RIVER RESTORATION AS AN URBAN DESIGN STRATEGY. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN RESEARCH AND DESIGN. ANDALIÉN RIVER CONTEST, CONCEPCIÓN, CHILE

Unlike other cities in Chile, the historical development of Concepción did not completely transform the río Andalién. There remain active natural riverine structures. In contemporary urbanisation, it is possible to re-envision the city by keeping these structures alive. This is a relevant issue considering the majority of the new urbanization is planned within the basin of this river. This study critically analyses the results of a design exercise conducted through an international design competition, the call for which was developed as a dialogue between academia and practitioners who together elaborated around multi-scalar and open-ended design questions. Competition participants designed scenarios from the basin to the urban tissue and developed a series of conceptualizations and possibilities for the urban future of the city while restoring the river. It was intended that the scenarios would go beyond either an “ecological crusade” or landscape beautification and structure urbanism based upon the functioning natural of the river. The urban design strategy proposals raise timely and necessary points for discussion when it is still possible to activate natural systems in relation to city-building while channelisation seems to be the only possible solution.https://area.fadu.uba.ar/wp-content/uploads/AREA2601/2601_espinosa_et_al.pdf (Original language Spanish)status: Published onlin