Urban Futures: Rethinking Architecture and Infrastructure in View of Rising Seas

Coastal megacities face a critical threat from rising sea levels, with projections ranging from 30cm to 1m by 2100. More dire scenarios predict a 2-6m increase if the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming target is missed. These statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures and innovative solutions to address imminent challenges in urban environments.

Urban planners and designers grapple with unprecedented challenges due to global warming, demanding a fundamental shift in focus toward "urban futures." Architects play a pivotal role in envisioning and creating sustainable urban landscapes resilient to climate change impacts, especially rising seas.

The research seminar explored architects' multifaceted roles in tackling these challenges, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary design. Inspired by Donna Haraway's idea that "scientific facts and speculative fabulations need each other," the seminar urged students to blend scientific knowledge with imaginative ideas, crucial for adapting architecture, infrastructure, and urban planning to impending sea level rise.

Students' outcomes, presented as research papers and posters, contributed significantly to the ongoing discourse on sustainable urban development amidst climate change. Research in the field of architecture not only illuminates potential strategies for mitigating rising sea impacts but also stresses the imperative for continued inquiry, collaboration, and innovative thinking in architecture and urban planning.

Guest Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Tanhea K. Bacchin
Dr. Cristina Baldacci
Dr. Ludovico Centis
Sofie Yde
Prof. Dr. Johannes Schubert

Group Members:
Isabela Ferrari
Kyrre Beck Myreng

Group Members:
Christian Termini
Jasmin Mohammadi

Group Members:
Ioana Suciu
Stefan Costache

Group Members:
Kim Gubbini
Silvester Fornasari