Sustainable Urban Riverfronts: Transitioning to Durability

This lecture discusses the creation of sustainable urban riverfronts, emphasizing two main elements: integrating historical context and addressing new sustainability challenges. The instructor highlights the importance of a specific project logic tailored to each city and situation, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The lecture presents two research projects focused on urban river regeneration. The first project examines the evolution of urban riverbanks from the Rhône glacier to the sea, while the second project, titled 'fertile mesh', aims to rediscover a hidden river within an urban neighborhood in Geneva. Both projects seek to better understand and identify the challenges that contribute to improved urban living quality. The lecture also addresses the significance of working at the scale of transitioning neighborhoods, which allows for tangible sustainability projects that extend beyond individual buildings to encompass mobility, biodiversity, public spaces, and water management. Finally, the instructor emphasizes the value of collaboration between practitioners and academics to foster mutual enrichment and create new dynamics in urban development.