By Nalina Moses

Is the best way to combat monstrous weather events like Hurricane Sandy with layered, local, low-lying interventions? The 10 final designs in HUD’s Rebuild by Design competition suggest so. These designs propose rebuilding affected regions with new networks of integrated environmental and architectural systems. These can include coastal reefs, offshore dunes, constructed wetlands, conduits, berms, water transportation, and new storm-resilient buildings—anything that mediates stormwater drainage, rather than setting up singular superstructures that try to shut the weather out. These systems will work together to protect communities during weather events, while also offering novel experiences of the sea.