The thesis is a design and research exploration on the ongoing flooding crisis in coastal cities, exacerbated by climate change. It explores a multi-faceted idea of “resiliency” that expands beyond flood control to influence social, economic and environmental change for the city and its residents, taking the case of Melbourne, Australia.
For thousands of years Melbourne was part of a fertile wetland with the meandering course of Yarra River. Like many metropolitan coastal cities of the world, urban development came at the expense of this open swamp that was gradually filled and reclaimed over the years for construction. Melbourne CBD, the main economic and commercial hub of the city sits on this wetland today. Existing flood resilience strategies often fall short in addressing the unique challenges posed by densely populated urban environments. The central inquiry revolves around creating space for water within hyper-dense city centers while preserving their socio-economic significance. Additionally, it seeks to integrate this approach into a broader civic framework to ensure long-term resiliency.
The proposed solution involves a multi-functional network plan that reimagines city infrastructure to accommodate flood mitigation, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. This holistic approach aims to retrofit existing infrastructure both above and below ground, transforming it into an interconnected system capable of responding to floods while fostering civic engagement and environmental stewardship. Ultimately, the project envisions a cityscape where flood resilience serves as a catalyst for positive social and environmental change, promoting the well-being of both the city and its inhabitants.
Click on this link to view the online portfolio of this project: https://www.twine.net/signin