As more and more cities are facing rising sea levels and flooding, different cities are adopting various methods to cope. Here are some examples:

Seoul, Korea- Cheonggyecheon River was uncovered and renovated as a public space. It’s now a hub in the middle of the city but also can carry floodwaters as it is located below street level. I think this is a great way to integrate the city to better live with water. Instead of creating walls, this allows the water to flow while still creating a usable space.

Hamburg, Germany- HafenCity, a neighborhood in Hamburg, also deals with flooding in a more passive way. The lowest levels of buildings are waterproof and for underground parking. When the streets flood, the plaza fills with water and becomes a reflecting pool. Another great thing about this city is that it allows for the visibility of this water- this can be educational and shows that this flooding doesn’t have to be scary but can be something we build our cities to live with.

Amsterdam, Netherlands- IJburg, a neighborhood in Amsterdam, is building floating houses for their residences. This can be safer than building on land because as the water level rises, the houses rise with them. They can also be more flexible because they don’t have to be fixed in one location.  This is an innovative way of really adapting to the problem.