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AI: Aquapelagic Infrastructures – Green, Gray, Blue Adaptive Infrastructure for the Patagonian Archipelago

By David Erdman

"""AI: Aquapelagic Infrastructures"" collects four studies for the largest, northernmost island in the Patagonian Archipelago of Chile. They test the limits of how AI can inform design and solutions for adaptation in vulnerable urban communities.

Chiloé island, the capital city of Castro and an array of towns radiating around the Chilotan Archipelago are seeing rapid development due to climate migration, infrastructural, social and economic development. Like many archipelagic regions and islands, Chiloé is land scarce and water scarce. It is also (and uniquely) subjected to 6-8M of tidal dynamics daily and has spectacular historic settlements living in that tidal zone; known as Palafitos.

Working with the Center for Climate Adaptation, local and regional partners/stakeholders and making an excursion to the sites, the studies examine how to live with water across an array of typologies, scales and programs. The studies manage exposures to compound risk and opportunities for resource enrichment/development making that unprecedented combination combination of factors livable. From nature-based blackwater filtration to tidal hydro power, to water retention and on-land aquacultural farming. From a community center to affordable housing, to port redevelopment and sanitation facilities, the projects explore the potentials for adaptive urban development that allows communities to grow, to live in place and to thrive.

Methods for the development of the studies included on-site drone surveying, AI driven concept design/sketching, data-based diagramming, robotically fabricated models and graphic user interface design. "

Aerial view of a colorful urban waterfront structure bridging a road and built environment with a wetland or estuarine area. The architectural complex has multicolored rooftops in vertical stripes of red, blue, yellow, and white, resembling corrugated material. The complex spans both sides of the street and includes angled forms that stretch toward the water. Surrounding the site are small residential houses, narrow streets, and patches of green space. Several boats are docked or floating in the nearby water.
Aerial view of a colorful urban waterfront structure bridging a road and built environment with a wetland or estuarine area. The architectural complex has multicolored rooftops in vertical stripes of red, blue, yellow, and white, resembling corrugated material. The complex spans both sides of the street and includes angled forms that stretch toward the water. Surrounding the site are small residential houses, narrow streets, and patches of green space. Several boats are docked or floating in the nearby water.

  • David Erdman

    David Erdman was the chair from 2016-2023 of the Department of Graduate Architecture and Urban Design at Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture where he was overseeing the master of architecture,…