NonA Weekly: PLANNING FOR WATER
Image by @joankamberaj
Hi there!
Nature-based solutions (NBS) encompass the full spectrum of activities in enhancing ecosystem services; from nature conservation to biomimicry. Nature conservation and restoration, including regional planning for the protection of natural assets; the restoration of degraded environments such as mangroves and wetlands, reforestation of watershed, and the rehabilitation of degraded waterways. Within an urban context, nature-based solutions include the combination of biomimicry through constructed systems embedded into the built form.
The “presence of water” biophilic design pattern has evolved from research on the health and wellbeing benefits associated with access to water, including reduced stress, lower heart rate and blood pressure, increased feelings of tranquillity, positive emotional responsiveness, improved concentration and perception, and memory restoration. The general take-away from the research is that a frequent multisensory experience of clean water is very good for our psycho-physiological wellbeing.
Entering our last weeks on the theme H20, this time our research is focused on the Large Water Infrastructure & accessibility, and Clean Water & Sanitation.
1. COMBINING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH ARCHITECTURE TO REDESIGN CITIES
Matthew Messner sat down with UrbanLab to talk about one of their projects: the Yangming Archipelago, and how the studio works with WATER as a design component.
2. WATER FOR WELLBEING: SOLVING DESIGN CHALLENGES THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF WATER
The presence of water – from crashing waves to trickling streams, wading pools, and water fountains – have the ability to enhance the experience of a PLACE. Some of the most common concerns are cost, sanitation, water scarcity, or the cultural appropriateness of such water features.
3. INTEGRATING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR WATER IN URBAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
A LECTURE by Tom Armour and Jianbin Wang introducing the Landscape Architect’s perspective on water-nature based solutions and the scalability of NBS for realizing water sensitive cities.
4. ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING, DISCIPLINES OF WATER
Can we imagine a sustainable world with the urban planning and architecture we have developed until now? The CRISIS of water and sanitation leads us to believe we cannot, and this is causing a radical change in the way we conceive, build and plan the houses and cities we live in.
5. IS CLEAN WATER A CHALLENGE FOR ARCHITECTS?
A project by the Dutch Studio Ooze, a structure’s artful design consists of PIPES leading from two toilets and the Emscher (the most polluted river in Germany) that converge at a small community garden and drinking fountain.
6. DESIGNING FOR ACCESSIBLE CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
WARKA WATER is an alternative water source that serves rural populations in isolated regions where conventional pipelines and infrastructures are unavailable and where water from wells is inaccessible.
7. BETTER TOILETS, BETTER LIFE
In rural India, the lack of toilets creates a big, stinking problem. It leads to poor quality water, one of the leading causes of disease in India, and has a disproportionately negative effect on women. Joe Madiath introduces on his TEDTALK a program to help villagers help themselves, by building clean, protected water and sanitation systems and requiring everyone in the village to collaborate – with significant benefits that ripple across health, education and even government.
Stay creative and see you all next week!
Daniela
