This ideas competition considers water landscapes, and more specifically rivers, as mediators in the necessary harmonic and dynamic balance that must exist between cities and nature. The fluvial (geomorphological) restoration approach will be used to revitalize a river, thereby understanding its natural system to inform design adapted to that system.
The competition focuses on the Andalién River, the settlements it traverses, and the proposed urban expansion zones located in high-risk, high-ecological-value areas. It seeks proposals that span multiple scales—from the basin to the bay—and subsequently require detailed design for one of three specific areas. The goal is to challenge traditional urban design methods and rethink Concepción's relationship with the Andalién River. Ultimately, the competition seeks urban proposals that reflect the necessary dialogue between natural systems and the city.
In Chile, as in the rest of the world, urban rivers have been severely altered in their morphodynamic and sedimentation processes due to the nature of urbanization. These issues create threats stemming from poorly located urbanization within floodplains and, consequently, the fluvial territory. In the context of climate change, the consequences of these risks will become increasingly unpredictable and severe. This competition invites bold ideas and designs for river restoration that can serve as case studies for other rivers in Chile and beyond.
