Aquatic Boundaries: Reimagining Belen, a city carried by water and resilience.

Rising water levels are not a distant threat. It is a reality that many cities already face. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global mean sea level has risen approximately 8–9 inches since 1880. The rising sea levels affect not only coastal cities but also cities along rivers and lakes attached to the sea by causing baseline water levels along rivers to increase. The rise in baseline water levels reduces the river's ability to drain effectively, thus causing riverside areas to become more susceptible to flooding. Traditional building methods meant to keep water out of buildings often fall short in the face of rising waters. Highlighting the urgent need for adaptive architecture that can respond to these challenges. My research dives into the relationship between water, people, community, and architecture. Through researching the LiFE approach, aquatic plants, and built precedents, my research employs resilient design strategies for urban environments that face severe flooding. By integrating concepts from natural and man-made precedents, my research proposes a new way to design for a flood-responsive, urban development along a riverbed. To further understand the application of these strategies, this thesis looks to redevelop Belén, Peru, a city already struggling with annual flooding. By applying my research to this context, my work aims to provide a prototype, to inspire other cities facing the same problems to consider redevelopment that can embrace water safely as an integral element of the built environment. Creating architecture where people, water, and place coexist in harmony.