In response to a 2008 design competition, we explored a critical urban resilience challenge: how does a metropolis as dense as New York City provide emergency housing for eight million people following a catastrophic climate event? This project forced a radical reimagining of urban density and temporary shelter in the context of extensive waterfront flooding.

Approach

We developed a forward-thinking conceptual framework that addressed the logistical and human-centered needs of a post-disaster environment. Our design approach focused on:

• Scalable Urban Resilience: Proposing high-density housing strategies capable of supporting 200 households per acre without compromising safety or dignity.
• Infrastructure Integration: Addressing the complex reality of housing populations within flooded zones through adaptable, modular, and rapid-response design.
• Strategic Planning: Tackling the massive logistical requirements of urban emergency planning, demonstrating our ability to manage complex, large-scale systems.

Project Lead in collaboration with Eric Vencer.