In September 2017, Hurricane Irma slammed the coast of South Florida after battering the Bahamas, causing major devastation. The disaster's unprecedented impact underscored the region's lack of preparedness for living in hurricane-prone areas. It was a powerful illustration of Benjamin Franklin's famous words, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

Natural disasters like Irma not only impact infrastructure and housing, they also wreak havoc on natural ecosystems, such as coastal forests, mangrove swamps, hardwood hammocks, and forested wetlands. These ecosystems face significant damage from hurricane winds that uproot trees and strip verdure. Despite their vulnerability, these coastal forests serve as vital physical barriers that reduce the impact of strong winds and storm surges.

Reviving the landscape of Plaza on Brickell after Hurricane Irma
The Plaza on Brickell, a 3.3-acre bayfront residential complex in Brickell, Miami, saw a trail of devastation due to Hurricane Irma, which left a majority of its landscape and once-thriving garden areas in ruins. The towering palms that once graced the landscape were felled, and some were even uprooted. Initially, the board members and contractors planned to replant the pool deck with smaller versions of the same species, despite their unsuitability for the region. This replanting project was estimated to cost a staggering $200,000, perpetuating mistakes made with the original design. However, when Studio Arth, a landscape architecture firm from Miami, volunteered to initiate the redesign, the landscape revitalization was completed in three phases for under $150,000. This project used native species of trees that are well-suited to the hurricane-prone environment and focused on creating purpose-driven spaces that foster social hubs of activity and enhance local biodiversity.

 
By working with residents, contractors, and the local nurseries, a planting palette was created to integrate a variety of wind tolerant species. By removing certain sections of the sidewalk and hardscape areas surrounding the building complex, planting areas were expanded to allow stormwater infiltration, reducing runoff. Along the sidewalks, the addition of green spaces and meandering paths nestled along palm trunks created charming gathering spots.

Amidst the concrete building setting, edible berries and flowering species were integrated to act as a haven for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, creating small hubs of biodiverse activity. Whenever possible, native species, such as sabal palmetto, silver saw palmetto, wild peanut, coontie, blue daze, and Florida thatch palm, were used. Species adapted to the local climate, such as Bulnesia arborea, jacaranda, and Cassia fistula, add an additional dash of color to this native palette. These species minimize the need for excessive fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, ensuring long-term stability and less maintenance. The indigenous species also infuse the design with a distinct sense of local character, contributing to the city's identity.

Responding to the local climate and the hurricane-prone environment, trees that could withstand high winds, like Acacia seyal, jacaranda, coconut palms, and Medjool date palms, were strategically introduced alongside the native palette. These trees typically have smaller leaf structures that shed quickly and, in some cases, might lose a limb or branch to avoid sustaining severe damage to the main trunk or being uprooted. The existing palm trees that survived the aftermath of the hurricane were honored by adorning their trunks with flowering native orchids. Today, the Plaza on Brickell is a vibrant and thriving urban refuge with strategically located social nodes, complemented by a tranquil planting palette.

Curating Social Nodes and Immersive Landscapes
The landscape at Plaza on Brickell curates immersive and socially engaging landscapes that foster a deep appreciation for the organic nature of plant life. Along the pool deck, the design is intended to create a space for relaxing and lounging, reconnecting people with the tropical vibrancy of native Florida plants. The deck is designed with elements of both wilderness and tidiness, featuring red acacias that filter daylight, creating captivating patterns of light and shadow, as well as serene bosques of Bulnesia arborea.

The spa area is screened from direct viewing through layered plantings, including the scented Begonia odorata and Myrcianthes fragrans (Simpson's stoppers), framed by Medjool palms. This densely planted, elevated pool deck provides a sense of being grounded amid the surrounding glass-box architecture, with glimpses of Miami South Channel enhancing the experience. Accessed through cascading planting via an alternate meandering path, the pool deck is a serene and inviting space where coconut trunks draped with orchids and cascading golden creepers create an immersive, calming atmosphere.

The design employs meticulous framing techniques to guide the viewer's gaze, skillfully blending varying heights, backdrops, and other hardscape elements along different paths and spaces. Harmoniously fusing textures, visuals, scents, and the natural elements of trees, earth, water, and light enriches the design process, resulting in a truly unique and mesmerizing landscape encounter. The resulting space complements the surrounding architecture and caters to the needs of both the community and local biodiversity.

Designing Urban Landscapes for Resilience
Natural disasters like Hurricane Irma serve as "wake-up calls," urging us to honor the sacredness and supremacy of nature. All native cultures around the world have acknowledged the dominion of nature, and they honor its existence. In the Anthropocene Epoch, these events prompt us to analyze our actions and design interventions that impact the environment. While we cannot prevent disasters, we can take measures at varying scales to mitigate their destructive impact on local populations and ecosystems. Every disaster presents an opportunity for renewal and new, more
grounded beginnings.

The journey of recovery, rejuvenation, and impact requires time and patience. Living in disaster-prone areas transcends landscape design, for it necessitates heightened awareness and preparedness within local communities. The landscape design at the Brickell Plaza illustrates how responsible design involves taking ownership of one's surroundings, adapting to nature's rhythms and cycles, and ultimately being in sync with them. Beyond aesthetics and functionality, responsible design seizes the opportunity to create a space with a greater purpose, one that is resilient and allows the local communities and biodiversity to thrive.