VLAAMSE KUST
Study on the effect of rising sea levels on coastal buildings
- Location
- Belgian coastline
- Clients
- Flemish Government
- Program
- Research by design
- Phase
- finished
- Collaboration
- Engie Electrabel
- IMDC
- Year
- 2021
Climate change and rising sea levels require the realisation of a future-proof coastal protection system. This study explores the impact of both changing climatic conditions and adjustments to the coastal protection system itself on coastline buildings. The focus is on the development of coastline buildings that are more flexible and easier to evolve with the ever-changing climate and other conditions.
Central to this study is change-oriented and adaptive building. Not only the requirements regarding climate change and coastal protection are considered, but also the uncertainties regarding changing needs in the future. Adaptive (re)construction also means that future changes must be possible.
To achieve future-proof coastline buildings within an acceptable time frame, both existing and new situations are investigated. Achieving far-reaching (urban) adaptations to coastline buildings does not only require solutions at the level of individual buildings. After all, the building block will co-determine the possibilities.
Maintaining existing heritage within a climate policy context represents a major challenge. Rising sea levels and changing climate conditions pose special challenges for buildings and structures with heritage value. By thinking thoroughly about heritage solutions, the most complex cases are integrated into the study.
In developing solutions and recommendations, we aim for readily understandable and immediately usable results for the various actors involved. In addition to a choice of instruments and the legal translation, we aim for clear guidelines for future advisory services, but also for the coastal municipalities involved.
The full study was published by Omgeving Vlaanderen.
