WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN: A TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACH AS PART OF THE URBAN FORM

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2022-1-21
Sözer, Tuğçe
Water is life, and life on earth depends on water or suffers from lack of it. Although it is not a new phenomenon, water issues are still critical socially, economically, and environmentally. It is not just a natural source but also has a significant role in the urban water cycle. Water is a renewable but finite resource that is under increasing pressure to meet the demands of climate change, rapid urbanization, neoliberal policies, and unequal distribution since it is perceived as an infinite source and a tool for profit. Statistics and experience show us that this kind of approach is causing the environment and all living creatures to suffer the effects of water scarcity and water flooding. These problems call for immediate action to develop cities with water. Seeing water as a threat and removing it from its natural habitat is not the solution. Instead of the current central infrastructure approaches, alternative decentralized approaches have been adopted by many countries. Water Sensitive Urban Design deals with water scarcity and urban flooding by putting water at the centre of the design process. This study aims to examine different approaches and case studies worldwide and create a Water Sensitive Urban Design matrix with elements that have rainwater harvesting, stormwater recycling, and wastewater reuse functions at city/region, neighbourhood, and building scales. The study concludes the matrix’s implementation in Sapanca and creates a path for further research to put water into the urban planning and design process.

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Citation Formats
T. Sözer, “WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN: A TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACH AS PART OF THE URBAN FORM,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2022.