Florida High Court: Living Seawalls Can Mitigate Climate Change Impacts

• Florida communities are turning to innovative design and infrastructure to better withstand rising seas and other climate threats.
• Living seawalls, made from 3D-printed concrete mixture, can dissipate at least 45% of wave energy and serve as marine habitats.
• Kind Designs has installed over 16 living seawalls across Florida for residential, commercial, and government clients.
• These structures are designed to mimic natural coastal features like mangrove roots or barnacle clusters, attracting native species and creating caves for them to hide from predators.
• The use of living seawalls may impact property values, zoning regulations, and environmental permitting requirements.

We have a whole library of designs for different marine habitats, and the point is to attract the native species… create caves where they can hide from predators and also to dissipate waves.

As sea levels continue to rise and extreme storms become more frequent, Florida communities are turning to innovative design and infrastructure to better withstand climate threats. One such approach is the use of living seawalls, which not only protect shorelines from flooding but also serve as marine habitats. These 3D-printed structures can be designed to mimic natural coastal features like mangrove roots or barnacle clusters, attracting native species and dissipating wave energy. In fact, researchers have identified over 50 species living in one of these seawalls just a year after installation.

For many Floridians, the devastating effects of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 are still remembered vividly. The Category 5 hurricane destroyed tens of thousands of homes and left residents without access to basic necessities for months. Jeffrey Huber, a landscape architect and professor, recalls the aftermath of the storm as a catalyst for designing infrastructure that can withstand extreme scenarios like this. He notes that it's not just about building structures to resist storms but also about designing for the aftermath, including food donations and temporary housing.

Florida is taking a proactive approach to addressing climate change by merging infrastructure with urban design. Architects and designers are creating residential buildings, parks, and other structures that can better withstand rising waters, worsening storms, saltwater intrusion, heat heaves, and other climate impacts. As global average temperatures climb due to fossil fuel emissions, low-lying coastal cities like Miami Beach are vulnerable to flooding. However, innovative solutions like living seawalls are being implemented across the state, with Kind Designs leading the way in creating affordable, custom-shaped structures that can be scaled up for larger projects.

The concept of living seawalls is not just about building walls to protect shorelines but also about designing them to work with nature. Kind Designs' founder, Anya Freeman, left her career as a lawyer to launch the startup, which creates 3D-printed living seawalls that can be designed to mimic natural coastal features like mangrove roots or barnacle clusters. These structures not only dissipate wave energy but also serve as marine habitats, attracting native species and creating caves for them to hide from predators.

As sea levels continue to rise and extreme storms become more frequent, the need for climate-resilient infrastructure is growing. Governments and developers may prioritize projects like living seawalls, which can impact property values, zoning regulations, and environmental permitting requirements. However, these innovative solutions are being implemented across the state, with Kind Designs leading the way in creating affordable, custom-shaped structures that can be scaled up for larger projects.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that as sea levels continue to rise, governments and developers may prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure projects like living seawalls, potentially impacting property values, zoning regulations, and environmental permitting requirements.

Source: Original reporting via Associated Press