Urban environments are increasingly exposed to climate risks such as flooding, heatwaves, and sea-level rise, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. While existing literature often addresses climate risk and spatial inequality separately, the intersection of institutional power, racialized governance, and urban design practices remains underexplored. This study examines how architectural practices, shaped by governance structures, contribute to spatial inequalities exacerbated by climate risks. Using case studies of Miami (USA) and Rotterdam (Netherlands), the research employs qualitative methods, including historical analysis and comparative study, to explore how institutional and racialized power dynamics influence the distribution of climate resilience measures. The findings reveal that institutional power plays a crucial role in perpetuating unequal access to climate adaptation resources, with wealthier, predominantly white communities benefitting from enhanced resilience measures, while marginalized communities remain exposed. This study contributes to the field by integrating urban political ecology, critical race theory, and postcolonial studies, offering new insights into how governance structures shape urban vulnerability. The findings underscore the need for inclusive urban design and governance that prioritize the needs of vulnerable populations in climate adaptation strategies..
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