In the wake of natural disasters and rising sea levels, incorporating resilience has become a crucial aspect in protecting communities for the long run. After the devastating damage of Hurricane Sandy, there have been ongoing efforts through competitions and government initiatives to educate and encourage developers to design buildings with resilient features. However, one challenge that developers face is the citizen’s lack of awareness about the value of sustainability and resilience.
“The key is for people to understand that resilience is about better long-term planning so communities can withstand the shocks that come from future disasters.” says Jason Hellendrung, assistant chair of the Public Development and Infrastructure Council.
If clients are seeking homes with resilient features, then with the citizenry’s support, regulations can be passed to make resilient features a requirement. The important aspect here is that citizens have a dedicated involvement in maintaining these plans, which can be achieved through more education and awareness.
There have been several exciting efforts and strategies aimed at creating resilience like the “Boston: Living with Water” competition and designing adaptable buildings that have mixed programs. Architects want to integrate resilience strategies into the fabric of new mixed-use development to create beautifully designed spaces that improve the community.
Read the full article on Urban Land to learn more about the different strategies that are being implemented and what challenges they face.
