Facing climate reality for waterfront areas
(2025) ASBM01 20252Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Abstract
- Throughout history, human civilisation and wildlife have instinctively settled close to water and coastlines out of necessity for resources. It has always been a natural instinct, yet we have also continually adapted to weather conditions and relocated when resources were found elsewhere. We have always been flexible and mobile, adapting to nature and allowing it to lead and guide us.
With the rise of civilisation, however, this adaptability has often been replaced by the ideal of a more permanent way of living, where everything we need is always close by. Obviously, the way we live today doesn’t always allow for mobility and moving around; we are dependent on staying close to our work, schools, and other important public functions.
... (More) - Throughout history, human civilisation and wildlife have instinctively settled close to water and coastlines out of necessity for resources. It has always been a natural instinct, yet we have also continually adapted to weather conditions and relocated when resources were found elsewhere. We have always been flexible and mobile, adapting to nature and allowing it to lead and guide us.
With the rise of civilisation, however, this adaptability has often been replaced by the ideal of a more permanent way of living, where everything we need is always close by. Obviously, the way we live today doesn’t always allow for mobility and moving around; we are dependent on staying close to our work, schools, and other important public functions.
However, it is interesting to challenge the mindset of not letting nature influence the decisions we make when, for example, choosing where to settle, instead becoming dependent on the networks that cities are built upon, or letting preferences such as a sea view guide our decisions. This is especially important in a time when the climate is changing rapidly and predictions indicate that we will face even harsher and more extreme weather. Forecasts show that coastal areas are particularly vulnerable due to sea level rise, erosion, and heavy downpours causing flooding.
This project is a regeneration of an industrial waterfront area in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the aim of introducing multiple ways of living along the coast. One approach is to give people the opportunity to live close to the sea in movable housing units, making them aware that when sea levels rise, these units can retreat or be relocated from the site if necessary due to flooding. Built structures should also have a low climate footprint and incorporate several climate-adapted solutions for managing current challenges, such as high amounts of rainwater.
Although people have always settled around coastlines, it hasn’t only been because of the need for resources, waterfronts are also important recreational areas. Therefore, it has been important to integrate this perspective by using the waterfront area as a public node and creating a network of beach trails for the people of Edinburgh to visit and enjoy. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Throughout history, human civilisation and wildlife have instinctively settled close to water and coastlines out of necessity for resources. It has always been a natural instinct, yet we have also continually adapted to weather conditions and relocated when resources were found elsewhere. We have always been flexible and mobile, adapting to nature and allowing it to lead and guide us.
With the rise of civilisation, however, this adaptability has often been replaced by the ideal of a more permanent way of living, where everything we need is always close by. Obviously, the way we live today doesn’t always allow for mobility and moving around; we are dependent on staying close to our work, schools, and other important public functions.
... (More) - Throughout history, human civilisation and wildlife have instinctively settled close to water and coastlines out of necessity for resources. It has always been a natural instinct, yet we have also continually adapted to weather conditions and relocated when resources were found elsewhere. We have always been flexible and mobile, adapting to nature and allowing it to lead and guide us.
With the rise of civilisation, however, this adaptability has often been replaced by the ideal of a more permanent way of living, where everything we need is always close by. Obviously, the way we live today doesn’t always allow for mobility and moving around; we are dependent on staying close to our work, schools, and other important public functions.
However, it is interesting to challenge the mindset of not letting nature influence the decisions we make when, for example, choosing where to settle, instead becoming dependent on the networks that cities are built upon, or letting preferences such as a sea view guide our decisions. This is especially important in a time when the climate is changing rapidly and predictions indicate that we will face even harsher and more extreme weather. Forecasts show that coastal areas are particularly vulnerable due to sea level rise, erosion, and heavy downpours causing flooding.
This project is a regeneration of an industrial waterfront area in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the aim of introducing multiple ways of living along the coast. One approach is to give people the opportunity to live close to the sea in movable housing units, making them aware that when sea levels rise, these units can retreat or be relocated from the site if necessary due to flooding. Built structures should also have a low climate footprint and incorporate several climate-adapted solutions for managing current challenges, such as high amounts of rainwater.
Although people have always settled around coastlines, it hasn’t only been because of the need for resources, waterfronts are also important recreational areas. Therefore, it has been important to integrate this perspective by using the waterfront area as a public node and creating a network of beach trails for the people of Edinburgh to visit and enjoy. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9214221
- author
- Lundell, Hanna LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- An adaptation and implementation of public use at Seafield Beach in Edinburgh, Scotland
- course
- ASBM01 20252
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9214221
- date added to LUP
- 2025-10-27 07:37:27
- date last changed
- 2025-10-27 07:37:27
@misc{9214221,
abstract = {{Throughout history, human civilisation and wildlife have instinctively settled close to water and coastlines out of necessity for resources. It has always been a natural instinct, yet we have also continually adapted to weather conditions and relocated when resources were found elsewhere. We have always been flexible and mobile, adapting to nature and allowing it to lead and guide us.
With the rise of civilisation, however, this adaptability has often been replaced by the ideal of a more permanent way of living, where everything we need is always close by. Obviously, the way we live today doesn’t always allow for mobility and moving around; we are dependent on staying close to our work, schools, and other important public functions.
However, it is interesting to challenge the mindset of not letting nature influence the decisions we make when, for example, choosing where to settle, instead becoming dependent on the networks that cities are built upon, or letting preferences such as a sea view guide our decisions. This is especially important in a time when the climate is changing rapidly and predictions indicate that we will face even harsher and more extreme weather. Forecasts show that coastal areas are particularly vulnerable due to sea level rise, erosion, and heavy downpours causing flooding.
This project is a regeneration of an industrial waterfront area in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the aim of introducing multiple ways of living along the coast. One approach is to give people the opportunity to live close to the sea in movable housing units, making them aware that when sea levels rise, these units can retreat or be relocated from the site if necessary due to flooding. Built structures should also have a low climate footprint and incorporate several climate-adapted solutions for managing current challenges, such as high amounts of rainwater.
Although people have always settled around coastlines, it hasn’t only been because of the need for resources, waterfronts are also important recreational areas. Therefore, it has been important to integrate this perspective by using the waterfront area as a public node and creating a network of beach trails for the people of Edinburgh to visit and enjoy.}},
author = {{Lundell, Hanna}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Facing climate reality for waterfront areas}},
year = {{2025}},
}