Revitalizing Urban Waterways: Design Strategies for Reconnecting with Future landscapes
The ecological adaptability of urban waterways has changed their natural form of living and escalated the consequences of rising waters. Climate change increased its effect on inland waterways significantly changing the natural meander. Therefore, environmental risks such as overflow through streams, which are threats to the surrounding landscape, are an issue of routes blocked and withdrawal of freshwater in streams that are a part of the community.
This thesis will investigate the Porirua Stream urban environments and existing urban stream conditions, mainly open and visible to the community - Forgotten waterways near communities and how likely connected people are. The use of streams, stream life and erosion are analysed through research and design. How catchment areas for water leads to a significant element of increased importance for the community and increase the value of freshwater use. The Porirua stream in Wellington will be investigated, which will lead to design research on how the community can engage with urban streams and not see them as just an entity of the landscape. Acknowledging the current flow of streams and using them as a potential of restoration for life in the water and community social engagement with urban streams. During extreme climates, the streams can protect communities and reduce urban impacts that decrease the quality of urban streams. Integrating green infrastructure and landscape design as a solution for a better life in streams. This research challenges the natural landscape and past values of streams and includes the importance of the ecology of stream life.
The engagement with streams in restoring and bringing back environmental life is significant to how this design will lead to understanding the landscape as a vast shift of territories enabling many different uses of ‘disposition’. Making streams a landmark, decreasing these environmental impacts, and bringing recreational opportunities to enhance social and ecological life in waterways.
