Coastal Retrofitting 2100
New York, USA
A proposal retrofits coastlines to adapt to flood conditions in the year 2100.
Background
Flooding in coastal cities is becoming increasingly problematic due to rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change. This results in infrastructure damage, displacement, and economic disruption, necessitating significant investment in flood management solutions like seawalls and drainage systems. New York City, with its extensive waterfront, is particularly vulnerable. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 highlighted this risk, leading to major damage and economic loss. In response, New York has implemented several flood defense initiatives, including the East Side Coastal Resiliency Plan and broader climate adaptation strategies
Flooding in coastal cities is becoming increasingly problematic due to rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change. This results in infrastructure damage, displacement, and economic disruption, necessitating significant investment in flood management solutions like seawalls and drainage systems. New York City, with its extensive waterfront, is particularly vulnerable. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 highlighted this risk, leading to major damage and economic loss. In response, New York has implemented several flood defense initiatives, including the East Side Coastal Resiliency Plan and broader climate adaptation strategies
Situation: FEMA estimates that 13 million Americans currently live within a 100-year flood zone, but a new study in Environmental Research Letters argues the real number is about 41 million — more than three times FEMA’s estimate.
Task: To retrofit existing structures, as these can be quickly initiated and implemented. An appropriate response is to elevalute existing structures and retrofit them with bouyant foundations, creating a model for how coastal buildings can respond quickly and economically to projected floods.
Task: To retrofit existing structures, as these can be quickly initiated and implemented. An appropriate response is to elevalute existing structures and retrofit them with bouyant foundations, creating a model for how coastal buildings can respond quickly and economically to projected floods.
Flood Levels
Current FEMA regulations of raising the building by 14 ft is able to cope with flooding and flash flood conditions until teh year 2045. Howevr by 2080 the building this FEMA design regulation is unable to respond to flood levels of 2100. This sugegsts that current regulation is turns current proposals in AE 12 flood zones obselete in the next 56 years. Thus, a solution needs be found thatvhelps the building change and adapt to potentially unpredictable flood levels and have a longer life cycle than only 60-60 years. This is achieved via teh use of a bouyant foundation.
Action: To adapt to upcoming flooding, this proposal advocates for retrofitting coastline structures to become floating structures. A buoyant foundation is introduced at the building's base.
Design Intent
A buoyant foundation, also known as an amphibious foundation, allows a building to float on water during flooding events by employing a specially designed floating platform. This platform, typically constructed from buoyant materials like concrete or plastic pontoons filled with air or foam, supports the building and provides the necessary lift to keep it above rising water levels. The foundation is anchored to the ground using vertical guideposts or pylons, which allow the structure to move vertically with water levels while preventing horizontal drift. Flexible connections for utilities like water, sewage, and electricity accommodate this vertical movement, ensuring continued functionality. During normal conditions, the building rests on the ground; when flooding occurs, the foundation lifts the structure, reducing flood damage risk and enhancing the building's resilience to fluctuating water levels.
A buoyant foundation, also known as an amphibious foundation, allows a building to float on water during flooding events by employing a specially designed floating platform. This platform, typically constructed from buoyant materials like concrete or plastic pontoons filled with air or foam, supports the building and provides the necessary lift to keep it above rising water levels. The foundation is anchored to the ground using vertical guideposts or pylons, which allow the structure to move vertically with water levels while preventing horizontal drift. Flexible connections for utilities like water, sewage, and electricity accommodate this vertical movement, ensuring continued functionality. During normal conditions, the building rests on the ground; when flooding occurs, the foundation lifts the structure, reducing flood damage risk and enhancing the building's resilience to fluctuating water levels.
Result: This approach offers an economical means of adapting to future conditions. It can significantly reduce infrastructure damage and establish local flood shelters. Methods like these have proven helpful in low-altitude, flat-lying countries such as Vietnam and the Netherlands.
HOMEPAGE
PROJECT INDEX