Map showing plan of Savannah, GA, structured in wards and urban areas threatened by sea level rise
Choosen site is located at the northeast side of the Historic District, in the end of Oglethorpe Avenue, facing Randolph St. and with easy access to Liberty St. and Islands Expy.
One of the premises for the new development is the extension of the grid beyond the limits of the original street layout. The new buildings would be placed according to the intersections of strategic streets and a future waterfront needs to be considered in the event of 5 ft. sea level rise. The maintenance of existing trees is also an important factor.
The design achieved for this site is tied by two important elements: decks and retention gardens. Decks are both an extension of the sidewalk and an elevated and permeable area in case of flooding, a recurring issue in rainy Savannah. Retention gardens work as bioswales, capturing runoff and filtering water before it percolates into soil, but are added with public use when it is not draining stormwater. Drainage strategy is complemented by roof gardens on top of multi-story buildings.
Schematic sections present the diversity of outdoor activities that could be implemented for local and exterior community inside retention gardens at the same time that, decks are used by groundfloor commercial units in mixed-use buildings.
