Temporary Tactics for Radical Shade: Catalyzing Rapid Interventions for Extreme Urban Heat in Seattle

Abstract

One of the clearest signs of human-caused climate change is rising summer temperatures, resulting in more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves. There is an urgent need for shapers of the built environment to respond with rapid solutions. This thesis explores the concept of radical shade, where shade is understood as a civic resource that should be equitably distributed, and investigates tactical urbanism as a method to create rapid design interventions for heat relief. A city-wide site suitability analysis leads to the selection of three sites in Seattle, where the design proposals explore how tactical and temporary intervention can create invaluable shade. A series of three design interventions is proposed at each site through a phased design framework which emphasizes action in the next 0-3 years. Finally, sun/shade studies are conducted on the design interventions to demonstrate that the proposals do in fact increase the shaded area on site. The thesis calls on community organizers, design activists, and governmental agencies to act urgently and collaboratively to create temporary shade structures, which have the ability to provide opportunities for radical shade.