Fluid Boundaries - Part 2

elegant and expedient

dialectics

While elegant proposals planning for sea level rise often culminate in expedient, reactive disaster responses, beauty is still found in these makeshift solutions through design ingenuity and the perplexing beauty of material decay.

Many proposals addressing sea level rise suggest lofty goals, neatly organized developments, beautiful renderings, and idealized visions. However, in reality, design interventions will most likely be messy, haphazard, with a focus on expediency versus aesthetic elegance. It is a response fueled by flight or fight in disaster mode, where the solutions will not be

ones elegantly depicted, but instead splattered across the front page of the morning’s paper, susceptible to rot, loss of life, and unideal situations. Design elegance and beauty are still certainly found in these makeshift solutions, but the beauty will probably come in the form of benefit served rather than aesthetic effect.

Here, the beautification of disaster is set in contrast with the expediency of solving the problem at hand. It is the contrast between the elegant and the expedient, the proactive and the reactive, the resolved and the ready-made.

Each moment is presented as an ideological diptych. The elegant is shown in both an experiential and analytical lens, portraying sensory experience, and then detailed mechanics through orthographic. In contrast, the expedient accentuates the ad-hoc ingenuity characterizing disaster response. Both tracks address the same challenge, but differ in their response and resources available.

Despite contrasting approaches, the elegant and expedient utilize similar representation styles to blur the boundaries between their differences. This serves as a critique of idealized waterfront projects failing to deliver on expectations, while also elevating the glimmers of beauty still found in reacting to disaster as a new way of life. Through analyzing and representationally equating these contradicting extremes, one can synthesize a potentially more accurate reality.

the city

elevated connections

city scale

elevated highway and active transit

pedestrian piers extending current street grid

floating parklets descending to water

integrated transit hub, typ. (see neighborhood scale, p.11)

multifunctional marina transit pier

elevated recreation paths tracing 2020 coastline

connectivity and remembrance

Promote lateral, longitudinal, vertical, and social connectivity through the new waterfronts. The design presents the opportunity to play into regional transportation lines, while also providing intimate access for people to descend to the water level both at the coastline, and farther inland along daylit creeks.

Designs situated perpendicular to the current shoreline should reach from upland out into the sea, creating a datum for sea level rise and a platform for the explanation of history and remembrance.

Repurpose sacrificial land given over to flooding into elevated recreational paths – allowing people to position themselves with respect to the previous coastline in ways that were never possible before. An elevated trail following the current coastline serves as a datum of remembrance - a marker - for what used to be, long after the water has reclaimed its previous ownership. These paths can pull the body from the formerly understood coastline, farther into the water than ever expected or thought possible. Something about the pier that is so enticing is the opportunity to leave the land and go farther into the water than allowed, to be a body beyond the coastline – provide this experience throughout.

essential services

Layer essential services and building lifespans into the master plans of new cities along the water or in flood prone regions. Locate less essential services, or those with minimal detriment when flooded, in sacrificial flood areas closest to the coast. These can be in the form of elevated bikeways, recreational fields, or habitats that allow people to still experience the water in conditions today (along the shore), but also in flood conditions (elevated above the flood waters). Retrofit existing residential

buildings to experience flooding safely; however, rebuild structures nearing the end of their lifespan on higher ground, prompting an upland densification. Institutional buildings and infrastructure such as hospitals, power plants, distribution centers, and transportation have the longest lifespan and most widespread impact on the community if disrupted. Locate these structures upland or float them out in the Bay to allow for the continued employment of essential services regardless of flood conditions.

connected city transit

elevate new transit lines to maintain regional connections, while incorporating efficient bus lines, ferry piers, and active commuting

disconnected city transit

revamp the current transit systems to address frequent flooding; close, reroute, and elevate in a patchwork manner until the system is somewhat whole once again

overpass design

The design strategy emphasizes elevating essential services, sacrificing flooded land to recreational waterfront uses, connecting into the existing grid, consolidating transit, and relocating affected businesses.

Elevate primary transit arteries above the expected sea level rise height for its life expectancy (about 80-100 years). Using piers, allow the water to flow underneath and continue to flood inland. For sites with highways close to the coast, such as the I-880 in Berkeley, dedicate all area on the coastal side of the highway to recreational

uses such as bikeways, pedestrian pathways, reclaimed marshland, and recreational marinas. Locate transit hubs at the intersection of highway overpasses and primary inland transect – a series of nodes along the transit route that consolidate ferry, bus, vehicular, and pedestrian transportation.

Terminate the primary street leading into the highway on-ramp in an elevated roundabout, some parking, and a public plaza. Place bus transit offices on the inland side of the overpass to assist in organizing bus routes. Buses are able to quickly pull off the highway to bus stops on the

elevated plaza level. Via a pedestrian overpass, connect people to the coastal plaza on the other side of the highway where the marina, ferry transit, and recreational support services are located. Extend the existing street grid of the city and extrapolate out into the water on the coastal side - piers stretching out into the Bay. Locate ferry platforms and smaller watercraft docks along the pier, giving ample room for running, walking, and enjoying the new waterfront. Provide stairs leading down to water level, creating direct access for those wishing to kayak, windsurf, boat, or swim if water quality is eventually improved.

Relocate one-story industrial buildings and big box stores in the area expected to be inundated by sea level rise to an elevated plaza feeding into the transit hub –increasing both foot and vehicular traffic to the businesses.

Locate elevated commute walkways and bikeways above the highway to facilitate active commutes in a streamlined and safe manner. In locations of intersection with transit hubs, provide overpass parks to connect bikeways to the public plazas below.

essential services

Sea level rise design mitigations should first prioritize protecting or redesigning essential services, as they have the possibility of disrupting the largest proportion of the community. These services should be either elevated, floated, relocated out of inundation zones, or designed in a manner that makes them adaptable and resilient – able to drain and recover quickly after a flood event.

Essential assets include both infrastructure and services: hospitals, electricity services, water supply services, telephone services, police, armed forces, firefighting services, prison services, and air traffic control. While not constituted as essential services by the United Nation’s International

Labour Office, also protect the following from sea level rise: ports, banking, basic needs commerce and distribution, food distribution, education services, parks, postal service, refuse collection services, agricultural activities, and more.

Essential services can also be expanded to include community assets that foster connections and relationships within the community such as parks, favorite neighborhood restaurants or bars, libraries, or historical and cultural sites. Preserve cultural and community assets within a neighborhood as they often define a community’s identity, foster relationships, and enhance social resiliency.

neighborhood design proposal multifunctional piers

elevated pedestrian walkway

overpass/underpark walkway

marina stairs bus transit office bus exit & transit stop

elevated commute bikeway recreation paths along current waterline

marina transit office

recreational office relocated businesses bus exit & transit stop

overpass park

marina pier

at-grade street connection

overpass

create adaptive underpass waterfront parks through concrete steps and platforms cascading from the pedestrian overpass, allowing for rock skipping, paddle boarding, and other leisure activities

vehicular transit

elevate transit lines and further integrate with the surrounding neighborhoods – incorporate marina piers, public parks, relocated businesses, and active transit routes for bikes and pedestrians

public transit

connect multifunctional piers into existing highway systems to serve as transit hubs - supporting boat docking on one side, waterfront leisure on the other, and recreational park paths in between

vehicle or pedestrian overpass

tiered steps to water, textured concrete to prevent slipping recreational area or transit passsage

stairs to waterfront park

flooded overpass park

create adaptive underpass waterfront parks through concrete steps and platforms cascading from the pedestrian overpass, allowing for rock skipping, paddle boarding, and other leisure activities

flooded overpasses

elegant vs. expedient

flooded displacement

relocate or float tents and encampments on reused shipping palettes; in sharp comparison, those who can afford housing at higher elevations, use the flooded area for recreation, highlighting economic disparities and tensions in the region

elevated park

active transit / recreation

elevated highway highway onramp piers for unobstructed flow

vehicular transit

elegant vs. expedient

elevated transit

elevate transit lines and further integrate with the surrounding neighborhoods – incorporate marina piers, public parks, relocated businesses, and active transit routes for bikes and pedestrians

drained transit

open existing highway systems to flooding and design to allow quick drainage in flood events – integrate vehicular and water transit

linear park strip

adaptive tiered stairs, recreational water access marina transit platform

public transit

elegant vs. expedient

multi-functional piers

transition primary public transportation to water-based mobility such as ferries and small passenger boats; connect multifunctional piers into existing highway systems to serve as transit hubs - supporting boat docking on one side, waterfront leisure on the other, and recreational park paths in between

adapt existing infrastructure

rely on buses and above ground transportation with flexible routes moved to places without flooding; heavily flood-proof underground transit, such as BART, or move it to higher ground

humanized waterfront moments rhythm and movement

The street scale concerns itself with the pedestrian realm. The design of waterfront areas often facilitates a specific function, or creates a platform for spontaneous uses dictated by the user along the street or public realm. This creates a contrast between movement of people and movement of water. In most cases, the rhythm or flow of water should match the speed of movement of people – a dynamic stream facilitates running along the banks, while a gentle trickle or reflecting pool facilitates quiet contemplation on a park bench.

While these programs can be prescriptive and focused primarily on what activity is “done” at the waterfront, an additional layer of experience can be added through the incorporation of senses and direct interaction with water.

add to the auditory experience of the space. Humidity, sea spray, or waterfalls create mist or cool breezes along the waterfront. Tactile interaction with the water adds another layer – allowing people to dip their toes, wade into the water, skip rocks, or even swim. The visual component should be varied throughout the waterfront to provide both expected and unexpected views from contrasting angles. These views can range from a detailed view of the water’s edge to an expansive view of the horizon. The position of the body in relation to water should also be considered – moving the body’s eye level far above water level, along side it, or even under it, providing visual experiences through design that are not usually naturally feasible or expected. This can re-orient people to foster a new relationship with the water as they move along the street.

public plazas

design public spaces with multiple tiers – allowing the inhabitation of different park levels based on varying water heights; integrate reflecting pools as catchment basins and additional onsite water detainment

food and commerce

transition essential services to floating infrastructure approached by boats, allowing society’s most vital resources to be preserved yet remain accessible during the transition period

terraced retaining pond pedestrian/bike bridge

water recreation (when flooded)

elevated recreation pathway tiered steps rec pathway

public plazas

elegant vs. expedient

terraced plazas

design public spaces with multiple tiers – allowing the inhabitation of different park levels based on varying water heights; integrate reflecting pools as catchment basins and additional onsite water detainment; provide cohesive connection between banks via bridges when the center of the park is flooded; construct the ground of the park in concrete to reduce muddiness and still allow children to play in low flow water levels

inverted fountain invert the location of water in society’s lifestyle by repurposing places that were previously dry; no longer contain water as a feature, but let it permeate all of life

hung lights able to sway with waves

light-weight framing and space truss lips on shelves hold items in place

shelves bolted to platform concrete floating caisson arrival dock

floating services

transition essential services to floating infrastructure approached by boats, allowing society’s most vital resources to be preserved yet remain accessible during the transition period

food and commerce

elegant vs. expedient

barge distribution

maintain the distribution of essential commodities such as food, soap, medicines, and clothing to the public despite flood conditions; place essential services and resource distribution on underutilized barges, mobilizing to serve multiple communities or those particularly vulnerable to inundation or lack of supplies

the building

retrofit or rebuild

Construct new buildings in a way that protects and maintains the required functions while also creating minimal obstruction for the flow of water. Split buildings into several volumes and elevate on stilts, creating a ground plane with fewer obstructions for water to naturally flow through. Allow inhabitants to experience water flowing visually, spatially (body positioned below, aligned, submerged, above), and sensorially. In developing completely new communities, relocating to higher ground is often optimal and sensible, but removes the entire population from the mystery and intrigue of the waterfront. Especially for new construction in already developed areas, new buildings should celebrate their surroundings and elevate the effect of water in a phenomenal way. Use these techniques to build in new areas or replace buildings at the end of their lifespan.

In places where there is a desire to maintain the current buildings without sacrificing function, employ retrofit design strategies protecting the current structure from flooding while also incorporating moments of phenomenal water interactions. Construct the foundation floor of the building as a concrete basin with a lip in alignment with the predicted flood level at the end of the building’s expected lifespan. Exterior stairs or ramps breach the tops of these thresholds and then re-descend back into the building. Mediate the flow of water into the building through apertures in the basin, where the water then flows along a series of pathways throughout the building – interacting with various elements within the structure at the detail level – before being expelled from the building.

overtopped levee

building water track

Water enters the building either by the flow of an overtopped levee, through a ground floor wall, or a repurposed pump. Combining with rainwater catchment, water flows change depending on tides, sea level rise, precipitation, and storms, rooting inhabitants in the temporal and cyclical nature of various water flows. Here the building acts as an experiential drain, but can also be utilized as a water retention basin – holding water within the house to slow the flow and reduce storm surges and impact on municipal water systems.

repurposed existing pump

building water track

ground floor flooding building water track

Bates Masi + Architects, Long Island Flooded House

Act Romegialli, Venetian Home

retrofit typology floodable basin

Act Romegialli, Venetian Home

property lines

elevate the house above flood level, surrounded by a landscaped levee as a seamless extension of the yard; maintain sight lines along the new “street” by gently sloping levees upwards and shrouding them with luscious marsh-like plants that are able to be exposed and submerged in intertidal zones

swimming pool

flood the bottom level of the house, transforming the kitchen into a water bar and swimming pool; continue counter backsplash to the ceiling; install swim ladders along the countertops allowing swimmers to easily get out of the pool between laps in personal lane lines floating throughout the room

intertidal landscaping

public waterway

planter drainage

landscaping planter

emergency drainage

landscaped levee

elevate the house above flood level, surrounded by a landscaped levee as a seamless extension of the yard; allow personal boats to drive under the house into the repurposed aquatic parking area; maintain sight lines along the new “street” by gently sloping levees upwards and shrouding them with luscious marsh-like plants that are able to be exposed and submerged in intertidal zones

property lines

elegant vs. expedient

industrial levee

delineate property divisions and replace picket fences with deployable flood barriers or levees, cutting off each house from the street; prescribe standardized styles through each HOA or design with unique styles to match the aesthetic of the home; turns each property into its own polder, cutting it off from the street and pedestrian realm

swimming pool

poolside drinks only in top fridge compartment backsplash along entire wall

floating lane lines

pool ladder on counter top

drainage filter

water tight cabinets

water bar island with submergable stools

central island pool ladder

interior pool

flood the bottom level of the house, transforming the kitchen into a water bar and swimming pool; continue counter backsplash to the ceiling; install swim ladders along the countertops allowing swimmers to easily get out of the pool between laps in personal lane lines floating throughout the room

swimming pool

elegant vs. expedient

exterior pool

install an above-ground standalone pool and allow the backyard to flood to the brim; submerge and sacrifice lawn furnishings; accept that the dirty storm water will infect the pool water; patch punctures in poolsides caused by floating debris, or permit it to drain and merge with the surrounding flood