Florida Architect Designs for a Rising Tide
· diy
Building Back Better in a Rising Tide
Jeffrey Huber’s memories of Hurricane Andrew still linger. The Category 5 hurricane that ravaged southern Florida in 1992 was more than just a storm – it was a wake-up call to the devastating consequences of climate change. As a landscape architect and professor, Huber now designs resilient coastal communities, keenly aware that extreme storms are becoming increasingly common.
Florida is on the frontlines of this battle, with nearly 40% of the US population living in coastal counties. Research shows that human-driven sea level rise has increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide. Architects, designers, and policymakers are coming together to create innovative solutions.
One example is Kind Designs’ living seawalls, which not only protect shorelines from flooding but also serve as marine habitats. These 3D-printed barriers attract native species and dissipate wave energy by up to 45%. With at least 16 installations across Florida so far, the technology shows promise in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The Vista Breeze affordable senior housing project in Miami Beach is a shining example of how to design for resilience. The structures are elevated above flood levels, use water-resistant materials, and incorporate green spaces that promote socializing.
Miami’s transformation into a testing ground for Salty Urbanism – Huber’s research on adapting coastal cities to rising seas – has far-reaching implications. As he writes in his 2024 design manual, “The ideas we’re working on here… designing for these extreme scenarios like 5, 9 feet of sea level rise are going to become increasingly relevant to any coastal cities around the world.”
However, financing, policy, and community support remain major hurdles in implementing these innovative designs. Architectural designer Aaron DeMayo’s regional resilience master plan proposal, The Coastline, aimed to protect Southern Florida from storm surge and sea level rise – but it needs scaling up.
Huber and his colleagues are working to drive change from within the industry. Investing in research and development, streamlining permitting processes, and fostering community engagement are crucial steps towards building back better.
Policymakers must prioritize resilience over tradition, acknowledging that old ways of building aren’t enough in a world where sea levels are rising and storms are intensifying. Supporting initiatives like Salty Urbanism and encouraging private sector investment in climate-resilient infrastructure will be key to addressing the challenges ahead.
As Huber puts it, “We’re not just designing for water; we’re designing with and over it.”
Reader Views
- DHDale H. · weekend handyperson
It's about time we started thinking beyond just protecting our coastlines and looked at how to actually thrive in them. The article mentions living seawalls as a game-changer, but what about incorporating more natural solutions like mangroves and dunes into our designs? These ecosystems can absorb wave energy and filter pollutants from the water, providing multiple benefits for both people and wildlife. We need to stop relying on costly infrastructure fixes and start embracing nature-based solutions that can coexist with sea level rise.
- BWBo W. · carpenter
While Jeff Huber's living seawalls are a notable innovation, we can't lose sight of the fact that Florida's coastal communities face a much bigger challenge than just one type of design solution. The state's sprawling development patterns and aging infrastructure will require more radical transformations to become truly resilient. We need to rethink how we plan entire neighborhoods, not just individual buildings, to accommodate rising sea levels. That means prioritizing density, green spaces, and adaptive reuse over the traditional single-family home model that's driving coastal erosion in the first place.
- TWThe Workshop Desk · editorial
The real test of Florida's coastal resilience will be in the long game, not just in building new seawalls and elevated housing. What about the existing infrastructure and communities that can't afford to adapt? Huber's designs are forward-thinking, but what about the retrofits needed for aging buildings and neighborhoods? The article glosses over the monumental task of updating the state's flood-prone areas, which would require a fundamental shift in how we approach zoning regulations, insurance policies, and community buy-in.