Tidal Gardening: An Architectural Response to Flood Mitigation on the Salmon River

Abstract

As climate change intensifies and sea-levels rise, flooding is once again a problematic event that is predicted to occur more and more frequently worldwide. The destructive power of the flood is a real threat to our habitat, public health, livelihoods, and agriculture. Coastal and riverine environments naturally deal with floodwater dispersion through saltwater marshes and floodplains. Wetlands are the typical environment for natural filtration processes. Can an architecture that integrates flood control infrastructure with natural means of floodwater management, dispersion, and filtering provide opportunities for inhabitation and research? This thesis investigates the potential uses of a floodplain environment, combined with an integrated ecological water treatment process as a ground for architecture. The site is a university campus in Truro, Nova Scotia, adjacent to the Bay of Fundy. The architectural response centres on spaces that invite people to observe, learn and celebrate hydrology phenomena and processes.