From Fragility to Resilience: An Integrated Approach to Coastal Settlement on Kutubdia Island

This thesis explores how architecture can strengthen climate resilience on Kutubdia Island, Bangladesh, where erosion, cyclones, and sea-level rise threaten coastal communities. Focusing on vulnerable settlements, the project proposes an integrated, multi-scalar framework combining climate-responsive settlement planning, adaptive architecture, ecological protection, and livelihood support. Through nature-based solutions, resilient housing, and a three-tier sutki production system, the design demonstrates how communities can adapt and thrive in place rather than relocate.