Water+works : a new ecological infrastructure

Abstract

With the global water crisis as catalyst, Water+Works acts as a model for a localized water initiative that will mitigate flooding and provide a freshwater resource in times of crisis, while enriching urban ecosystems and creating a vibrant recreational amenity for a new civic public. The new typology creates a gradual transition from land to water to contend with sea level rise and increased storm surge flooding. During calm weather conditions, the graduated edge of tidal estuaries will enrich the bay ecology, while creating a sustainable and resilient ecosystem that works to remediate the polluted harbor water. Urbanistically, this will open up the waterfront for recreational facilities including indoor and outdoor public pools, public boat docks and a new water taxi pier providing increased access to the area. This model becomes a new precedent for building civic amenities, where multiple issues are conflated to generate a richer, more dynamic urban condition.