Project Overview: Coastal counties in the U.S., despite comprising less than 10% of the nation's land mass, are home to over 128 million people, nearly 40% of the population. These regions support crucial industries such as fisheries and aquaculture, facilitate global trade, provide recreational opportunities, and offer protection from storms. However, they face significant challenges from sea level rise, intense rains, high tide flooding, and more frequent and severe storms as the climate warms. Designers are increasingly tasked with addressing urgent issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation in the built environment, requiring redesign and retrofitting to enhance economic, ecological, and socio-cultural resilience. Our studio specifically focused on transforming coastal landscapes and economies, including designing a section of Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba, Puerto Rico—a former military base—to emphasize its new blue economy centered on fisheries and aquaculture. Through innovative architectural and landscape approaches, our goal was to meet community needs and adapt to the dynamic challenges of coastal environments.
Collaborators: Taneij'a Baldwin & Jerund Sanders
