To quote Da Vinci, With time and water everything changes. It is apparent that as the site changes so must its architecture. The forms we use in the future must be more productive, and actively reflect changing conditions on the site. Urban planning must be rethought. How do we get from place to place? How can water begin to infiltrate the city and its buildings in a positive way? Finally, with change in architecture, perceptions must change also. If our buildings begin to give way to natures/tendencies, whether that be a hurricane or rising sea levels, and simultaneously continue to provide protection for the inhabitants of the structures, people will begin to see the water, not as a threat, but as a life source. Water will be celebrated. First, it is imperative that we begin to ask ourselves important questions regarding the city, the water, and the landscape. We must begin to explore new forms. Finally, we must be willing to explore the water. What is water? What moves through it? How does it move through the site? How does it become affected by different weather conditions? How does it cause erosion? Additionally, we must design for time. We must begin to anticipate change over time and design for it. My hope is that, in the future, our cities will be amphibious: our buildings will be functional on both dry land and completely submerged conditions. This will allow cities to become permanent. Just as the water is a constant, so will the City be.
