ON WATER AND DESIGN
Monday 14 October 2024 6.30 p.m.
Round Table with Chiara Cavalieri, Taneha K. Bacchin, Kelly Shannon and Paola Viganò
Moderated by Tommaso Pietropolli
Facing the (re)emergence of water-related questions in both the disciplinary debate and the broader social discourse, the roundtable aims to bridge theoretical and practical perspectives on water in urban and territorial design; it will focus on its potential to become a territorial agent of transformation of design practices to drive equitable urban development in the time of socio-ecological Transition. Ranging from the political, environmental, cultural, and technical implications of the paradigm shift regarding water, the roundtable will questions themes such as water urbanism, sponge cities, and water-sensitive design. The roundtable, in which the public is invited to participate, will bring forth new interpretations, new research questions, and potential collaborations, stimulating a “new climate” of discussion to emerge between the sciences, academia, and society.
BIOGRAPHIES
Chiara Cavalieri is Associate Professor of Urbanism at Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain). Her work spans numerous projects, research activities, and international workshops in collaboration with Iuav Venice, Studio Secchi-Viganò, Lab-U EPFL Lausanne, Studio Paola Viganò, and UCLouvain. In 2019, Cavalieri co-authored “The Language of Water: De taal van het water” with Fabio Vanin. This book explores the deep and varied relationship between water and urban environments. It examines water not only as a physical resource but also as a cultural and symbolic force shaping cities. Through a series of case studies, Cavalieri investigates how different societies and historical contexts understand and integrate water into urban planning. The book combines theoretical insights with practical examples to reveal how water impacts architectural design, urban planning, and community identity, advocating for a nuanced understanding of water’s role in fostering sustainable and meaningful urban spaces.
Taneha K. Bacchin is an architect, urban designer, researcher, and professor specializing in the convergence of urban design, landscape architecture, environmental sciences, and the humanities. As a tenured Associate Professor of Urban Design and Critical Theory and Head of Research in the Urban Design Section at Delft University of Technology, she explores the interplay between space, ecology, culture, and politics in designing and planning dynamic landscapes, particularly in the Dutch delta and other water-driven areas. Her current work emphasizes critical spatial practices that are sensitive to site and cultural context, addressing challenges such as environmental fragility, extreme weather events and climate, and resource depletion, with projects spanning the North Sea, the Arctic, South Africa, Brazil, and India. She has recently examined how Urban Political Ecology (UPE) can enhance Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) by moving beyond critique to integrate insights that challenge discriminatory and exploitative urban practices.
Kelly Shannon is a professor and practicing architect. Her research focuses on the relationship between urbanism and landscape, addressing the impacts of global warming on water processes and the need for a reevaluation of their design. In 2013, Shannon co-authored “Water Urbanism East” with Bruno de Meulder, and in 2014, “Village in the City,” also with De Meulder. “Water Urbanism East” explores how water influences urban environments in Eastern Europe and Asia. The book investigates how water infrastructure and management practices shape urban planning and design, featuring case studies from cities like Cantho, Bangkok, and Beijing. It assesses how integrating water systems into urban development can address challenges such as climate change, population growth, and environmental sustainability, highlighting water’s potential to promote resilient urban solutions in rapidly changing contexts.