Sea Change: Flood Resilient Architecture for the 21st Century

Roca’s spring exhibition explores how architecture is having to adapt to a growing climate reality: urban flooding.  A recent RIBA report shows that 1 in 6 UK homes are currently vulnerable to flooding, with that number expected to double by 2050.  With water causing an average of £1.4 billion of damage each year to UK businesses and households, architecture has to start helping us ‘live with water’, since prevention measures are simply proving inadequate. 

There is nothing new about flooding: mankind has been dealing with it since the ark. What is new is that human-induced climate change is now impacting at a faster pace than ever predicted, with global warming melting ice caps to raise sea levels and driving up rainfall rates, as well as increasing wind speeds and flash floods. 

“Most architects are now aware of the fact that the construction industry is a huge contributor to CO2 emissions.  However, we are still learning about how to adapt to this new reality – architects, developers, local authorities and communities will need to work together to make sure existing and new buildings and developments are resilient, as flooding will become the ‘new normal’.” - Eva Woode, Studio Woode 

Sea Change showcases projects – proposed and realised – by leading architects around the world in the field of flood resilient architecture.  Solutions include: working with nature by developing floating buildings; improving flood barriers and turning them into recreational space; and elevating a range of public and private buildings.

OceanixCity, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
When
20 January to 16 May 2020
Where
Roca London Gallery
Station Court, Townmead Road
SW6 2PY London, Great Britain
Organizer
Roca London Gallery
Link
www.rocalondongallery.com

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