An Integrated Design Framework for Urban Streams and Ecological Design

Abstract

Urban streams have been mostly affected by conventional waterfront development and urbanization process. Disjunction in city-nature ecosystem caused by culverts results in disasters like flash-flood, draught, and pollution. Urban design interventions in waterfronts have recently shifted to a ‘new wave’ of ‘restoring’ urban streams by adding environmental aspects. This chapter emphasizes on an integrated approach with the highest priority to ecological dimensions and argues that current urban design approaches are yet to meet the ecological services and potentials. It underscores theoretical approaches, such as ecohydrology and de-culverting pertaining to ecological potential, to establish a matrix to measure the ecological features of urban design interventions. Three case studies from the ‘new wave’ of restoration projects in Asia are reviewed under two themes: actors’ ‘mindset’ toward ecological dimensions and physical ‘design’ features of urban streams. Discussed cases draw the contrast between current urban design practices and core demands of such restoration.