Building for the Future. How Climate Change is Impacting Architecture

Sea levels are rising and storms are becoming increasingly powerful. Climate change has serious consequences. Hurricane Katrina cost USD 80 billion; Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 5,000 people – many in their homes. Is our architecture still fulfilling its actual purpose – namely to protect us from the cold and heat, from rain and storms? Architects and engineers have long been discussing how the buildings of the future should be constructed. The pioneers are already at work. In Hong Kong, American Ted Givens is working hard on a house that is designed to withstand any hurricane, typhoon or tornado. Dutchman Koen Olthuis believes that with his ideas he can even save Venice from sinking and the Maldives from disappearing into the Indian Ocean. German civil engineer Werner Sobek not only designs houses that are emission-neutral, completely recyclable and self-sufficient in terms of energy.