Flood Resilient Heritage Adaptation

2023 Masters Architectural Studio 1 & 2 

Conflux / Antiflux – Multi–scalar design in an urban floodplain

 Brief:

“In 2022, the Hawkesbury–Nepean watershed — a large territory in Western Sydney defined by its many river confluxes — began to flood. This extreme flooding was most likely driven in part by climate change — but it was also a function of architectural decision making — to build, farm, and plan intensely in what has always been a floodplain.

This studio’s objective will be to consider this condition and the challenges it presents. How do we consider the urban floodplain in a multi–scalar way? What is architecture’s role and agency at points of convergence and divergence? What are the tools and knowledge we need to do so? In tackling the Hawkesbury–Nepean watershed, this studio will deploy GIS mapping techniques, with which you will be expected to understand, present, represent, and re–represent
environmental and urban data.”

With the distinct contradiction between risk and resilience in the Hawkesbury Nepean region, there is no suitable option for complete flood prevention. As these settlements continue to develop in flood prone zones, how can communities be better equipped to become resilient in the floodplain?

Focusing on the preservation and maintenance of heritage buildings, this research aims to assess the existing strategies of flood protection and survivability seen across Windsor for their effectiveness and methods, lessons, strategies that could be implemented to preserve these buildings. These learnings will focus on heritage preservation but aim to demonstrate the feasibility of flood resilience strategies for all protection, preservation, conservation and project types within flood-prone regions across NSW and Australia.

Built in 1844 the doctors house is said to be one of the finest examples of a colonial terrace building in Australia. Prior to the doctors house an inn named “Lord Nelson” was built on the site in 1819. Notable architectural features include the fanlights above the entrance doors, the sandstone flagged veranda on the ground floor and the iron railings on the balcony. The colonial Georgian terrace faces Thompson Square and is constructed with a sandstone basement and solid masonry ground and first floor walls.

Ground Floor Plan

Flood Adaptation Strategies