Resilient Built Environment: An Overview on Design Strategies for Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise

This paper delves into the escalating risks faced by urban coastal communities due to tidal and storm flooding, exacerbated by climate change-induced Sea Level Rise (SLR). Projections indicate a potential increase in sea levels by at least 3 feet by 2100, with historical data revealing an average annual rise of 1.2–1.7 mm since the 1900s. With over 300 million individuals inhabiting coastal areas, low-lying regions emerge as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of SLR. This accelerated rise amplifies the significant challenge of nuisance flooding, a local-scale issue aggravated by high tide and winds, leading to inundation, road closures, infrastructure deterioration, the jeopardizing of essential systems such as sewage networks, and much more. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, this paper aims to explore innovative resilience solutions within coastal urban communities, acknowledging the complex interplay among environmental, social, and economic factors. Through a comprehensive literature review, it examines various topics including SLR, adaptation strategies, retreat options, storm surge flooding, and rainfall-induced inundation. These topics are analyzed across different scales of intervention, encompassing planning, city, and architectural design, to identify optimal pathways for adapting to rising seas and ensuring a sustainable future. Serving as a framework for architects, urban designers, planners, and policymakers, this paper provides insights into the sustainable development of coastal urban communities by promoting adaptive and forward-thinking design approaches. By aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13, this paper ultimately contributes to the advancement of more resilient urban development in response to the challenges posed by climate change, thereby striving toward a sustainable future.