FACING THE RIVERR
Confronting environmental & social risks of the Reconquista River Basin by using the river arm as a backbone
Methodology & Topics TITLE MAP
This project is a contribution of the TU Delft course ‘Globalization’, which partly takes place in Buenos Aires in cooperation with the UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires). The main focus, as the title says, are the spatial challenges of globalization in two municipalities in Buenos Aires, but with a special attention to environmental risks and hazards in the Reconquista River Basin.
legend 1 legend 2 legend 3 legend 4 legend 5 legend 6
Throughout the whole process of this project we worked within different scales. From XXL, the world, to the smallest unit XS, the Morón creek and its surrounding blocks. With the constant reflection of scales, interrelations between causes and effects can be made visible in a complex way and this allowed us to define multi scalar approached strategies. N
N 0
2,5
5
10 km
0
source: blablabla, 2018
XXL
XL
Globalization
0,5
1
2 km
L
M
Fragmentation & Disconnectivity
Institutional fragmentation & Social segregation
Fragmented areas through landuse & Car orientated infrastructure
Flood risk & Contamination
Lack of water infrastructure & Environmental responsibility
Lack of green network Open waste disposals & polluting industries
Climate change effects & Environmental risks
S
XS
Fragmentation in west-east riverfront & missing north-south connection
Lack of human scale infrastructure and sense of security
Serious flooding problem in north area and more pollution risks from the south
Poor sewage and rain water system
Our methodology bases on a multiscalar approach, but apart of that the structure of the course predefined our methodology: Starting with the literature review and extensive analysis at TU Delft, afterwards the site visit in Argentina, and the finalizing part back in TU Delft. The conception of scales changed during this whole process. In the first part we analyzed in a top-down way, and in the second and third part we proceeded from a more bottom up approach. The theoretical framework of our project is divided into two different stages. Firstly the framework of the analysis and literature review, which defines the main challenges of the metropolitan region and secondly the theoretical framework of our proposal. which structures vision, strategy and key projects.
Analysis & Diagnosis N
GLOBALIZATION
0
0,5
1
2 km
Water treatment plants (drinking water) Water pumping station Water purification plants (grey water) Sewer pumping station Areas without water system Areas with water system Areas without sewer system Areas with sewer system
SEWAGE SYSTEM AySA S.A
N 0
In the metropolitan scale the city expansion provoked the industrial belt and 'finger structure' transportation system, which create through time spatial fragmentation and disconnectivity between the city center of Buenos Aires (CABA) and the peri urban area.
2,5
5
10 km
source: AySA S.A., 2016
Besides spatial fragmentation, also institutional fragmentation is visible in the scale of the River Basin. Nowadays four different companies are responsible for hydraulic works, like sewer and drinking water network, which makes it difficult to manage a common development strategy of one system.
In the municipality scale, the two main centers are situated around the train stations, but a new central axis is defined by the main bus route connecting the two stations. Areas around this main transport lines depend on ‘colectivos’ and are rather poorly connected, especially in the west of Hurlingham. Besides that, lots of gated areas exacerbate the fragmentation.
Gated sports club & Heavy industries and logistics Hurlingham, Moron, Buenos Aires
The main inundation zones with highest flooding risks are located along the rivers and their arms and they are not only vulnerable for flooding from surface water (the river), but also from rainwater. And the main industrial contamination points are located along the river and its arm, which makes the Morón creek responsible for a high percentage of contamination of the Reconquista river basin.
Not accessible streets because of flooding & Household waste and sewage discharge in the Reconquista River Hurlingham, Buenos Aires
Source: GOOGLE MAPS
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS & ENVIRONMENTALRISKS areas vulnerable for flooding higher strata causing pressure
contaminated river
flood risks
informal settlements
informal settlements
open air dump sites landfill site
inundation area
water scarcity in periphery
sewage discharge Industries of 3rd category
N
N 5
0
10 km
10 km
source: Ministerio de Infrastructura, 2009 / Buenos Aires la Provincia, 2009 / COMIREC, 2015
do not share common interests in their development planning, especially regarding environmental issues. Also industries in the area do not show interest of transforming towards a more sustainable model, which would reduce the river pollution. The interjurisdiccional institution COMIREC is losing parts of their power due to the complexity of the coordination of 18 municipalities.
Integral planning process
Stakeholders Analysis Public
INTRODUCTION
Public
Power
Public/Private Public/Private Private
Main interestMain interest
Power
CIVIC SOCIETY
NATIONAL NATIONAL • official owner of • official watersowner of waters GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT • planning of national • planning roadsof national roads • economic growth • economic growth and big infrastructure and big infrastructure• social stability • social stability • policy making • policy making
resources resources • policy making • policy making
• economic growth • economic growth • social stability • social stability
Intermunicipal planning The project stimulates intermunicipal planning. In order to achieve the strategy goals, especially concerning enviProjected context In the projected context the civic ronmental hazards and resposibilities society shows highercooperation power, and of the Morón river aarm, awareness due to more betweenalso them is necessary. Thereby participation in the decision strengthening inter-jurisdiccional making. the Also industries, and communication especially and the instutional Municipalitypower of Morón plays will have an increased of COMIREC an important role, interest about environmental to be able to supervise the environissues. The operational managemental conditions of the river basin as ment capacity of COMIREC will be a whole.stronger in the projected context
• Organization of • Organization waste of waste Existing context In the existing context the Munictreatement AMBA in whole• AMBA CEAMSE treatement in whole spread out the•scope spreadofout the scope of ipality of Morón and Hurlingham • Definition of fee • Definition for waste of fee for waste their services their services do not share common interests in treatment services treatment per services per their development planning, municipality municipality
especially regarding environmental issues. Also industries in the area do not show interest of transforming towards a more sustainable which would CIVIC • fulfill basic needs • fulfillmodel, basic needs reduce the river pollution. The • protection from • protection flooding from flooding SOCIETY • Consumer power • Consumer power interjurisdiccional institution • more public spaces • more public spaces COMIREC is losing parts of their • User power • User power • security power• due security to the complexity of • connectivity • connectivity the coordination of 18 municipalities.
Integral planning process
of Reconquista River of Reconquista Basin River Basin Reconquista River Reconquista Basin River Basin • Coordination between • Coordination between • Creation of environmental • Creation of environmental government levels government levels policies together policies with other together with other • Strengthening•of Strengthening instituof institulegal institutionslegal institutions tional power tional power
ticket price
• Finding a solution • Finding for a solution for informal settlements informal located settlements located in ‘camino de la sirga’ in ‘camino de la sirga’ • Resolve waste •problem Resolve waste problem • definition of urban • definition code of urban code (’basurales clandestinos’) (’basurales clandestinos’) • Extension of drinking • Extension water of drinking water and sewage system and sewage system
MUNICIPALITY MUNICIPALITY OF HURLINGHAM OF HURLINGHAM • spatial planning • spatial planning
NGO’S
ticket price
ronmental hazards and resposibilities of the Morón river arm, cooperation between them is necessary. Thereby strengthening the inter-jurisdiccional communication and instutional power NGO’S of COMIREC plays an important role, • support and inciate • support governand inciate governto supervise the environment-independet ment-independet projectsto be able projects • Help the community • Help the community mental conditions of the river basin as • trust within community • trust within community a whole. Integral planning in a municipal level In the municipal scale a more integral planning approach is proposed. Municipalities can for example appreciate the projected water infrastructure works by AySA S.A. to integrate other territorial planning elements, like waste infrastructure, public spaces and mobility, in order to resolve various urban problems at once. This will imply changes for municipalities and their internal organization of the department of territorial planning.
Public Public/Private Private
Vision Main interest
IDENTITY
LAYERS APPROACH
Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’ To facilitate the proposed integral planning approach we introduce a new discussion table, which is exclusively responsible for the Morón river arm and its affected surroundings. It is compounded of the territorial planning departments of both municipalities, representatives of non public stakeholders, and also the civic society. By stimulating the participation of the civic society also the responsibility and identification with their territory will increase. COMIREC has a role of supervision and coordination between the members, but also with the province and the national government.
SITE IDENTITY SITE IDENTITY SITE IDENTITY
• Management and preservation of hydraulic resources of Reconquista River Basin • Coordination between government levels • Strengthening of institutional power
characteristics characteristics characteristics built environment built environment built environment
++ +
waste waste waste
no social surveillance nosocial social surveillance no surveillance
discard river discard thethe river discard the river
Figure 1. Intermunicipal planning
XXL/XL/L
In the municipal scale a more integral planning approach is proposed. Municipalities can for example appreciate the projected water infrastructure works by AySA S.A. to integrate other territorial planning elements, like waste infrastructure, public spaces and mobility, in order to resolve various urban problems at once. This will imply changes for municipalities and their internal organization of the Municipality of Municipality of department of territorial planning. Morón Hurlingham
Power
Proposed Figure 2 Integral planning in municipal level
M
Figure 1. Intermunicipal planning
Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’ To facilitate the proposed integral planning approach we introduce a new discussion table, which is exclusively responsible for the Morón river arm and its affected surroundings. It is compounded of the territorial planciate the projected water infrastrucning departments of both municipaliture works by AySA S.A. to integrate ties, representatives of non public other territorial planning elements, like stakeholders, and also the civic sociwaste infrastructure, public spaces ety. By stimulating the participation of and mobility, in order to resolve varithe civic society also the responsibility ous urban problems at once. This will Power imply changes and of and identification with their territory Municipality of for municipalities Municipality will increase. COMIREC has a role of their Morón internal organization Hurlingham of the supervision andFigure coordination between department of territorial planning. 2 Integral planning in municipal level Figure 1. Intermunicipal planning the members, but also with the province and the national government. Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’ To facilitate the proposed integral planning approach we introduce a new discussion table, which is exclusively responsible for the Morón river arm and its affected surroundings. It is compounded of the territorial planning departments of both municipalities, representatives of non public stakeholders, and also the civic society. By stimulating the participation of the civic society also the responsibility and identification with their territory will increase. Figure COMIREC a role of 2 Integralhas planning in municipal level supervision and coordination between Figure 3. Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’ the members, but also with the province and the national government.
of public space lacklack ofpublic public space lack of space
no orientation noorientation orientation no
Intermunicipal planning
Integral planning in a municipal level
S/XS
transformation of the anology into spatial strategy
Figure 3. Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’
Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’
IDEA
VISION PRINCIPLES
PROCESSES AND INVOLVED STAKEHOLDERS
VISION MAP
Figure 3. Discussion table ‘Morón river arm’
avoid streets avoid thethe streets avoid the streets
Fancing the River Fancing Fancingthe theRiver River
river a backside • economic growth and river asaas abackside backside river as development • aiming to be new ‘Center of the West’ of AMBA • developments of airports
street nono street lifelife no street life
NATIONAL IDENTITY NATIONAL IDENTITY NATIONAL IDENTITY
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES
Potential Development
Schools & Hospitals
Commercial areas
Exisiting Green Area
Topography
Exisiting Underground Water Pipes
3 33
sports sports sports
bring river back to people bring river back tothe thethe people bring river back to people
bring people back to streets bring people back tothe thethe streets bring people back to streets
CHAPTER CHAPTERTITLE TITLE
theater theater theater
CHAPTER TITLE
• Finding a solution for informal settlements located in ‘camino de la sirga’ • Resolve waste problem (’basurales clandestinos’) • Extension of drinking water and sewage system
Municipality of Hurlingham
Interest
• economic growth • economic and growth and development development • spatial planning • spatial planning • aiming to be new • aiming ‘Center to be new ‘Center • definition of urban • definition code of urban code of the West’ of AMBA of the West’ of AMBA • developments •of developments airports of airports
no hierarchy in streets nohierarchy hierarchy instreets streets no in / monotony monotony //monotony
From the analogy, we can clearly see the structure of our project. The river arm is to the river basin what the leaf is to the branch. So as the whole branch, we shold also consider the river basin as a whole system, which means the integrated strategy is needed. Zoom in to the leaf itself, we can see that beside the main vein, there are several sub veins that work together. Thus in our project, Instead of only considering the river arm and its surrounding area, we should think about the whole urban structure. Zoom in more to the section of the leaf, we can see there are different layers beneath the leaf surface. Therefore, we should also consider different layers and the underground construction, which would be the foundation of the whole project.
Morón will have an increased interest about environmental issues. The operational management capacity of COMIREC will beIntegral planning in a municipal level Intermunicipal planning stronger in the projected contextIn the municipal scale a more integral BUS BUS The project stimulates intermunicipal in order to facilitate a desirableplanning approach is proposed. future for the riverMunicipalities can for example appreCOMPANIES COMPANIES planning. In order achieve theReconquista strat• Definition of bus • Definition routes and of bus routes and to basin. • Profit • Profit egy goals, especially concerning envi-
MUNICIPALITY MUNICIPALITY OF MORÓN OF MORÓN
traditional industry traditional industry traditional industry
Municipality of Morón
Integral planning PROPOSED PLANNING PROCESS process
• Management and • Management preserand preser• Planning and supervision • Planning and supervision
vation of hydraulic vation resources of hydraulic resources COMIRECof managementof ofmanagement the of the
characteristics characteristics characteristics natural environment natural environment natural environment
Power
in order to facilitate a desirable future for the Reconquista river Integralbasin. planning in a municipal level
Current
COMIREC
Analogy
POWER & INTEREST
Intermunicipal planning The project stimulates intermunicipal AYSA S.A. AYSA S.A. planning. In order to achieve the strat• spread out the•scope spreadofout the scope ofegy goals, especially concerning envi• Responsible for• Responsible constructionfor construction Power their services their services of hydraulic infrastructure of hydraulic infrastructure ronmental hazards and resposibilities of the Morón river arm, cooperation between them is necessary. Thereby Projected context strengthening the inter-jurisdiccional In the projected context the civiccommunication and instutional power society shows a higher power, and of COMIREC plays an important role, INDUSTRIES INDUSTRIES also awareness due to more to be able to supervise the environparticipation in the decision • Responsible for• Responsible constructionfor construction • Profit • Profit making. Also industries, andmental conditions of the river basin as of hydraulic infrastructure of hydraulic infrastructure especially the Municipality ofa whole.
PROVINCE OF PROVINCE OF • official owner of • official naturalowner of natural BUENOS AIRES BUENOS AIRES
Source: Photo by author
Power Interest
Main interestMain interest
Private
CEAMSE Power
Power
Interest
Stakeholders Stakeholders
al er
5
Power Interest In the river basin scale, a major issue is the contamination of the rivers and its arms. The higher- and middle part of the basin and the river arms are responsible for contamination, because of their discharge of all types of waste in the river. The inhabitants living in the inundation areas along the river and in the lower basin are most vulnerable for Existing context In the existing context the Municcontamination. ipality of Morón and Hurlingham
The lowest part of the metropolitan area, in the river basins, are most vulnerable for flooding and in the periphery of Buenos Aires a certain percentage of the households have insufficient water supply. Besides, the higher strata in Buenos Aires cause pressure on the lower strata. The higher strata produce more waste where the lower strata have to deal with and take precious land in the flooding areas which causes flooding in the inundation zones along the river.
n
2,5
Interest
2,5
Interest
0
overall interest overall interest overall interest
VISION VISION VISION
FACE FACE FACE THE THE THE RIVER RIVER RIVER river connects river connects andand river connects represents alland identities represents allidentities identities represents all
river as part a network river aspart part ofaaof network of of river as of network of corridors streets creates corridors andand streets creates corridors and streets creates hierarchy, orientation, public hierarchy, orientation, public hierarchy, orientation, public space social surveillance space andand social surveillance space and social surveillance
RIVER RIVER RIVER AS AS AA AS A BACKBONE BACKBONE BACKBONE
Figure 1 : From sitenational identity towards a vision Figure From thethe siteandand national identity towards vision Figure 11::From the siteand national identity towards aavision
The vision of corridors are based on different layers, which refers to vacant and industrial areas, commercial areas, schools and hospitals, existing green areas, current underground water network and the given topography. After taken into account these layers, the location of the green corridors can be defined and they can link as many mentioned elements as possible.
Group 1: Laura Lijdsman, Wanting Meng, Chang Liu, Anna Klimczak, Gabriela Waldherr Tutors: Diego Sepulveda, Luisa Calabrese, Maria Guglielmini, Santiago Luppi
institutions:
partners:
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