Here, the metropolitan area of São Paulo is seen through different lens. Layers of groundwater reserves, surface watercouses and intensity of rainfall form the base map to analyze the urban area. The area highlighted in red, Aricanduva Watershed, was choosen for more site-specific proposals.
In the macro scale, Aricanduva Watershed offers multiple possibilities of design interventions. For being a region densely occupied and impervious, although sparsely populated upstream, great and concentrated vegetated areas (most of which are protection and conservation zones) do not stop intense floodings in neighbohoods downstream. Linear and interconnected actions could represent the most efficient strategy to face water challenges in the urban territory.
Regional interventions must match with local context. Oftenly, massive civil works of infrastructure create barriers between neighborhoods and generate leftover spaces. Streetscape design should consider the bigger goals of metropolitan planning but also include the specificities of local urban life.
The micro scale refers to the strategies adopted within buildings and sites. A wide range of solutions for efficient use of water resources can be implemented within the boundaries of the property - rainwater harvesting, greywater use, living machines, etc. - or promoting connections (physical or visual) with the street, transforming sidewalks into livable places.
Here, there are some speculations of how streetlife in São Paulo could be, considering principles of walkability, shared spaces and water sensitive urban design.
