Speculative design for climate adaptation: imagining coastal management strategies in Singapore’s future waterfronts through postcards from the future

The study explores how speculative design can be used to engage communities in imagining and preparing for climate change impacts, particularly sea-level rise in Singapore. Through the “Adapting Waterfronts: Postcards from the Future” project, researchers combined historical data, scientific projections, and participatory art installations to foster public dialogue on coastal adaptation. Activities included an exhibition, augmented reality (AR) tours, and workshops aimed at enabling residents, scientists, and policymakers to co-create visions for Singapore’s waterfronts in the year 2122.

The project demonstrated that speculative design and AR are powerful tools for making scientific concepts about climate change more accessible and engaging. Participants reported increased awareness of past coastal transformations and a deeper understanding of future risks. The initiative also succeeded in breaking disciplinary silos, encouraging collaboration between engineers, ecologists, urban planners, and local communities. Overall, the study highlights the value of blending creative methods with science communication to build adaptive capacity and foster inclusive, informed debates about climate resilience.