We're In Over Our Heads

The Cook Islands is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, consisting of 15 islands, that is being threatened by the effects of sea-level rise brought on by climate change. The island nation is frequently vulnerable to widespread destruction across the islands during climate-related events such as storm surge and flooding.

Current sea-level rise management strategies in the Cook Islands employ hard defences which provide only short-term protection from the effects of sea-level rise and have a negative effect on the environment and wildlife in the surrounding area. This research-led design research proposes the utilisation of architectural strategies to respond and adapt to the changing environment caused by sea-level rise rather attempting to combat and control the environment through hard defences. The motivation behind this research is to facilitate the study and research, as well as the education of the effects of climate change and sea-level rise in the Cook Islands and explore design tools that can provide a more sustainable and resilient development strategy for the Cook Islands. This research was initiated by analysing and evaluating sea-level rise management strategies leading to the selection of floating architecture as the adopted resilient design strategy to be implemented in a proposed research and education centre design, in the Nikao Lagoon of Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The environmental conditions and vernacular architectural style were analysed through a site visit to the Cook Islands. Analogue sketches, physical modelling and digital modelling were explored to create iterative models to be evaluated and tested through critical evaluations directing design decisions and viability of the proposed design. We’re In Over Our Heads proposes the development of a floating research and education centre, access wharf and floating breakwater structure. The proposed research and education centre design formed a testing ground to evaluate the design parameters established in the research.