De-coding velocity — Reintroducing approach to river control through creation of a performative system for the city of Zaragoza.

Abstract

With growing urbanization, one of the rising issues within the cities becomes the reintegration of nature into the development of dense urban areas. Fixed architecture and landscapes can no longer be used as tools that repress natural elements and force them into adaptation to artificial mechanisms which do not allow for future changes. This thesis perceives that the typology of places that possesses the potential to accelerate the discussed process of reintegration are the urban waterfronts that embody the transition between the man-made creations and the processes of nature. The investigation of the mentioned challenge through the selected typology of a space is believed to create new qualities within a city through everyday situations.

To construct these interactions within the increasing complexity of urban layers, a holistic approach is chosen which envisions urban waterfronts through a field condition that embodies a variety of flows related to built environment, people, water and nature. Within the approach, all entities related to either nature or city are considered on equals terms to explore the potential of a new integration. This is achieved by means of a programmed spatial arrangement that allows to revisit flood control through exploration of water behavior to reintroduce riverfront management in urban areas while raising awareness about the element, as well as educating about it.

The chosen methodology is combined with the site-specific conditions and applied on the selected area in the city of Zaragoza for a creation of a performative system that addresses people, soil and river. The design approach displays one possible solution to an issue commonly solved through the tools of heavy engineering, with the utilization of principles of nature and explorations of water as the leading and combining element.