Envisioning Miami Beach in 2070. This project is a historical preservation of a 1930's Stripped Mediterranean Revival, at 1236 Drexel Ave in Miami Beach, FL, that is at risk of being affected by sea-level rise in the near future. Built right after the Great Depression in 1929, the existing building is a very small “Urban Villa'' type that hosts a unique trait when compared to nearby buildings: its courtyard (due to an addition in 1935). The building continued to persevere through Covid-19 when its Residential Office zoning allowed its residents to run businesses from home. Over the years, this building has been able to maintain its community and character and to continue to persevere through sea-level rise, the resiliency strategies from Buoyant City are applied through the design. The methods used to preserve this structure include: raising the entire lot and repurposing the first level with a commercial program, sinking the courtyard for above-ground water collection, and adding underground water collection and filtration systems. To incentivize this action of preservation, the design proposal includes, creating an additional building with both residential and a commercial programs that bring in income and benefit the community. Aside from this, the renders depict what 2070 could look like with several new ideas for technological advances that help address sea-level rise. For example: repair drones, acid-rain neutralizing arches, ride-share kayaks, package teleportation center, remote holographic visits and more! by Manuela Farnot and Lila Coffey

POV: Repair Drone, returning to home

Residents, in the new addition at 1236 Drexel Ave, are operating repair drones that are maintaining the acid-rain neutralizing coating on the arches that have errors displayed. The arches allow rain to be funneled down into the balconies where residents can hydroponically farm food.

Kayak for John?!

On a flooded day, Drexel Avenue is being used for aquatic transport and a kayak ride-share is arriving to drop-off Maria and pick up, resident, John! Because, the rooftop of the addition has become a transitional stop for public transport, Maria is being dropped off and is right on time to catch the suspended metro train to Coconut Grove. Other community members and residents are waiting for transport in front of the historic 1930's building.

Earth Day in 2070

The community is celebrating Earth Day! The residents at 1236 Drexel Ave organized a community outreach program for awareness of native plants for sustainable gardening. So, members of the community are receiving different plants through the back alley that has been sunken to be used as aquatic transport on flooded days.

Happy Birthday James!

This is the ground floor package teleportation center being used in real time for James's Birthday! He is receiving a toy dinosaur from his grandparents who are celebrating with him remotely.