Back to the future

Located in the pearl river delta, Xiaohu Island is one of the most important chemistry and petroleum industry districts in Guangzhou area which sacrificed the native mangrove system that existed before the urban expansion. However, with the increasing rising seas induced by climate change, Xiaohu Island is facing urgent problems: how does the industries develop in the new interface between land and sea under the impact of the sea-level rise (SLR) and storm surge? Should we retreat the existing industry, or develop a new type of adaptive industrial system that living with the changing sea water?
In this project, the central focus of the design is reestablishing the symbiotic relationships between different industries and natural environment. And as the most essential part of symbiotic system, mangroves will build the foundation of new systems including the microalgae industry, aquaculture system, and tourism with its natural process and biological functioning. Taking these efforts to “back to the future”, each system in the island will grow with SLR over time, with higher economic, ecological, and cultural values.