Amphibious Futures: Rethinking Coastal Adaptation in Padilla Bay through Multispecies Design

Abstract

Climate change is transforming coastal environments and threatening human and ecological communities. Conventional coastal planning overlooks the dynamic nature of these landscapes, fixes boundaries between land and water in place, and prioritizes human interests over ecological health. Coastal planning must shift away from anthropocentrism toward strategies that work with coastal dynamics and recognize the interdependence of human and non-human communities. This thesis takes a multi-scalar approach, using eelgrass as a lens to investigate the socio-ecological systems and coastal adaptations that shape the Padilla Bay Estuary, and to examine how environmental and anthropogenic stressors affect ecological health on a larger scale. Through this analysis, the project identifies opportunities for design intervention and develops design principles that rethink coastal adaptation through a multispecies perspective. These principles inform speculative design visions for the future of Padilla Bay, illustrating what futures could emerge when coastal adaptation strategies prioritize multispecies coexistence. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to broader conversations around multispecies design and how coastal environments can adapt to climate change and continue to thrive in the future.