Discussion

Throughout the contingency plan we have discussed and later presented measures which we see as adequate for protecting Nyhavna from the risk of flooding in the future. During the project, there were many aspects that were taken into account, and this called for the use of versatile methods.

Initially, we reviewed the existing plans for Nyhavna which had several flaws regarding the flood risk. As the parallel project groups pointed out in their report, the plans for the blue-green structures made by the municipality of Trondheim are insufficient and can contribute to a higher flood risk in Nyhavna. This is why we are suggesting the extension of the blue-green buffers between the sea and the buildings to be constructed. In this way, these buffer zones are allowed to be flooded when water levels rise. Otherwise, these areas will act as arenas for recreation and other outdoor activities.

To ensure that Nyhavna’s residents will not be affected by flooding, some very costly measures have been proposed, for example by the parallel project groups. These measures include the construction of a floodgate. We have however not seen the floodgate as a necessary measure for Nyhavna. By leaving the most flood-prone areas for recreational activities, the likelihood of flooding in the residential areas in Nyhavna will be very low. In addition, the regular community meetings and basic response training will reduce the eventual effects of a flood. A floodgate can be seen as an effective measure, but it would mainly protect the inner parts of Nyhavna, as it is not possible to build a floodgate where Nidelva meets the Trondheimsfjord. As this is the most flood-prone area, the benefits of a floodgate would be limited.

The case studies of HafenCity and Nordhavn that we presented earlier in the project, acted as an inspiration for our contingency plan. These examples highlight the need for the use of both hard and soft infrastructure to make coastal areas more resilient, as the sea level continues to rise. The case studies also highlight how measures created for flood protection measures indirectly can increase the attractiveness of urban spaces. In Nyhavna, this will be implemented by extending the current river promenade. This will make the areas along the promenade an attractive urban space for pedestrians and create a shortcut between Trondheim city center and the popular hiking trail of Ladestien. Simultaneously, the blue-green structure along the promenade will be an effective flood protection measure.

In addition to the hard infrastructure, the role of the community will be important in Nyhavna. Even though there, in general, is a weak community culture in Norwegian urban areas, Nyhavna could become a positive exception. As no one lives in the area at this time, it will be easier to build a strong community, by having frequent meetings and encouraging the residents to actively participate in the planning processes which affect their neighborhood.

The contingency plan for Nyhavna with the risk of flooding due to sea level rise takes a community-based approach that is localized and flexible. It involved preventing floods and emphasized more preparation for the flood, which seems more likely with the increasing rise in sea level. The people-centered contingency plan incorporated with nature-based solutions promotes the resilience and sustainability of Nyhavna.

The contingency plan was localized due to the unique characteristic of Nyhavna being an artificial impermeable land that narrowed down the strategies to be specific, on the other hand, the uncertainty of the flood situation demanded the plan be flexible in order to adapt accordingly. Though the availability of resources and the low density of the population in the area, along with the proposal of the redeveloping Nyhavna by the Trondheim Municipality, provided opportunities to look into strategies that involved hard infrastructure, the lack of disaster management came as a constraint to implementation and response plan. Analyzing the context and assessing the risk, the plan proposed the implementation of nature-based and sustainable solutions and infrastructures, both soft and hard, to reduce the flood risk and probable calamity. But more importantly, the plan was people-centric from the very beginning. The plan is to involve the people in the design phase of Nyhavna to incorporate them in the nature-based solution of hard infrastructure. The proposal of creating a buffer with stepped edges and recessed ground for water collection is not only environmentally sustainable but also takes into account the social aspect of the space. The spatial solution is to be designed as public spaces that would increase interaction and awareness in the community. This community involvement further facilitates the proposal of community committee formation and collaboration with government authorities, student organizations, and other institutions.

The contingency plan, being community-based, not only prepares Nyhavna for the risk of flooding but also gives power and a sense of ownership to the community. This, consequently, empowers the members, and makes them more responsible and adaptable to uncertainty, making the response fast and efficient in the face of continuously changing conditions. Moreover, the flexibility of the plan promotes a continuous learning process and adaptation as per the evolving situation with timely adjustment and preparation. By actively involving and engaging the local community in the whole process along with nature-based design solutions, we can leverage their knowledge, expertise, and resilience to create customized solutions that suit the specific needs and characteristics of Nyhavna and its surroundings as well as set an example of the community-based approach that can be adopted and adapted in other areas of Trondheim as well.

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