[Sponge City] Landscape architecture in Sponge City (E)

Rainwater and landscape architecture

Working as a Werkstudentin at a landscape architecture office, I got hands-on experience with all the ins and outs of Hoai phases, diving into everything from conception to execution and maintenance. Working on projects like sports fields, playgrounds, and parking lots made it clear: when it comes to designing urban spaces, what’s underground matters just as much as what’s above.

In contemporary society the significance of disaster mitigation strategies for events like floods and droughts has grown, paralleled by an escalating interest in rainwater management. However, in the real world, even though things like rain garden, and green spaces are great in theory, they’re not always practical. Landscape architects can’t just plop rainwater features wherever they look best; there’s a lot of other factors to consider, like existing buildings, drainage systems, and how much rain we’re expecting.

Considering this observation, what are the specific challenges awaiting landscape architects within the collaborative framework of interdisciplinary rainwater studies, and what competencies will be requisite for future endeavors?

 

Rain Garden in Copenhagen

My interest in the interaction between space and nature naturally led me to concepts like Low Impact Development (LID), Green Infrastructure, and Sponge City, which focus on how water, plants, and soil shape our surroundings. During a company workshop trip to Copenhagen, I stumbled upon a small rain garden. Situated in the heart of the city, between bike lanes and roads, it followed Sponge City principles, effectively managing rainwater. But what really caught my eye was its design. The little rain garden got me thinking about how landscape architects can use eco-friendly techniques in everyday spaces. It made me wonder about the potential of rainwater management and similar approaches.

Foto: Hayes Kim, 2023

Questions for New Possibilities

I always think uncovering possibilities starts with daring and adventurous experiments. For instance, it’s about flipping things around and questioning them from the opposite angle.

Guidelines based on the principles of Sponge City have tended to emphasize the importance of decentral spaces such as roadside greenery, parking lots, and suburban areas. However, let’s propose a new, daring approach by reversing this trend. What forms could spaces based on Sponge City principles take in the heart of the city, such as plazas? Is it possible to integrate these principles into hidden or overlooked spaces within the city? What possibilities and limitations might arise from this?

Shifting the focus towards other functionalities of spaces rooted in these eco-friendly methods could be plausible. Instead of integrating Sponge City guidelines with rainwater-related technology, what if we base them on these principles but prioritize aesthetics and appearance? What suggestions might arise from guidelines that merge rainwater facilities with the behavior needs of users? Alternatively, from an urban development perspective, how can cities generate financial benefits? If rainwater-related facilities become prevalent in the near future, wouldn’t guidelines solely for maintenance and upkeep also be essential?