Edoardo Ripamonti

Year 2 MArch

S.W.E.L.L.

Shifting Waters & Energetic Littoral Landscape
Isle of Scilly, Bryher Island, UK

S.W.E.L.L. is a coastal infrastructure proposal set along the rugged coastline of the Isles of Scilly, a fragile archipelago located off the south-west coast of the United Kingdom.

Shaped by geological processes and rising sea levels, the islands face increasing environmental pressures, including coastal erosion, storm surges, and dependence on imported energy. In response, S.W.E.L.L. integrates renewable energy generation, coastal protection, and public amenity into a single architectural and landscape intervention.

The proposal consists of a series of tidal and wave-responsive architectural de vices positioned strategically along existing coves and inlets. These structures cap ture the kinetic energy of waves and tidal flows to generate renewable electricity while simultaneously acting as protective coastal barriers that mitigate the effects of storm surges and coastal erosion.

Beyond energy production, the project reimagines coastal infrastructure as a civic and ecological landscape. The arrangement of the structures creates sheltered tidal pools and swimming areas, forming a public lido and a coastal theatre accessible to residents, visitors and local sports groups. In doing so, the proposal strengthens the relationship between land, ocean and community, transforming essential infrastructure into a shared public amenity.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/eripamonti.architecture?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoardo-ripamonti-3b098a258/