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What is Blue Infrastructure? Rethinking Water's Role in City Design

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Nature-based solutions are a primary strategy for contemporary climate adaptation and urban ecological resilience, embraced by cities regardless of their geography or climate zone. Green roofs, urban forests, bioswales, expanding tree canopy, protected wetlands, and permeable landscapes are featured prominently in municipal adaptation plans. These interventions are deployed across neighborhoods, distributed through street networks, and measured by hectares restored, trees planted, stormwater retained, or temperatures reduced. This shift expands the role of ecology within cities, establishing environmental elements as infrastructure systems and providing planners with a grounded framework for integrating natural systems into urban development.

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Will Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians?

That’s the goal, at least. Mecanoo has released designs for a large-scale development in Utrecht inspired by “blue zone” regions - areas where residents tend live atypically long and healthy lives. Currently there are only five recognized blue zones worldwide: Sardinia, Nicoya, Loma Linda, Okinawa, and Ikaria.

Will Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians? - Featured ImageWill Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians? - Image 1 of 4Will Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians? - Image 2 of 4Will Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians? - Image 3 of 4Will Mecanoo’s “Blue District” in Utrecht Promote a Generation of Urban Centenarians? - More Images