Moving Beyond Barriers - Application of landscape system approach for ecocultural resilience

Project idea

Around the world, fragile coastal ecosystems are under intense pressure from unrelenting human activity, gradual yet relentless climate trends and extreme weather events. Understanding and managing their complex and sometimes catastrophic interactions requires an integrated and multiciliary approach which connects the people with nature while giving more intention to the nature. So Negombo needs a science driven landscape architectural approach that pairs layered Ecocentrism systems sited for marine - coastal environment and cultural integration and risk-reduction with social and educational networks, rebuilding ecocentrism-based infrastructures in collaboration with surrounding communities to Reduce Risks, Grow Ecological Resiliency and Develop the cultural ecology while fostering Ocean Stewardship.

Project description

Sea level rise caused by climate change is a critical issue that affects land utilization in many ways. The rise in sea level can cause flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion. Coastal erosion is the major issue that impacted by the sea level rises. It’s leading to the loss of low-lying coastal areas, displacement of communities, and loss of resources. Protective infrastructure such as barriers, seawalls or levees kind of interdisciplinary approaches ( Anthropocentrism approaches ) may help, but can be not always effective and will have negative impacts. Erosion and those mitigation approaches , causing more damage to cultural ecology. its creating a conflict between culture and ecology . Effective adaptation strategies are needed to protect Cultural ecology and resources Overtime. This project revives ecological mechanism, reduces risks and connects people with system of eco system , inspiring a new generation of ocean stewardship and a more resilient region over time . MoraWala beach sits at the north - western side of the Negombo lagoon and is vulnerable to wave action and erosion. Moving forward, this project aims in fostering a diversified ecology - based culture , Break the Domino effect from fringe view and create a mutual intervention between human and nature , shoreline ecologies , Culture and economies can claim the mantle as the Town the reef rebuilt .

Technical information

The project integrates the main design concerns of environment, well-being, and economy by examining the erosion processes due to sea level rise and anthropocentric solutions, which have resulted in damaged coastal and marine ecologies. The site currently practices a lifestyle of living with water, but this damage initiates a domino effect from the fringe, causing conflicts within the cultural ecology. To address this, the project aims to develop a culture that breaks this domino effect through four adaptation strategies: protection, accommodation, retreat, and attack. In the west wing, the marine culture is enhanced using a protection strategy, specifically through the implementation of regenerative living breakwater units designed to dissipate the kinetic and potential energy of sea waves. For the beach nourishment stage, an accommodation strategy is employed to bolster resilience against erosion. The right wing focuses on developing a connection between the west and right wings through the promotion of the city’s port culture. Additionally, a mobile application is developed to transfer this evolved culture to future generations via knowledge sharing, ensuring the sustainability and resilience of cultural and ecological practices over time.