Coastal Resilience Re-Imagined

Our proposal envisions a regenerative future for Changzhou Island by embracing rising water levels as a design opportunity rather than a threat. In response to historical displacement, cultural loss, and climate risks, the project proposes an adaptive and inclusive strategy that transforms the island into a testbed for floating urbanism and community-led renewal.

At the city scale, the proposal bridges the current divide between compact residential zones and loosely distributed agricultural land. Instead of serving tourists alone, our planning strategy prioritizes the daily life of residents. The university plays a critical role as an on-site research institution, providing funding while experimenting with new sustainable technologies.

At the site scale, we build on existing topography and infrastructure to create a modular, scalable system. The preserved waterfront belt — with shipbuilding facilities and dormitories — acts as a levee, defining the new urban edge. Along the levee, we attach repeatable floating homes, collective infrastructure, and fixed community buildings that anchor shared services and connect water-based units to land.

At the architectural scale, our buildings fall into three categories: floating homes for individual and family living, collective floating infrastructures for shared economic and social functions, and permanent community gates that stabilize and support each water-based cluster. Each community cluster is designed to accommodate a unique demographic: multi-generational families, researchers, migrant workers, or eco-tourists.

This proposal is about re-inhabiting water. Our floating vision reimagines coastal living under climate change with cultural continuity, architectural innovation, and socio-economical resilience.