Integrating architecture in rainwater harvesting for climate and disaster resilience in coastal cities: a case study of Cox’s Bazar

Abstract

Water scarcity is crucial global challenge due to rapid urbanization, population explosion, climate change and global warming. As a result, creative and sustainable methods of managing water resources are essential to ensure availability of sustainable, clean water sources and to create disaster resilient community. Cox's Bazar is a renowned tourist hotspot located in the southeastern region of Bangladesh. The main sources of water in the region are groundwater and surface water, both of which are encountering escalating difficulties. The excessive extraction of groundwater and the invasion of seawater, worsened by the increase in sea levels, have led to a notable problem known as salinity intrusion. The growing tourism sector exacerbates the pressure on freshwater resources, as the need for drinkable water rises due to the influx of tourists. Additionally, Cox's Bazar is situated in an area prone to seismic activity, which has led to worries about the possible risks of earthquakes, especially since there are a lot of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) living in refugee camps. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has become a viable approach and alternative way to mitigate water scarcity, lessen reliance on conventional water sources and reduces future water scarcity. This study aims to find the prospective architectural design areas that can improve rainwater harvesting and build resilient communities to climate change and natural disasters. The research is based on a mixed method approach, including two phases. The first phase is to understand the vulnerable community responses with rainwater harvesting concept. And the second phase includes several architectural project analyses to find out the potentiality of integrating architecture with rainwater harvesting practices. The findings present that integrating rainwater harvesting into architectural design not only lessen the water needs but also helps to maintain the balance in urban water management system. Additionally, the study shows the adaptive design sectors can create resilience by reducing vulnerability to climate-related disasters. To lessen the negative effects of climate change and make coastal cities more adaptable so that urban sustainability, new approaches must be implemented.