4. BUILDING WITH NATURE Year: 2012-2013 University: Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands Type of project: Master Thesis This project focusses on the coastal city of Kochi in India where urban development happens without form and structure, and often by reclaiming land, filling up waterbodies and eroding ecological structures which are part of Kochi’s natural flood management system. Being a city that lies below sea level and receives an annual rainfall of over 300 cm, it is crucial that Kochi has a strong system to manage flood. The project proposes a blue-green structure which can act as floodplains and help in efficient drainage of water. Public spaces will be incorporated into this structure to make them part of urban life. Brownfield sites along this structure will be rejuvenated and made part of the structure as well.
Proposed blue-green structure to restore the city’s ecological and flood management system
While outside the structure, urban growth is allowed to happen organically, the structure itself will be out of bounds for any development.
wetlands and natural vegetation
canals
existing public spaces
The components of the proposed blue-green structure
10
abandoned railway lines
