Climate-Resilient Coastal Architecture for a Rising Sea
A visionary model of climate‑resilient coastal architecture redefining how cities adapt to sea‑level rise by 2100.
Surging Atoll 2100 is a forward‑looking research and design proposal that explores how climate‑resilient architecture can respond to accelerating sea‑level rise along vulnerable coastlines. Set on Virginia Key, Miami, the project positions architecture not as a static object, but as an evolving system capable of adapting to long‑term environmental transformation.
Miami stands at the forefront of the global climate crisis. Rising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, and coastal erosion threaten not only infrastructure, but also the social and cultural fabric of the city. By the end of the century, large portions of Florida’s coastline may be permanently altered, demanding a shift from land‑based urbanism to hybrid land‑sea living. Surging Atoll 2100 confronts this reality head‑on, proposing a resilient architectural prototype designed for life in a changing coastal environment.
The project "SURGING ATOLL 2100 - Sea level rise: research and design proposal / Case study: Virginia Key, Miami, Florida" is developed as a research center for climate change and a cultural anchor for Miami, combining scientific inquiry, public engagement, and architectural experimentation into a single adaptive system. Designed by Joshua Enrico Pagano, the proposal envisions architecture as both protector and participant within rising waters.
Climate‑Resilient Architecture as a Design Strategy
At the core of Surging Atoll 2100 lies the principle of resilience through adaptation. Rather than resisting water entirely, the architecture anticipates and incorporates flooding as part of its lifecycle. This approach reflects a broader shift within climate‑resilient architecture, where buildings are designed to evolve alongside environmental change instead of relying solely on defensive infrastructure.
The ground floor is initially conceived to accommodate parking and service functions. As sea levels rise, this level gradually transforms into a water floor, allowing controlled flooding and enabling floating piers, aquatic circulation, and water‑based activities. This phased transition ensures that the building remains functional and relevant over decades, even as its relationship to land fundamentally changes.
The circular atoll‑like geometry reinforces resilience by distributing structural loads evenly and minimizing exposure to extreme weather forces. Elevated programmatic zones protect critical functions while allowing lower levels to absorb and adapt to water intrusion. In this way, Surging Atoll 2100 demonstrates how climate‑resilient architecture can merge form, structure, and environmental logic into a unified system.
Virginia Key 2100: A Coastal Transformation Framework
Beyond the building itself, the project extends to a masterplan for Virginia Key, envisioning the island’s transformation by the year 2100. This territorial strategy integrates architecture, landscape, and infrastructure into a cohesive coastal resilience model.
Key interventions include:
- Reinforcement of the coastline using adaptive landscape systems inspired by natural atolls
- Extension of Miami’s MetroMover transportation network to improve long‑term accessibility
- Creation of a protected archipelago to shield existing scientific and educational facilities
- Integration of renewable energy and water‑management systems compatible with rising sea levels
Rather than proposing isolated solutions, the project frames Virginia Key as a living laboratory for climate‑resilient architecture, capable of informing future coastal development across Florida and other vulnerable regions worldwide.
Programmatic Layers and Adaptive Use
Surging Atoll 2100 is structured as a vertical ecosystem of programs, each responding to specific environmental conditions and elevation thresholds. The building’s sectional logic reflects projected sea‑level scenarios, ensuring continued usability across time.
Key programmatic components include:
- Climate research laboratories and educational facilities
- Public exhibition spaces focused on climate awareness and ocean science
- Aquaponics, fish nurseries, and food‑production systems
- Desalination units and water‑treatment infrastructure
- Cultural spaces, libraries, and conference areas
- Panoramic viewpoints and elevated public terraces
As water levels increase, lower zones transition toward marine‑based functions, while higher levels maintain dry, habitable environments. This layered strategy exemplifies how climate‑resilient architecture can support both human activity and ecological processes simultaneously.
Architecture as Infrastructure, Landscape, and Culture
Surging Atoll 2100 challenges traditional distinctions between building, infrastructure, and landscape. The project operates as a hybrid architectural‑landscape system, where circulation paths double as protective barriers, and public spaces function as ecological buffers.
In the event of hurricanes or extreme weather, the structure is designed to absorb impact, redistribute forces, and maintain operational continuity. The circular form reduces wind pressure, while elevated platforms protect essential services. These strategies align with emerging best practices in climate‑resilient architecture, where buildings are expected to perform under increasingly unpredictable conditions.
