New Office complex designed for Marina use in Amsterdam. Flexibility of design and finish are key factors in the concept of floating communities and there is no limit to what can be built on the standard base as shown here and in the photograph above.

Flooding is not a new issue, mankind has always lived with the threat and many design responses and strategies to flood risk, whether tidal, fluvial or from urban run-off, exist. Examples can be found in places such as Holland, Tokyo and Phoenix of highly developed flood defence systems. However as society enters the new territory of climate change we face greater levels of exposure and uncertainty, and this throws into question the appropriateness of the current responses available to us. Adapting successfully to
face the effects of climate change in the short, medium and long-term is the new challenge we face.

On the face of it proposing new or replacement development of homes and commerce in areas known to be at risk of flooding seems irresponsible. But in practice current economic and social benefits have always been balanced against potential future risk.