One Size Does Not Fit All / Essay in E-Flux Architecture magazine

Essay in the context of the theme ´Framing renovation´, E-flux Architecture, online magazine.

The speed and magnitude of rising sea levels represent considerable levels of uncertainty and flood risk to coastal communities. Approximately 10% of Earth's population lives in coastal areas less than ten meters above relative sea level, and 40% lives within 100 kilometres of the coast. Here, Denmark has followed the global trend of concentrating new urban development in low-lying former wetlands and land reclaimed from the sea, both of which are flood risk zones. This forms a context of building flood risk for future generations.
While coastal cities face an increasing urgency to adapt to rising sea levels, contemporary patterns of dense urban development in low-lying coastal and flood risk zones exceed the pace for implementing adaptation measures. Harborfront development often takes place on reclaimed land, such as former wetlands or seabeds, which increases further flood risk to areas where climate adaptation is already needed, and leaves the consequences to future generations. It is time to incorporate dynamic and nature-based solutions into the design of coastal cities and their transformation over time.