This house would prioritize climate adaptation over traditional flood defences in dealing with sea-level rise at canal cities (e.g. Venice, Veneto lagoon, Giethoorn, Bruges,...)

In recent years, the floods in canal cities have become more frequent and severe because of sea-level rise, sinking ground, saltwater intrusion, and strong tides from the sea. The floods usually last only a short time (2-4 hours), but they can still damage buildings, disrupt daily life, and make it harder for people and tourists to move around the city. Climate adaptation means policies or physical changes designed to allow people and cities to "live with floods" rather than trying to prevent seawater intrusion at all costs. Methods include, but are not limited to, raising the ground level of public squares, waterproofing and elevating architectural structures, replanning urban spaces, and even establishing localized, decentralized drainage systems. Traditional flood defences are hard-engineering measures that try to keep water out, such as barriers, gates, dikes, and seawalls. The best-known example, in Venice, is the MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) system, a mobile barrier at the lagoon inlets, which has quickly protected the city in several high-tide events but is also criticized for cost, maintenance, and ecological impacts