Research Article

Design response to rising sea levels in the Maldives: A study into aquatic architecture

  • Ahdha Moosa ,
  • Khoa Do ,
  • Emil Jonescu
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  • School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

Received date: 14 Nov 2019

Accepted date: 08 Apr 2020

Published date: 15 Sep 2020

Copyright

2020 2020 Higher Education Press Limited Company. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Abstract

Climate change and rising sea levels present immediate threats to humanity. However, the global catastrophe fails to generate sufficient action. Subject to total submergence within 80 years, this study undertakes an iterative design process seeking sustainable adaptation strategies for the coastal island nation of the Maldives, specifically, Malé, its capital, which exists under a “state of alert” by order of government. Research methods include literature reviews, site analysis, mapping, and iterative design processes to develop an implementation framework strategy. Infrastructure concepts are presented as speculative images with context-specific spatial relationships and functions. Concepts do not intend to represent a conclusive prototype, rather, an ideationda solution-based discourse among key audiences highlighting the need to act decisively and adaptively.

Cite this article

Ahdha Moosa , Khoa Do , Emil Jonescu . Design response to rising sea levels in the Maldives: A study into aquatic architecture[J]. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 2020 , 9(3) : 623 -640 . DOI: 10.1016/j.foar.2020.04.002

Outlines

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