USYD Architecture, Design and Planning Graduate Exhibition 2025

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A comparative visual overview of the eight seawall case studies, illustrating diverse design approaches, environmental responses, and social outcomes across international and Australian coastal contexts.

Seawalls Evaluation Framework

This project develops a comprehensive evaluation framework for seawalls, repositioning them from single-purpose protective structures to multi-functional coastal infrastructures. Synthesising academic literature, coastal management guidelines, and urban assessment models, the framework assesses seawalls across five dimensions: Physical/Technical performance, Environmental Sustainability, Social and Functional outcomes, Economic viability, and Governance alignment. Applying the framework to eight international and Australian case studies highlights the superiority of adaptive and hybrid designs, which outperform rigid structures across ecological, social, and policy measures. The framework offers a holistic, context-sensitive tool that supports resilient, environmentally restorative, socially inclusive, and economically responsible coastal protection planning.

Seawalls Evaluation Framework