Floating Waterfront — Ryan T Lee

The Problem

If we continue on our current carbon path, by 2120 the landscape of coastal cities will be transformed due to rising sea levels, reaching 3 times above pre-industrial levels. To prepare for this future, current developing technologies could lead to a redesigned landscape of coastal cities, and how this will affect infrastructure, buildings, people, and transportation.

Goal

This visualization project focuses on my hometown, Boston, proposing a speculative future of the Seaport District Waterfront, centered around a reimagined Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (ICA). Thinking of museums as institutional beacons for the culture and philosophies of the future, my design implements currently researched building materials and alternative transportation systems into the Boston seaport district in the 22nd century.

Apply existing material research to a solution for rising sea levels in Boston's Seaport District Waterfront

2120 Boston Waterfront Tideline Predictions

(Left: current trajectory, right: unchecked pollution)

Source: Climate Central Risk Map

Design Literature

Currently there are two general approaches to “design-for-water”:

Bjark Ingels’ Oceanix City and AT Design Office’s ocean metropolis propose rethinking society with isolated modular villages floating away from land. They include massive construction initiatives that would have to come from private funding, and it would be incredibly expensive to live in one of these communities.

Oceanix City

AT Design Office

Alternatively, Kunlé Adeyemi’s Makoko Floating Systems propose affordable flat-pack, locally assembled structures for impoverished coastal communities, who are the ones most greatly affected by changes in the earth’s climate

Building Technology

Biorock, also known as "seacrete" or "seament", was created by Wolf Hilbertz in the 1970's by passing a small electric current through electrodes in the water (electrolysis), which attracts minerals in the water that accrete to create a limestone substance that is stronger than concrete, grows stronger over time, and is self-healing, when harvested correctly.
The electric field of Biorock protects and encourages recovery of coral reefs in the ocean, which also protects the dependent ecosystems and shorelines. Additionally, the electrolysis process produces hydrogen gas bubbles that could be used as a sustainable fuel alternative.
EPIC (EPS and Paper fused with Cement) is a sustainable, light construction material that is buoyant and recyclable.

Biorock technology (source: Blue Regeneration)

Ethnography

Inhabitants of the Boston Seaport District are concerned about overdevelopment, gentrification, and climate change:

2019 MassInc polling group survey cited “lack of affordable things to do and eat”, “too much development”, “gentrification”, and “climate change” as the biggest threats to the waterfront
2018 Trustees of Reservations Poll: 85% of respondents agreed that the Boston waterfront is vulnerable to climate change’s effects, with 42% agreeing that it is “very vulnerable” to flooding, erosion, etc.
70% of respondents prefer open parkland over more housing development

Site Proposal

The proposed design is a system centered around the harvesting of sustainable, affordable Biorock from the Waterfront extending out of the Boston Harbor.

Affordable floating Biorock, EPIC, and recyclable material housing, along with open park sites, are created off the harbor, promoting a diverse, equitable waterfront community.

Inspiration

Coral Layering of the Great Barrier Reef

Current ICA, Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Building Concept Sketches

Transportation System

Sketch Model

Elevations

Final Rendering

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