A new urban typology for coastal cities to address rising sea levels

 

Our plan accommodates and mitigates rising sea levels while maintaining urban density critical to the success of cities.

 

Brooklyn South waterfront in New York Harbor is the test site. Our proposal assumes it will take until year 2100 to reverse global warming and accepts 6 foot rise in sea level predicted by scientific models.  Above that level, the coastal wetlands in our plan accommodates up to 8 foot surges, predicted to become more frequent (2012 Hurricane Sandy had 5.75 ft. surges).

 

5 AIMS

 

1  Engage year 2100 sea level rise for positive urban transformation:  Symbiotic relation of city dwelling and nature.

 

2  Healthy housing typologies of ecological timber alongside current housing: Thin square towers of engineered wood provide affordable housing of diverse sizes, all with corner exposures, harbor views and cross ventilation.  Open air elevators and common roof gardens contribute to healthy living.  Low-rise rowhousing above commercial space is powered by photovoltaic roof panels.

 

3  Green transport network phases out carbon-based streets: New elevated Promenades extend from existing streets over wetlands to form new pedestrian and cycle networks. Regional and Local Suspended Electric Tramlines (SET) powered by photovoltaic canopies run elevated over coastal wetlands and canals. 

 

4  Ground transition to Coastal Wetlands:  As sea level rises the ground plane is transformed into a Coastal Wetlands / Public Landscape which thrives on increased tides and buffers storm surges.

 

5  Phased transformation of existing fabric to new:  Rather than an overarching master plan that requires completion to function, this vision accepts gradual transformation block by block to accommodate property contingencies and adjacencies to rising sea levels over time.