Urban Seascaping - How to live not just by the sea but with the sea

This research proposes a conceptual and theoretical model called ‘Urban Seascaping’ (USS) which envisions the potentials of inviting the sea and marine-based ecologies (i.e. seaweed) as a key driver in the transformation of coastal adaptation strategies in Denmark. The intention is to go beyond the traditional ‘hard approach’ dominated by defence and mechanical handling of water by utilising a marine nature-based approach as an active part of the social cityscape and its future resilience.
Thus, to respond to the issue of sea-level rise and increase in flooding, it asks, “How can the coastal cities utilise the sea in a positive way that contributes towards rethinking existing and new urban development?”
The concept of USS investigates into the potentials of allowing the sea into the cityscape that benefits socio-cultural practices related to sustainable and local food production, placemaking, recreation, marine-based eco-aesthetics as well as environmental factors related to carbon sequestering, anthropocentric pollution filtering and increase in biodiversity. The research intends to utilise mixed methods, in particular, research-through-design methodology to develop conceptual and theoretical principles of USS that (1) model nature-based solutions for future stormwater retention and coastal defence, (2) induce relevant trans-disciplinary discussions on the value of integrating natural lifeforms into the cityscape/life, and (3) re-envision the current dualistic relationship between nature and culture (the sea and the city) to a more hybrid and dynamic zone.