HydroPolis: How to Evolve Solutions for Floating Eco-Village Collectives?

This project investigates the potential of design thinking and co-design processes in developing sustainable floating architecture solutions for a collective eco-village called Hydropolis, situated on the subtropical east coast of Australia. The project aims to address the pressing need for climate-adaptive and eco-integrated urban solutions in light of the ongoing climate emergency. The design phases are structured following a design thinking approach and involve co-design with various stakeholders. The study evaluates the effectiveness of the applied design thinking competencies and highlights the importance of combining design-informed solutions with science-informed practices. The findings suggest that the role of designers can be expanded to include the development, facilitation, and generation of hybrid domains of complexity, transforming the tragedy of the dichotomy of sea and city into an opportunity. The research outcome is a Hydro Design Transformer Tool, which integrates design and science-informed practices in developing sustainable floating architecture solutions. The results provide valuable insights for advancing sustainable urban development and demonstrate the potential of combining design and scientific approaches in shaping a resilient and eco-integrated future.