Designing for Survival: How Architecture Can Help Us Adapt to Floods

21 Jul 2025

8 Min Read

AP Dr Sucharita Srirangam (Academic Contributor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Contributed by AP Dr Sucharita Srirangam, whose research explores urban design, where sustainability manifests in a synergy between space and users. She can be reached at sucharita.srirangam@taylors.edu.my.

Floods aren’t just a once-in-a-blue-moon event anymore, they’re becoming a regular part of life for many Malaysians. Every year, headlines show the same devastating images: homes underwater, families stranded, roads impassable. The reality is sobering, and the message is clear — we need better ways to live with water, not just fight against it.

If the first step is understanding why flooding is getting worse (as we explored in Part One), then the next step is action. And one of the most powerful tools we have? Design. The way we build our cities, plan our communities, and shape our environment can make all the difference between a resilient neighbourhood and one that gets swept away.

People First: Why Communities Are Key

In any disaster, the first responders are often the people who live there. That’s the thinking behind Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) — a practical, people-led approach to reducing flood risks. Rather than relying solely on large-scale government interventions, CBDRM focuses on empowering communities to take part in planning, preparation, and response.

In one case study from Central America, researchers collaborated with local municipalities to run 12 workshops, helping residents map evacuation routes, create flood emergency plans, and establish neighbourhood groups for quick communication during emergencies. The results were impressive: not only were communities more prepared, but they also felt more united and capable of protecting themselves.

_{In Malaysia, this approach is gaining traction too. Involving locals in decision-making ensures that solutions reflect real needs, local knowledge, and lived experiences. It’s not just about building physical structures — it’s about building trust, skills, and resilience from the ground up.}

When Architecture Meets Adaptation

At Taylor’s University, architecture students are going beyond the classroom to tackle real-world climate challenges through a multidisciplinary and integrated architectural approach. One standout example is a project by Eunice Min Yee Lim, who explored the concept of urban buoyancy in the flood-prone city of Kuantan. Her idea? Buildings that can float and adjust with rising water levels — a radical shift from conventional architecture, designed for the unpredictable future we now face.

Other students are experimenting with Digital Twins — high-tech virtual models that simulate cities and allow for real-time flood prediction and planning. By feeding in data like rainfall patterns, river levels, and land use, these tools help designers visualise the impact of floods before a single structure is built. This means safer, smarter cities that are better equipped to handle extreme weather.

These student projects highlight a crucial truth: young people aren’t just learning about climate resilience — they’re actively shaping it.

The ‘Sponge City’ Strategy

When cities flood, the instinct is often to build more drains, more concrete walls, and more barriers. But what if the better answer is to work with nature instead of against it?

That’s the idea behind the Sponge City concept. Rather than forcing water to drain quickly through narrow channels, sponge cities are designed to absorb, store, and filter water naturally. This means reintroducing green infrastructure like:

Permeable pavements that allow water to seep into the ground
Rain gardens and bio-retention zones that collect and clean stormwater
Green rooftops and urban wetlands that slow down runoff

These features not only reduce flood risks but also improve urban biodiversity, cool down city temperatures, and create healthier environments for people.

_{Research shows that sponge city strategies can significantly reduce the speed and volume of runoff during heavy rain, giving cities a better chance of avoiding flash floods. For a country like Malaysia — where intense downpours are a seasonal norm — these nature-based solutions could be a game-changer.}

Tech That Predicts, Warns, and Protects

Technology is another vital player in the fight against floods. Across Asia, cities are using real-time monitoring systems to track rainfall, river levels, and tides — all connected to central dashboards that can issue early warnings.

In Hong Kong, remote sensing technology and tipping-bucket rain gauges have been installed across the city to monitor storm events. In Korea, wireless flood sensors detect rising water in both upstream and downstream rivers, helping officials make fast decisions about evacuations and closures.

Closer to home, Malaysia is beginning to explore similar innovations. From smart barriers that automatically rise during floods to basic community alarm systems, early warning tools can save lives — but only if communities know how to respond.

That’s why education and awareness must go hand-in-hand with innovation. Whether it’s teaching residents how to read flood maps or running drills in local schools, the goal is to create a culture of readiness, not just reliance.

Adopting an ESG lens on urban resilience highlights the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and governance factors in addressing climate and flood challenges. A holistic approach across all three dimensions paves the way for sustainable, equitable urban futures.

— AP Dr Sucharita Srirangam

From Developers to Decision-Makers

No one group can build flood resilience alone. Property developers, urban planners, policymakers, NGOs, and international agencies all have a role to play — and collaboration is key.

Taylor's Education Group partners with Gamuda Land

_{Leading Malaysian developers like SP Setia and Gamuda Land have already begun integrating flood-mitigation features into their townships. Elevated housing platforms, rainwater harvesting systems, and permeable green spaces are becoming standard in new developments.}

On a larger scale, partnerships with organisations like the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Bank, and the Green Climate Fund can provide funding and global expertise to support large-scale flood resilience projects in cities like Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Meanwhile, academic institutions and research centres like the School of Architecture, Building and Design at Taylor’s are producing knowledge and talent that can guide future policy and design innovation.

Building Resilience, Together

Floods are a challenge we can no longer ignore, but they also offer an opportunity to rethink how we live, build, and support one another.

Architecture, at its best, is not just about form and function. It’s about creating places that protect, empower, and bring people together — especially in times of crisis. By combining traditional wisdom, cutting-edge tech, and inclusive planning, we can design cities that don’t just survive climate disasters, but come out stronger because of them.

As a new generation prepares to enter fields like architecture, engineering, urban planning, or environmental science, the message is clear: your ideas, your passion, and your creativity are needed more than ever.

As floods become a growing threat, architecture is stepping up with solutions that blend design, sustainability, and community resilience. Curious about where architecture can take you? Explore how future-focused ideas are shaping safer, more resilient cities in a changing climate.

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