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AERIAL
CLOSED WATER DYKE
Water Dyke
Using water to hold back water
The destruction of waterfront communities in New York and New Jersey, resulting from Hurricane Sandy in 2012,
inspired the design of an innovative solution that would defend the shoreline from future devastation caused by
storm surges. The concept focuses not only on rebuilding the shoreline, but also on reinventing the boardwalk as
a community gathering place and a functional infrastructure to protect the coastline.
Unlike traditional dykes or flood walls that create hard barriers, the Water Dyke is a “soft” infrastructure solution
designed to harness the water to retain a storm surge, thereby protecting the shoreline from damaging floods. When
water rises to dangerous levels, fabric bubbles equipped with one-way valves, located underneath the boardwalk,
capture the surging water. As the bubbles inflate, the hinged boardwalk is lifted, creating a wall supported by the
inflated bubbles to harness the power of the storm surge itself. The Water Dyke is an environmentally-friendly
infrastructure solution that employs a minimally-invasive approach, enhancing quality of life and enjoyment for
our waterfront communities.
APPROACHING STORM SURGE
WATER-FILLED FABRIC BUBBLE