. AAD candidate, drawings

Figure 05

Figure 06

Four Phases of Building Neo-Savannah As sea level rises over the next 80 years, only spaces shown in white are not altered by the water. This space is categorized as large mainland and small “islands.” Connections are then established in three ways: mainland and mainland, mainland and islands, and island and islands. Thus, a network is created as the base of the four-phase building scheme.

Phase l: Retreat

Phase ll: Flank

Phase lll: Attack

Phase lV: Dissolve

Figure 07 Figures 06, 07. M.S. AAD candidate, Map and Diagrams

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Up and Out: Solution Map The city responds to flooding by retreating back to the Center forming concentrated vertical development (blue) that does not disrupt the historic city. This strategy allows for water to flow through the city by fragmenting and dissolving parts of the city into water that connect back to the Center. This allows for revival of the wetlands shown in green

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Figure 08. M.S. AAD candidate, Problem Map

Up and Out Proposal Neo-Savannah pushes the dialogue of what a city can become, reclaiming the coastal edge over time.

Figure 09. M.S. AAD candidate, Proposal Collage

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Figure 10. M.S. AAD candidate, Savannah, GA Map

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Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Eric Peters Eric graduated with a B.Arch from Ball State University. He has interned at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects in New Haven, CT and David Rausch Studio in Indianapolis, IN prior to continuing his education at Cornell.

Hoayuan Wang Haoyuan graduated with a B.Arch from Syracuse University.

Sampriti Sheth Sampriti graduated with a B.Arch from KRVIA , Mumbai University in India. She interned at KKAA in Japan, VTN in Vietnam and worked as an architect at RJB-CPL in Mumbai before joining Cornell.

Yunqin Wang Yunqin graduated with a B.Arch from Chongqing University in China. She took internships at ECADI, Benoy Shanghai and HKS Shanghai before joining Cornell.

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Notes Figure 01. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Site Analysis - bassman5911. “Bassman5911.” Bassmen, April 28, 2014. https://bassman5911.tumblr.com/post/84063563558/humanoidhistory-vintage-rocket-belt-ad-from.

- “Building on the Edge of Canal · Free Stock Photo.” Accessed November 1, 2021. https://www.pexels.com/photo/building-onthe-edge-of-canal-9951750/.

- Chappell, Bill. “Hurricane Matthew Makes Landfall in S.C.; ‘Serious Inland Flooding’ Reported.” NPR. NPR, October 8, 2016. https://www.npr.org/sections/thet-woway/2016/10/08/497167154/large-part-of-s-c-coast-facesstorm-surge-of-6-9-feet-from-hurricane-matthew.

- Wata, Irea. “Cosmic Games Art Print.” Society6. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://society6.com/product/ cosmic-games_print?c_kid=s6-10199567p4a1v45&sku=s6-10199567p4a1v45&utm_source=pinterest&utm_ medium=social&utm_campaign=2331&epik=dj0yJnU9NlZkd-C1wbm85TnhNN1k5ZjdUV0VkeTZ0OVVmY1ZsVEkmcD0wJm-49VUlkZ3NKVl9PQ284N0oxSDc5VUxoZyZ0PUFBQUFBR0Z-feEhB. Figure 02. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Timeline - “Concrete Buildings beside Body of Water · Free Stock Photo.”

Accessed November 1, 2021. https://www.pexels.com/photo/ concrete-buildings-beside-body-of-water-1083366/. Dave.

“Savannah Electric: 1905.” Shorpy.com, September 15, 2010. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8965.

- “Historic Landmark District.” Visit Savannah, October 27, 2021. https://www.visitsavannah.com/historic-landmark-district.

- Jmori48. “Home.” Skyscraper Under Construction - Free Stock Images & Photos - 2192023 | StockFreeImages.com, May 3, 2011. https://www.stockfreeimages.com/2192023/Skyscrap-er-under-construction.html.

- Shin, Yileng. “Gallery of Moshe Safdie’s Chongqing Project Sets World Record with Highest ‘Horizontal Skyscraper’ - 4.” ArchDaily, March 3, 2018. https://www.archdaily. com/889744/moshe-safdies-sets-world-record-with-highesthorizon-tal-skyscraper/5a94bbd6f197cc6ba4000105-moshesaf-dies-sets-world-record-with-highest-horizontal-skyscraperim-age.

Figure 03. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. CollageFigure 04. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Collage - “Savannah Hotels: The Kimpton Brice Hotel.” Savannah Hotels | The Kimpton Brice Hotel. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://www.bricehotel.com/downtown-savannah/.

- “Zeppelin Ice Skater a 4 x 4.5 Greeting Card.” Etsy. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://www.etsy.com/listing/199335655/ zeppelin-ice-skater-a-4-x-45-greeting?epik=dj0yJnU9X3lya1Z-pVGlzMEJCazhuekt5aDNFeUtSWVVKQTNXamMmcD0wJm-49bEU2NS14eVhCeFBCa1hQTXVKcWJuZyZ0PUFBQUFBR0Yt-LTM4.

- Zuidema, Teake. “These Photos Offer a Stark View of Rising Seas in Georgia.” Discover Magazine. Discover Magazine, May 20, 2021. https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/ these-photos-offer-a-stark-view-of-rising-seas-in-georgia.

Figure 05. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Collage - Sisson, Carly. “Would a Massive Sea Wall Protect New York City from Fierce Storms?” Soundings Online. Soundings Online, January 17, 2020. https://www.soundingsonline.com/news/ would-a-massive-sea-wall-protect-new-york-city-from-fiercestorms.

Figure 09. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Proposal Collage - “Chicago Cityscape · Free Stock Photo - PEXELS.” Accessed November 1, 2021. https://www.pexels.com/photo/chica-go-cityscape-161963/.

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Double Velocity Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, is sinking as the sea level rises.

Before building the strategy on this impending calamity, one requires an immediate investigation to fully understand Jacksonville’s two particular contexts towards this sea-level problem. First, the sea level of Jacksonville had never risen at a steady rate: the degree of sea level rise rate started to accelerate from the 21st century. Second, the level of severity by sea level rise differs by the regions of Jacksonville, especially to wetlands and downtown.

Wetland is more vulnerable to this calamity than downtown, located in the city’s inner side. To deal with such different velocities of sea level rise at Jacksonville, we are implementing five propositions to be more adaptive to the changefulness of the sea level rise. The flexibility of this strategy would increase Jacksonville’s percentage of surviving from this impending calamity in the future.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate

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Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidate

0

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Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidate

Major Commercial Area

Sea level rise affects both urban and natural areas of Jacksonville.

The city of Jacksonville is an inner harbor in Florida.

On the eastern coastal side, it has wetlands that are preserved as parks. These wetlands are most prone to sea level rising risks, like hurricane and flooding.

In 2050, the majority of the area will be covered by the rising sea water. However, the area is very lightly populated with few man-made structures, leaving opportunities for conservative propositions. While the downtown of Jacksonville locates in the rather inland portion of the city. Settling alongside the St. John River, the downtown area faces more challenges caused by flooding from the river. And as a densely populated area, the downtown of Jacksonville needs solutions for residential programs.

Highways

Wetlands

Sea level rising problem in Jacksonville is never a static situation. It evolves with time, causing different impact areas and different level of severity. The wetland areas can easily sink into sea water within 50 years. At the same time, the downtown areas might only need to face constant flooding problems. So, the early steps of proposition in Jacksonville can be engaging, seeing the sea level rising as advantages.

Take more years into consideration, current waterfront of the downtown will be covered with water. It can put housing pressure to the city since all the highrise buildings along waterfront will be useless. At this stage, solving housing problems will become the most significant concerns for saving the city.

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< Flooding Town The downtown of Jacksonville is away from Atlantic coastal line and sits on a higher ground than the wetlands. It’s facing challenges more from the surging of the St. John River than the coast. Hurricanes like the Irma in 2017 constantly causing huge damages to downtown Jacksonville. With its dense population, the area needs propositions that concerns residential relocation.

Figure 04

> Wetlands are in Danger When sea level rising starts to affect Jacksonville, the very first places that are at risks are the wetlands along the coastal line. In 2100, the majority of the current wetlands in Jacksonville will be covered with sea water. However, the wetlands have long been preserved as parks that are not populated with human beings. So, an engaging perspective can be used as a design strategy for the early stages of sea level rising in Jacksonville.

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Figures 04, 05. M.S. AAD candidate, drawings

Figure 05

Flooding Map Flooding in Jacksonville will first hits wetlands located at the east side of the city.

With sinking land and close distance to main water body, the wetlands will eventually be swallowed by the sea. While urban landscapes, like commercial district on the west, has challenges from constant flooding and residential relocation demand.

Figure 06. M.S. AAD candidate

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Mangrove_Evacuation Plan Many researchers project that the sea levels will rise dramatically in this Anthropocene Era. To offset the loss of spaces sunken underwater, we suggest the megastructure that can accommodate multifarious spaces – the megastructure that runs by itself, interacting with each other, and making the above-land layer eventually.

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Figure 07. M.S. AAD candidate

Mangrove_The Growing Land According to Risk Finder, more than 90,000 population of Jacksonville will be sunken underwater as 3.00 meters of sea level rises. Each megastructure can accommodate up to 6,000 units, which means that about 10 megastructures will be needed by the year 2100. Is this the bleak future or the great debate?

Figure 08. M.S. AAD candidate

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4 Kilometer 5

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1. Dike 2. Sand Collector 3. Levee 4. Barrier Grids 5. Mangrove Figure 09. M.S. AAD candidate

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Team This chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates: Ohjin Jo Ohjin, before joining Cornell AAP, graduated with a B. Arch from Korea University and worked as a designer at System Lab Group.

Minjae Koo Before joining Cornell, Minjae earned a B.Arch from Korea National University of Arts and worked as an architect for four years in Seoul, South Korea.

Xiaobai Zhao Xiaobai Zhao graduated as with BArch degree from Syracuse University. She had two years of practice in Maryland, USA on public and commercial design projects.

Xinyue Geng Xinyue Graduated with a B.Arch in First Class Honours from University of Strathclyde and Northwestern Polytechnical University.

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Notes Figure 02. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Site Analysis - “Coastal Risk Screening Tool.” Sea level rise and coastal flood risk maps. Climate Central. Accessed November 2, 2021.

Figure 04, 05. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Photo Montage -Milano, Johhny. The Monster Surge That Wasn’t: Why Irma Caused Less Flooding Than Expected. The New York Times, September 11, 2017.

Figure 06, 07. M.S AAD Candidate. 2021. Flood Maps & Evacuation Plan - Google maps. Google. Accessed October 28, 2021.

- “Jacksonville Sea Level and Coastal Flood Risk.” Surging Seas Risk Finder. Climate Central. Accessed November 2, 2021.

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08 156

Bubble City Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale started to encounter unusual “sunny-day flooding,” between 0.3 and 0.6 meters of salt water inundating their streets at high tide. In the following decade, sea level will continuously rise for more than 1.80 meters.

Most Fort Lauderdale residents live less than 1.50 meters above sea level, who will be threaten by the sea level rise crisis in one decade. Most buildings will be flooded, infrastructure will get destroyed, ecosystems will be no longer existed, cities will be hit by storms. We need to make the fastest adaptation strategy. Here, we propose a reconstruction strategy -- Bubble City -- when the city has suffered the most severe damage.

Figure 01. M.S. AAD candidate, Fort Lauderdale

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1913

1926

1930’s

1939

1950

Railroad arrived

Trading flourished

People came south

Hurricanes

Real Estate along the river

US Navy base

Filming Industry

1960’s

2020+ Sea level rising

1900‘s

Tourism Flourished

1896

< Industry Background Fort Lauderdale was a shipbuilding port due to its unique coastal environment, but later the film industry transformed it into a tourist city. The rising sea level will destroy the city’s main industry and future development is starting from scratch.

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Figure 02. M.S. AAD candidate, Fort Lauderdale

Junction

Brightline Station

A1A Highway

Fort Landerdale Beach

1 1/2

Port Everglades

0

Intercoastal Wa terway

A distinguishing urban feature of Fort Lauderdale is its intercoastal line that meander into the interior of the city, cutting the city vertically into several lands. Horizontally, the city is connected by highways, which also transport tourists from the Downtown Brightline station to tourist areas along the coast. A1A highway alongside the beach links the main cities in Florida, also helps develop tourism. When the sea level rises, intercoastal lines will flood alongside lands and submerge the highway and spill onto the streets, which become the biggest problem for the whole city.

Kilometers

Intercoastal Waterway winding within the city

Figure 03. M.S. AAD candidate

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< Sea Level Contrast Tourism is mainly distributed on higher land near the coastline. When the sea level rises, the tourist area becomes a longitudinal island.

Figure 04

> Submerged City The sea water is flooding into the city, marine organism is entering urban areas, and parts of tall buildings are submerged.

Ocean becomes part of the city.

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Figures 04, 05. M.S. AAD candidate

Figure 05

[ New Downtown ]

Original Traffic Center [ Original Downtown ]

0

1

2

Kms

Isolated Islands in Fort Lauderdale In 2060, when the sea level rose by 1.82 meters, most of the urban area will be submerged along the intercoastal waterway, leaving only the highest land to become the isolated islands. The original downtown and main infrastructure no longer exist. How can we still support the operation of the city, contain a large amount of population, and rejuvenate the industry?

Isolated Main Lands Existing Green Area Figure 06. M.S. AAD candidate, Fort Lauderdale

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Figure 07. M.S. AAD candidate

< Strategy of Urban Revitalization When the city has suffered the most severe damage, this project proposes a strategy towards constructions, infrastructure, ecology and coast stability four parts to realize urban revitalization. Constructions, infrastructure, ecology are floated on the water, and coast stability provides calmly flowing water as foundation for float.

> Bubble City The revitalization strategy proposes a new Fort Lauderdale floating on bubbles.

Figure 08.M.S. AAD candidate

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Figure 09. M.S. AAD candidate

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Team This Chapter was made possible through the efforts of these outstanding Cornell MSAAD Candidates:

Haotian Ma Haotian graduated from Sichuan University in China with a B.Arch degree.

Mingfeng Jiang Mingfeng graduated with a B.Arch degree from Hefei University of Technology in China.

Sijia Chi Sijia graduated with a B.Arch degree from Wuhan University and worked as an architect for one year in Beijing, China.

Ziqi Wang Ziqi graduated with a B.Arch degree from Illinois Institute of Technology.

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Notes Figure 02 Cornell M.S AAD Candidates. History Timeline.

-Fort Lauderdale. Audio-Visual Narrative of Fort Lauderdale, https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqgTNuU5-Jc. Figure 04,05. Cornell M.S AAD Candidates. Photo Montage.

-Based on the collages, pop-vintage artwork of Eugenia Loli.

-Based on the online gallery of Lisa J. Huriash. https://www. sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-fort-lauderdale-historical-photo-gallery20170228-photogallery.html Figure 06-09. Cornell M.S AAD Candidates. Map. Own ellaborations.

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What’s Next?

Manifesto 2.0

The aim of this book was to create agency in a situation where it might look as if we have none. Research by design, by working in a loosely structured way, unlocks the opportunities available in complex scenarios, where other more empirical methods cannot.

Research by Design Methodology We need a clear yet flexible methodology to work in complex contexts that are not only human, but biotic and geologic, and in a much longer timescale than we are used to. There is no fixed form: no winning move: no ultimate goal; just a continuing re-contextualization with the mutable and ultimate forces of nature. We recommend an iterative and loose method: one that works in a rough but rigorous way, using and abusing theoretical and abstract design propositions to open new ways of seeing, and extending the territory of possibility in what looks to be a narrow and ever-narrowing terrain of operation. No matter how catastrophic the possible futures are however, this still is a design problem.

The methodology creates a flexible scaffold1 in which the designer’s grip can be firm, but loosely held:

168 1. Keeffe, The Flexible Scaffold, 2021

Diagrams Diagrams are abstractions of content into bite-sized chunks which can be used as both a metonym and a mnemonic simultaneously. As a metonym they allow us to be ironic or creative in our interpretation; their mnemonic nature allows us to think about a range of issues at once, both of which are essential for the designer to be creative in complex environments.

Process diagrams are also essential in creating a pathway from problem to solution.

Propositions We use design propositions to develop a miriad of process-based solutions to the problem of sea level rise. These singular answers will stretch the envelope of possibility, by being extreme in their application. For example – ‘Float’ might include the creation of inflatable dinghies for every building in town or might include the re-deployment of redundant US NAVY aircraft carriers as a new floating city. This part of the method tries to find limits to a range of design options.

Photomontage

In conclusion

Here we use photomontage as the key way we visualize designs both as ideas and as realized futures. These loose visualizations allow complete solutions to be presented whilst being still uncertain about exact moves on the ground.

Climate change is the most pressing issue of the age. It is unlikely that a short book will solve the complex issues created by the application of capital-based economic systems on fragile geographies and eco-systems, but what we hope is that it starts to create a debate about how differing adaptations might offer real potential for the re-imagination of cities in spite of the hopelessness of the future situation. After all, simply put, design is a way of making things better. Many of the futures described, reference a wider range of urban conditions than just sea level to do this. However it is also apparent that if we do want to survive into the next century and beyond, then a much more broad and integrated set of solutions covering a greater number of issues will be needed. We hope the schemes presented offer compelling future provocations from which to start that discussion.

Mapping Mapping is used in a creative way. It is not just a presentation of data in space, but a re-presentation that interprets complex spatial interrelations.

It also sets datums for levels. When linked and fed with the multiplicity of diagrams in an iterative way it leads to a re-mapping that is a powerful tool for creating form and thus developing holistic solutions.

Consolidation In the strategy plan, we assemble a multifarious process-based solution that uses the best of the ideas in a consolidated way. This again will then be re-mapped and the design impact visualized over the course of the century (or more). The loop of diagram/map/photomontage/remap can be continuously applied – over greater and smaller timeframes to unlock geological or bodied time in the landscape. These designs are a scheme: they can be viewed as attempted solutions but like all urban designs this scheme will, in truth, be a provocation: a starting position for a more broad discussion amongst stakeholders of how things might be. Without the scheme, there is no discussion, and we need discussion to move a city.

Welcome to the city of continual conversation and mutation!

Greg Keeffe.

Ithaca, November 2021.

Thomas J Baird Visiting Professor of Architecture, AAP Cornell Professor of Architecture + Urbanism Queens University Belfast.

Other factors History The city is not a static object, but a continuous negotiation between forces and desires. The future trajectory can be seen as a hack or extrapolation of the journey so far. These trajectories need to be described using historical contextual analysis, in our case described as a series of diagrams.

Landscape The city is located in a complex landscape context. This needs to described clearly at a range of scales from Macro (the geology), through Meso (the geography) to Micro (the geomorphology). Understanding of biologic contexts must also be re-presented.

The M.S. AAD 2021-2022 program would like to thank

Climate

Leanna Humphrey, AAP, Cornell University

Understanding the macro issues regarding sea level rise is important, but so is seeing the micro issues of locally when presented by these. It is expected that sea-level issues, will cover both general rise over time, and also increasing storminess and surge. Finding ways to visualize this in a cogent way is essential.

Rob Roggema, Professor of Spatial Transformation, InHolland University NL Rebecca-Jane McConnell, Architecture at Queens, Queens University Belfast, UK

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This editorial project has been part of the architectural design track developed in Visiting Professor Greg Keeffe’s Studio Course during Fall Semester 2021. The entire team, faculty, students and professionals involved in this process are grateful for the contribution of Cornell University to communicate, research and develop strategies to face the direct effects of climate change and sea level rise.

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