“We are not wired to make decisions about barely perceptible threats that gradually accelerate over time. We’re not so different from the proverbial frog that boils to death in a pot of slowly warming water.”
- Jeff Goodell’s The Water Will Come
Change is an inevitable part of life. The human body changes throughout its lifespan and so does the surroundings and the ecosystem that spans the earth and possibly extends into the universe. Although natural disasters can exert sudden and dramatic changes, nature usually works on a slow, steady timetable. For example, a stream in a remote area changes the landscape over time but the differences will be subtle, with little impact on animals and plants in the surroundings. Any changes in the stream bank will be gradual enough for life in the surrounding area to adapt.
Earth’s climate has varied during its history though many experts believe the current warming trend is unexpectable and is attributed to human activities. For decades we have known that human activity can lead to environmental problems. The existence of human life is just a blip in Earth’s History. Comparing the time between dinosaurs, who lived on earth for 165 million years, humans have only been around for 200 thousand years. During this relatively short time, we have managed to weaken and damage most of the complex and interrelated ecosystems on the planet.
Rising temperatures, melting polar ice, unpredictable weather patterns and collapsing ecosystems are shaping the future of our cities and infrastructure. Climate change impacts every industry sector and is a pressing issue. If we continue burning fossil fuels and destroying natural ecosystems, the future that awaits us won’t be one of technological progress, but of survival in a hostile world. This article looks into Strategies and design ideas for rising sea levels and Climate change.
Rising Sea Levels
One of the most pressing issues of climate change and global warming is the rising sea levels that threaten cities worldwide. The sea levels have risen by about 8 to 9 inches(0.2 to 0.23 meters) since 1880, and it is estimated that sea levels could rise by 2 meters by 2100, submerging major coastal cities and threatening to displace millions. Major Cities like New York, Mumbai, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai among others are built on reclaimed land and are at risk due to low elevation and subsidence, a process of reclaimed land sinking over time; making the areas vulnerable to flooding.
Sea-level rise is caused primarily by two factors related to global warming: the added water from melting ice sheets and glaciers, and the expansion of seawater as it warms. A study published in Communications Earth & Environment outlines how sea-level rise science has evolved, predicting that a 2°C global temperature increase could lead to a sea-level rise of over five meters over time. This emphasizes the need for adaptive architecture and innovative urban planning strategies.
Designing for rising sea levels is no longer an option but a need of time. While architecture alone cannot stop climate change it plays an important role in adapting to changes. “The challenge now is to ensure that architectural and urban innovations keep pace with the realities of our changing world.”
Sustainable and Adaptive Strategies
Experts believe burning less fossil fuel is a necessary solution to climate change and global warming, which in turn will increase the cost of meeting society’s needs for energy services including everything from transportation to hot showers. If properly done, climate protection can reduce costs, not raise them.
Climate Responsive Architectural Strategies
- Passive Design and Energy Efficiency
Traditional architecture was often climate responsive, designed to suit the local environment and climate. One of the fundamental strategies in Climate adaptive architecture is passive design, which reduces reliance on mechanical air conditioning systems. This includes-
- Orientation of the Building to maximize natural ventilation and daylight
- High-performance insulation and cool roofs to regulate indoor temperatures
- Shading devices such as brise-soleil and green facades to reduce heat gain.
A return to Climate responsive architecture by integrating passive design strategies
2. Resilient Building Materials
The selection of materials for structure plays an important role in climate adaptation. Some sustainable options include-
- Recycled and locally sourced materials to reduce carbon footprint
- Permeable materials for paving, to improve stormwater absorption.
- High albedo surfaces to reflect geat and lower urban heat island effects
Urban Planning Strategies for Climate Resilience
-
Designing Flood-Resistant Cities
Given the increasing threat of coastal flooding, cities must integrate flood-resistant designs.
- Elevating structures and creating amphibious architecture (floating houses in the Netherlands).
- Constructing seawalls and levees to protect vulnerable coastlines.
- Designing floodable parks, such as those in Rotterdam, which double as public spaces and flood management systems.
2. Nature-Based Solutions and Green Infrastructure
Cities worldwide are adopting nature-based solutions to combat climate change.
- Urban forests and green roofs cool cities and absorb rainwater.
- Mangrove and wetland restoration to protect against storm surges.
- Sponge cities, such as those in China, are designed to absorb excess rainfall.
3. Mixed-Use and High-Density Urban Development
Urban growth contributes significantly to carbon emissions. Instead, cities should promote:
- Compact, high-density living to reduce energy consumption.
- Mixed-use developments, where residential, commercial, and recreational spaces are integrated to minimize travel distances.
- Transit-oriented design (TOD), emphasises public transportation over car dependency.
Innovations in Climate-Resilient Architecture
1. Floating Cities and Amphibious Architecture
With coastal regions facing inevitable sea-level rise, floating cities may become a viable solution. Maldives Floating City and Seasteading Institute’s ocean-based habitats are leading the way in offshore living.
2. Smart Cities and Climate Technology
Technology plays a crucial role in monitoring and mitigating climate impacts. Key innovations include:
- Smart grids and AI-driven energy management to optimise electricity usage.
- Climate-responsive urban sensors that track temperature, air quality, and water levels.
- Automated flood barriers, such as Venice’s MOSE project, protect against rising tides
Policy and Global Responses
1. Urban Retreat and Managed Relocation
For cities at extreme risk, managed retreat is an unavoidable reality. Retreat from a Rising Sea discusses the need for:
- Relocation incentives for communities in high-risk flood zones.
- Zoning laws restrict new developments in vulnerable coastal areas.
- Investment in climate-resilient inland cities as alternatives for displaced populations.
2. Government and Institutional Support
Architectural solutions must be backed by strong policy frameworks. The evolving landscape of sea-level rise science report emphasizes:
- Stringent building codes for flood-prone areas.
- Green infrastructure mandates in urban planning.
- International climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, drive sustainability efforts globally.
Urban Planning in Curitiba- Case study
The Capital of Parana state in southern east Brazil, Curitiba, is often cited as a model for sustainable city development. Once a centre for processing agricultural products, now has become an industrial and commercial powerhouse. The city underwent urban development based on preferences for Public transportation over the private automobile, working with the environment instead of against it, appropriate rather than high technology solutions, and innovations with citizen participation in place of master planning. This Philosophy was gradually institutionalized during the late 1960s and officially adopted in 1971 by the mayor of the city, Jaime Lerner, who was also an architect and planner.
In 1964, the City of Curitiba launched a planning competition, “Curitiba de Amanhã” (Curitiba of Tomorrow), and placed the integration of transportation and land use, along with the reduction of private vehicle use, as its foremost priority.
The competition called for:
1) the relief of traffic and congestion in downtown Curitiba by decentralizing the location of employment providers;
2) increased social equity and well-being through the provision of more leisure areas and pedestrian zones in the centre of the city, and
3) the promotion of public transport use and cycling to encourage a low-carbon and resilient city.
One of Curitiba’s first successes was in controlling the persistent flooding that plagued the city centre during the 1950s and early ’60s. Construction of Houses and other structures along the bank of streams and rivers had exacerbated the problem. Civil engineers had covered many streams, converting them into underground canals that made drainage even more difficult- additional drainage canals had to be excavated at an enormous cost. At the same time, developers were building new neighbourhoods and industrial districts on the periphery of the city without proper attention to drainage
The city set aside strips of land for drainage and put certain low-lying areas off-limits for building and stringent legislation was enacted to protect the remaining natural drainage system. To make use of these areas, Curitiba turned many river banks into parks, building artificial lakes to contain flood waters. The parks have been extensively planted with trees and unused factories and streamside buildings have been recycled into sports and leisure facilities. Buses and bicycle paths integrate the parks with the city’s transportation system.
The “design with nature” strategy has solved several problems at the same time. It has made the costly flooding a thing of the past even while it allowed the city to forgo substantial new investments in flood control. Perhaps even more important, the use of otherwise treacherous floodplains for parkland has enabled Curitiba to increase the amount of green space per capita from half a square meter in 1970 to 50 today. During the period of rapid population growth.
The more obvious sign that Curitiba differs from other cities is the absence of a gridlocked centre fed by overcrowded highways. Most cities grow concentrically, annexing new districts around the outside while progressively increasing the density of commercial and business districts at their core. Curitibas authorities instead emphasized growth along prescribed structural axes, allowing the city to spread out while developing mass transit that kept shops, workplaces and homes readily accessible to one another.
Future of Architecture in Changing Climate
The increasing threats of climate change and rising sea levels demand immediate action. Although climate change has a significant impact on architecture, it also offers a chance for innovative design and a shift in perspective. Climate change is reshaping the way we design and inhabit our built environment to a great extent. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise are forcing architects and urban planners to rethink traditional approaches to city design.
With a growing body of research indicating that urban centres will be at the forefront of disruptions due to climate, architects and planners must integrate resilience, sustainability, and adaptability into their designs. From floating cities to green infrastructure, a wide range of solutions are emerging to help communities withstand the challenges of a changing planet. The industry needs to adapt to the changing environment, whether that means using carbon-neutral buildings, floating cities, sustainable materials, vertical farming, or passive design techniques. Books such as The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell and Retreat from a Rising Sea by Orrin H. Pilkey highlight the growing urgency of this crisis and emphasize the importance of adaptive architectural strategies. There is no denying the need to act quickly, and the architecture industry stands at the centre of this change.
“We have a choice: we can continue to build for a past that no longer exists, or we can create a future that acknowledges the reality of a changing planet.” The time to act is now.
Books:
Thomas, K. (2018). Rising Seas: Flooding, Climate Change and Our New World. Ontario: Firefly Books Ltd
Goodell, J. (2017). The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World. NewYork: 2017.
Pilkey, O. H., Pilkey-Jarvis, L., and Pilkey, K. C. (2016). Retreat from a Rising Sea: Hard Choices in an Age of Climate Change. NewYork: Columbia University Press.
Viegas, J. (2010). Critical Perspectives on Planet Earth. NewYork: Rosen Publishing Group.
Online Sources / Articles:
Crook, L. (2021). Ten ways in which architecture is addressing climate change. [online]. Available at: [Ten ways in which architecture is addressing climate change] [Accessed:28/01/2025].
AIA (2023). Four ways architects can fight climate change. [online]. Available at: [Four ways architects can fight climate change] [Accessed:28/01/2025].
Tan, E. (2022). The Impact of Climate Change on Modern Architecture and Design. [online]. Available at: [The Impact Of Climate Change On Modern Architecture And Design – DJBH Global] [Accessed:28/01/2025].
Architecture Masterprize (2023). Architects and Climate Change: The Role of Architects. [online]. Available at: [Architects and Climate Change: The Role of Architects] [Accessed:28/01/2025]
Craig, C., Palmer, B. (2024). Sea Level Rise 101: The Causes, Effects, and Responses. [online]. Available at: [Sea Level Rise 101: The Causes, Effects, and Responses] [Accessed:28/01/2025]
NASA. (2024). Sea Level | Vital Signs – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. [online]. Available at: [Sea Level | Vital Signs – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet] [Accessed:28/01/2025]
Khojasteh, D., Haghani, M., Nicholls, R.J. et al. The evolving landscape of sea-level rise science from 1990 to 2021. Commun Earth Environ 4, 257 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00920-4 [Accessed:28/01/2025]
ICLEI. (2016). ICLEI_cs_190_Curitiba_Urban-LEDS.pdf. [online]. Available at: [ICLEI_cs_190_Curitiba_Urban-LEDS.pdf] [Accessed:28/01/2025]
Images:
Image 1_ Hjortshoj, R. (2020). How the architecture Industry is reacting to climate change [Image] Available at https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5e57d2a579c017000865f0a0/16:9/w_1920,c_limit/TOUT-_01_BIG_ARC_CopenHill_Image-by-Rasmus-Hjortshoj-1.jpg
Image 2_ NASA. (2024) Satellite sea level observation (1993- present) [Image] Available at https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/sea-level/?intent=121
Image 3_ Critical Perspective on Planet Earth by Jennifer Viegas Available at https://archive.org/details/criticalperspect0000vieg/page/238/mode/2up
Image 4_ Rashid. (2021). Curitiba Wallpaper. [Image] Available at Curitiba Wallpapers – Wallpaper Cave
