The Architecture of Leaving: Reconstructing Communities on the Move

Abstract

The global climate continues to change, creating worsening living conditions across diverse regions vulnerable to its impacts. With this comes a rise in climate-related disasters such as flooding, coastal inundation, droughts, wildfires, etc. The need for climate adaptation and mitigation is urgent, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable. This thesis examines how managed retreat strategies can better support communities facing displacement. The research combines a review of past literature, key precedent analysis, in-depth site-based design research and material strategy analysis to inform three speculative architectural proposals. Previous research lacked in-depth exploration into the housing solutions needed to make managed retreat a socially viable adaptation strategy. Additionally, there has been no previous connection between managed retreat strategies and the implementation of circular economy principles. These gaps in the research offer a unique opportunity to engage with a managed retreat strategy in ways never before seen; exploring these new possibilities could be the key to improving an otherwise controversial adaptation strategy. By combining managed retreat with circular economy strategies, specifically deconstruction and material reuse, to produce three speculative architectural proposals, the thesis explores a housing design framework that enables communities to relocate with reduced financial and social burdens. Additionally, the design explorations seek to reduce material waste, contributing to both sustainable design and climate adaptation discourses.