Waikīkī Resilience & SLR Adaptation Project (WRAP) Studio

Integrated into UHCDC’s WRAP project with OPSD, this multidisciplinary graduate-level urban design studio investigated urban systems and the role of landscape as infrastructure and driver of resilient urban form across a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Focused on nature-based solutions, the course explored how to apply climate- and sea level rise-adaptation design principles to ecologically and socially resilient urban-scale built environment interventions and mixed-use development in Hawaiʻi.

For their Waikīkī project area, five student teams developed forward-looking concepts for future mixed-use that embrace open-ended, dynamic urban conditions, such as coastal flooding, rather than preventing them—all while promoting ecologically performative and culturally-appropriate adaptation solutions and learning from traditional native Hawaiian biocultural land-water practices.

The speculative student work that resulted from this design studio intends to contribute to a discourse about long-term visions for a resilient Waikīkī that merge the seemingly conflicting goals of economic development, climate and sea level rise adaptation, ecological performance, social and environmental justice, and urban placemaking into mutually beneficial, sustainable relationships.

Instructor: Judith Stilgenbauer
Students:
Doctor of Architecture Candidates - Jannah Dela Cruz, Tyler Dinnocenti, Riza Lara, Hana Matsunaga, Beau Nakamori, Joshua Ramos, Maleah Reynolds, Melissa Yoo

Master of Architecture Candidates - Nicole Gdula, Janice Sonson, Hannah Valencia

Master of Landscape Architecture Candidates - Kiana Dai, German Failano, Alzira Fernandes, Lynn Mayekawa, Christina McWhorter