Seminar: Design for Climate Resilience

Architecture for Sustainability, MsC – MASt

DESIGN THE CLIMATE RESILIENCY

Urban strategies against urban heat
island and storm water

Roberto Giordano
Environmental Technological Design
ALMOST DISASTERS

The climatic phenomenon, such as extreme and

anomalous meteoric events, encompass
intensified precipitation and high temperatures
(floods and heatwaves)
In the last decade, they have increased their
frequency and duration.
In the city, they are added to those that may
already be present on the heat island and
hydraulic risk.
Most of these measures can be implemented in
public space.

Adaptive urban development on land:

transforming existing cities
SUMMARY about TOPICS

URBAN HEAT ISLAND

FLOOD AND STORM WATER RUNOFF
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) STORM WATER RUNOFF

FLOOD and STORM

STORM WATER RUNOFF

FLOOD
 FLOOD
Jakarta, the fastest-sinking
city in the world

The continuing urbanization process in flood

prone areas has led to a large increase in
capital and population in vulnerable areas.

Urbanization in vulnerable coastal plains and river

plains will continue and more buildings and
infrastructure will be constructed in these areas.

Moreover, climate change and sea level rise will make

city over and over more vulnerable to flooding
STORM WATER RUNOFF

http://floodlist.com/europe
 STORM WATER RUNOFF

Rainfall intensity is classified according to the rate of

precipitation, which depends on the considered time.
The following categories are used to classify rainfall
intensity:

• Light rain — when the precipitation rate is < 2.5 mm

(0.098 in) per hour

• Moderate rain — when the precipitation rate is

between 2.5 mm (0.098 in) – 7.6 mm (0.30 in) or 10 mm
(0.39 in) per hour

• Heavy rain — when the precipitation rate is > 7.6 mm

(0.30 in) per hour,[106] or between 10 mm (0.39 in) and 50
mm (2.0 in) per hour

• Violent rain — when the precipitation rate is > 50 mm

(2.0 in) per hour
 STORM WATER RUNOFF

Storm water runoff is rainfall that

flows over the ground surface.
It is created when rain falls on roads,
driveways, parking lots, rooftops
and other paved surfaces that do
not allow water to soak into the
ground.

Water-flooding. Miami Florida

STORM WATER RUNOFF

During heavy rainstorms the

capacity of the sewer system is
not sufficient to transport all
runoff.

This leads to the emission of

diluted wastewater to the urban
surface water, decreasing the
water quality.

Furthermore the
evapotranspiration is reduces due
to absence of vegetation.

https://megamanual.geosyntec.com/npsmanual/sectionint
rourbanstormwaterrunoff.aspx
HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION
HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

One technical solution is a flood proof urban

development, such as the ”floating urbanisation
plan” …. (e.g. Rotterdam)

Source: https://blueocean.net/rotterdams-climate-change-adaptation-
part-1-resiliency-planning-lessons-delta-city/
HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION
 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309330984_Possibilities_of_neighborhood_evacuation_within_a_district_in_the_event_
of_a_large-scale_flood_in_a_low-lying_area_A_case_study_of_Shinden_district_in_Tokyo/figures?lo=1
 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

https://www.floodprobe.eu/
HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

FLOATING and STILTS HOMES

DE PAVING
RAINGARDENS
 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

FLOATING and STILTS HOMES Mantella Amphibious Housing sideways

(https://inhabitat.com/6-smart-flood-resilient-home-designs-seen-at-nyits-3c-comprehensive-coastal-communities-exhibit/mantella-amphibious-
housing-sideways/)
 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

Instead of placing a home

on top of stationary stilts
that leave a house which
floats above the ground,
the home would sit on a
dynamic platform of poles
and 98% air foam structure
that rises with the sea
level.

FLOATING and STILTS HOMES

 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

re(Adapt) implements the

idea of a raised home in a
way that it’s hidden by a
usable space underneath
the home as well as a pair
of well placed stairs.

FLOATING and STILTS HOMES (re)Adapt

 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

Adaptive Urban Habitats

proposes building on top
of other buildings.

Homes will be built on top

of the old neighbourhood
on stilts

FLOATING and STILTS HOMES Adaptive Urban Habitats

 HOW TO DESIGN THE ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

Adaptive Urban Habitats

proposes also a concepts
that involves modular
housing as whole blocks
like self-contained
shipping containers, to
higher elevations in the
event of a flood.

FLOATING and STILTS HOMES Adaptive Urban Habitats

 STORM WATER RUNOFF
De paving
Raingardens STRATEGIES
STORM WATER RUNOFF

STRATEGIES

DEPAVING
Removal of impervious pavements
will reduce storm water
effects and increase the amount of
land available for habitat
restoration,
urban farming, trees, native
vegetation
DEPAVING

With gardens
DEPAVING

With gardens
DEPAVING

With gardens
DEPAVING

With turf blocks

Turf blocks are good ways to provide some of the

benefits of depaving while also providing the

structural support needed for more intensive

uses.
RAIN GARDENS

A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects

rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak

into the ground.

Planted with vegetation, rain gardens can be a cost effective to

reduce runoff.
RAIN GARDENS
RAIN GARDENS
RAIN GARDENS

Blue Green Cities: Copenhagen

RAIN GARDENS

Blue Green Cities

RAIN GARDENS
RAIN GARDENS
RAIN GARDENS
RAIN GARDENS
A VISION ABOUT THE FUTURE

https://www.blue21.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Cyclicity_submission-for-Delta-Alliance-
Young-Professionals-Award_Article.pdf
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