Natural riverfronts support complex ecologies that have evolved to flourish along the boundary between land and water. These ecologies adapt responsively to the seasonal changes to the river character to both floods and droughts. Traditional human settlements were also developed in response to these varying natural processes creating diverse points of interest and cultural association.
In India today rapid urbanization has resulted in extreme alteration to inhabited waterfronts. The highly engineered and homogenous nature of riverfront development no longer reflects the spatial condition of either natural or traditional responses to the riverine landscapes.
In this studio we explore the question: how to design responsive urban riverfronts that allows people to live in better relation with natural systems in urban areas?
Students will explore the challenges associated with sustaining natural systems while designing for modern day waterfront living. The studio will combine group and individual projects including: Research and literature review; longitudinal study of the river system; briefing and explorative strategic design and individual master-plan proposals illustrated though renderings and modelling.
The studio will reveal the exquisite complexity of natural river systems and equip students to design for modern living in harmony with these natural orders.
