Inland Adaptation: Developing a Studio Model for Climate-adaptive Design as a Framework for Design Practice

Abstract

Climate change is coming to every city, and many cities will experience dramatic climate change–associated extremes in temperature and precipitation, with serious impacts on human and natural systems. This article shares a studio approach used at both the graduate and undergraduate level for investigating the many impacts of climate change and promoting a more comprehensive approach to climate-adaptive design, especially for inland city locations. Adaptation strategies in the framework include (a) floodplain storage; (b) low impact development; (c) resilient planting design/ecological resilience; (d) landscape connectivity; (e) urban heat island mitigation; and (f) multi-modal mobility. The framework draws from existing techniques and methods that are currently utilized in design practice and urban ecological planning, yet not typically configured as a comprehensive scope of services for climate adaptation. Such a framework for climate-adaptive design in non-coastal locations could have practical applications for landscape architects.