Date of Submission
Spring 5-7-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Peter Pittman
Abstract
By the year 2100, southern-Florida is projected to experience a 1-2 meter rise in sea level, resulting in the lower portion of the state becoming almost completely submerged under a new watertable.[14] During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city of Miami developed rapidly and the community and economy inevitably became intertwined with the water and its ecology. Due to the growing population and economy, urban developments soared and led to low-lying areas being filled in, open space along waterways were claimed for commercial and residential buildings, and man-made islands such as the venetian islands were constructed. As a result, natural wetlands and marshes that previously existed receded from the coastline or were replaced by pipes and concrete. [11] The destruction of natural wetlands and mashes has left the water with no other place to go besides inland. Historically, cities have grown and developed on the waterfront, making use of its commercial, agricultural, and protective benefits.[9] However, due to the changes in the climate, coastal cities must adapt to the new reality of rising sea levels, stronger storms, and annual flooding - with projections showing that 90% of major waterfront cities will be affected by the year 2050. [1] While water remains fundamental to the development and sustainability of a coastal region’s socio-economic, cultural, and ecological fabric, it also has the potential to damage infrastructure, destroy ecosystems, and ultimately lead the loss of human life.[15] Adapting to these changes in a sustainable manner has become a pressing issue for those involved in coastal management, ecology, and urban planning. The trend has shifted from traditional coastal protection methods, such as hard structures and defenses, to environmentally conscious infrastructure.[10] By rethinking our approach to architectural and urban planning, we can enhance the coastal resilience of critically affected coastlines and mitigate these effects through the reintegration of water and nature into our cities. Instead of blocking out water via flood walls or hard structures, this thesis proposes to embrace the rise in sea levels and approaches resilience through water retention and detention, exploring the different opportunities and benefits of collecting and storing storm water during a major weather event, and releasing it in the aftermath. Through the integration of ecological systems with resilient infrastructure, this approach to eco-master planning establishes innovative methods for water management at the urban scale. The goal is to create a symbiotic relationship between the existing urban context of Miami and the water that surrounds its coastal borders through the addition of resilient programs. Remapping Resilience is a new, hybrid approach to coastal resilience, part ecosystem and part infrastructure, which will redefine the relationship between land and water and allow the city to adapt and evolve with the changing environment.