Team members
| Jamie Supersaxo, Nina Thöni, Melinda Thulin, Lisa Tschirky, Benjamin Tschumi, Josephine Vetter, Philip Vornholt, Manuel Walder, Romy Weber, Nadine Wick, Lisa Winzeler, Nicolas Wolf, Helin Yesilkaya, Sofiyan Zairi, Rosa Zimmermann, Jael Zimmermann |
What urban water means
| Urban water sounds as simple as bodies of water in an urban area. But it’s so much more than just the fountains or ponds in your city. Urban water encompasses the management of a sufficient supply of clean drinking water and the disposal of wastewater. Urban Water Management also ensures that no damage is caused during peak periods of precipitation either within or outside of the city limits and that prolonged periods of drought do not cause problems in the city or the countryside. The continued global warming and growing density of the population in cities are posing great threats to these fragile and important systems. And that’s exactly why new ideas are needed. |
Some videos from youtube introduce the topic
informativ text
| Urban Water deals with water resources in cities and inhabited areas. These include wells, streams, rivers, small lakes but also water reservoirs. Research in this field aims at the urban water system as a whole and at the development of the corresponding ecological, economic and social services into a sustainable future. In addition to the classical issues of sanitation and water protection, the focus is on the sustainable use and management of resources. So where does it make sense to build water or water systems into urban areas or to include them in the planning of new buildings? Water is not only good for the psyche of the inhabitants, but also for the environment. Areas with water resources can have just as calming and soothing an effect on the psyche as green spaces or nature in urban areas. But water planning must also be included in urban design for other reasons. For example, Holland often has flooding problems. This is because some parts of the country are below sea level. To be exact, this affects 60% of the country. In case of heavy rainfall or rising sea levels due to global warming, many areas are in danger of being flooded. Therefore, it makes sense to protect against such risks and take the necessary precautions. As an example, several projects are being worked on in Rotterdam. These innovative ideas include alternatives for water storage, water harvesting from heavy rainfall, as well as the delayed release of rainwater. These measures are designed to counteract the monstrous rainfall that has increased due to climate change. Green areas that can absorb water, as well as said water reservoirs, which can cope with the overflow. The latter also has the advantage that even in dry periods there is enough clean drinking water to supply the whole city. This whole theme is becoming more and more important with the rising sea levels, the increasing rainfall, as well as the growing population of the earth every year. |
Ideas on the topic
| Idea 1: Natural pool (water enters the pool – is cleaned by a skimmer – reaches the dry filter – ensures plant watering – seeps away – cleaned water flows back into the pool) Idea 2: Rainwater pool. Pool on roofs, which are filled with rainwater (if there is no rain, refilled with tap water). Of course, cleaned before use. Idea 3: canal park. Small canals should flow through the parks and green squares of the city, in which children can play, dogs can bathe, or people can cool off their feet on hot summer days. Idea 4: Green oases on the canals. Floating bars or restaurants with lots of plants that are watered with the river water. Idea 5: In the city on squares, train stations or generally in places where there are many people, offer water vapor as a cooling option. -> Already available in several cities. Idea 6: Waterfalls in the middle of the city: humidifies the air and cools you down in summer. |
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