Interventions: Coastal Strategies to Resist, Retreat, and Adapt A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture in the school of Architecture & Interior Design in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning by Hannan Al-Timimi, B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning University of California San Diego Committee Chair: Edward Mitchell, MArch Committee Member: Vincent Sansalone, MArch Abstract: Rising sea levels caused by the warming of ocean waters, and freshwater from melting ice sheets threaten the California coast. If the global warming trend continues, about two-thirds of Southern California beaches would disappear.1 There are three possible solutions for endangered communities – retreat, resist, or adapt. This project will examine a combination of techniques that exist and are nonexistent on Beach-Barber Tract, one of La Jolla’s sixteen neighborhoods but could be implemented into Fiesta Island’s, Mission Bay Park. The proposition is that a combination of existing building solutions might be adapted. Those include walled courtyards varying from residential to civic scale, buildings raised on stilts or piloti, landscape- based solutions and hybrids between built form and landscape, including mat buildings. The mat building might be thought of as a constructed sponge, able to absorb storm surge and both accommodate existing use patterns and offer alternative use of urban space. Case studies of architectural and landscape techniques will support the design thesis and a range of types and urban organizations will be roughly calibrated to anticipate future storms. The proposal will provide both a theoretical and practical set of projections to redesign a more resilient coastal community. 1 Rosanna Xia, “The California Coast Is Disappearing under the Rising Sea. Figure 0.1 Detail of the Marshes in La Jolla..................................... Our Choices Are Grim,” July 7, 2019, https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-sea- level-rise-california-coast/. 2 3 Acknowlegment: Special thanks to my parents and my sisters Nour, Zehra & Koether for their continued support and encouragement. “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost ; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” copyright © 2020 Henry David Thoreau 4 5 Contents: Abstract............................................................................................3 01. Introduction...............................................................................11 02. The Site......................................................................................15 03. Computational Analysis............................................................35 04. Politics of the Site.....................................................................38 05. Regional Courtyard Infrastructure..........................................41 06. Mat Building Defined...............................................................49 07. Natural and Artifical Interventions of the Landscape...........53 08. Polders-the Dutch System.........................................................64 09. Newer Hybrids............................................................................67 10. Mircro Scale Interventions........................................................74 11. Conclusion...................................................................................77 12. Bibliography................................................................................78 13. Image Index................................................................................83 Figure 0.2 Overlooking Fiesta Island................................................ 6 7 Illustrations: Figure 0.1 Detail of the Marshes in La Jolla...................................2 Figure 6.1 Le Corbusier’s Mat Skyscrapers...................................48 Figure 0.2 Overlooking Fiesta Island..............................................6 Figure 6.2 Free Berlin University Competition............................49 Figure 1.1 Cars thrown from cliff -Night Render.........................10 Figure 7.1 Sand Dunes of Spain.....................................................52 Figure 1.2 Marine Street Beach......................................................12 Figure 7.2 Sand Dunes of La Jolla..................................................53 Figure 2.1 Different View of Marine Street Beach.......................14 Figure 7.4 Venice Hospital Floors Plans and Elevations.............54 Figure 2.2 View of a Typical Mission Revival Home....................16 Figure 7.5 Agadir Convention Center Model................................55 Figure 2.3 Courtyard Close-Up.......................................................17 Figure 7.6 Agadir Convention Center Model with Base..............56 Figure 2.4 Accumulation of Homes from Barber Tract..........18-19 Figure 7.7 Agadir Convention Center Aerial Plan........................57 Figure 2.5 Mediterranean Stlye Home...........................................20 Figure 7.8 Las Terrenas Resort Axonometric................................58 Figure 2.6 Redevelopment of Mission Bay....................................21 Figure 7.9-7.10 Courtyards of Spain.........................................62-63 Figure 2.7 Mission Bay Overview Map.........................................22 Figure 8.1 Peat Meadows: Polder Landscape.................................64 Figure 2.8 Living Vegetation..........................................................23 Figure 8.2 ANetwork of Dikes.......................................................65 Figure 2.9 Sea Wall and Beach.......................................................24 Figure 9.1 Sponge Ecosystem and Landscape...............................66 Figure 2.10 Cobblestone Sea Wall..................................................25 Figure 9.2 Sponge Retention...........................................................68 Figure 2.11 Cars thrown from Cliff Day Render..........................26 Figure 9.3 Exterior Wetlands..........................................................71 Figure 2.12 Ocean View from Street.............................................27 Figure 9.4 Oceanix Aerial of Hexagonal Modules........................72 Figure 2.13 Water Rising Night Render.........................................29 Figure 9.5 Floating City Prefabricated Blocks...............................73 Figure 2.14-2.15 Mediterranean Style Commercial.................32-33 Figure 10.1 Turbine Powered Section.............................................74 Figure 3.1 Erosion and Pedestrian Warning.................................34 Figure 10.2 Tree House Prototype.................................................75 Figure 3.2 Flood Damage to a Property........................................36 Figure 11.1 Fiesta Island Park Concept Sketches..........................76 Figure 4.1-4.2 Belmont Park.....................................................38-39 Figure 5.1 Mediterranean Style Institutional................................41 Figure 5.2 Courtyard Home #1......................................................42 Figure 5.3 Courtyard Home #2......................................................43 Figure 5.4 Schindler’s Residence....................................................45 Figure 5.5 Public Courtyard in La Jolla.........................................47 8 9 01 Introduction: According to “Rising Seas in California: An Update on Sea Level Rise Science”, Southern California is showing early impact of coastal flooding from storms, periodic tidal flooding on shorelines, and increased coastal erosion.2 Along the California coastlines, sea levels may vary and change. One contributing factor of sea level rise is ocean thermal expansion. The document provides guidance on sea-level rise projections for planners and designers. The document discourages policymakers from taking a blasé attitude while waiting for further scientific certainty. The California Ocean Protection Council hopes that legislation would encourage investment and construction strategies to mitigate rising sea level. Chapter two introduces the social history and boundaries of Beach Barber Tract in La Jolla and Fiesta Island Park in Mission Bay, San Diego. This chapter identifies the endangered species on the Mission Bay site. It further investigates the past and current history of storms and erosion for Beach Barber Tract and Mission Bay, identifying temporary fixes that utilize resilient strategies. In addition to coastal ordinance legislation to mitigate the current issues. Chapter three delves into the computational analysis of floods and erosions that are present in cliffs and shorelines. Chapter four introduces a brief discussion on the site’s politics and local suggestions to manage sea rise levels. Chapter five introduces the benefits of courtyard typology and utilizes courtyard case studies from the Southern California region. The end of chapter five slowly eases into the discussion of the mat scheme in conjunction with the courtyard 2 “Rising Seas in California,” OPC, April 2017, http://www.opc.ca.gov/ Figure 1.1 Cars thrown from Cliff -Night Render............................ webmaster/ftp/pdf/docs/rising-seas-in-california-an-update-on-sea-level-rise-science. pdf. 10 11 and overlaps with chapter six where the mat building is defined. Several mat building precedents from various locations are utilized to emphasize the mat’s adaptability. Chapter seven