Places that Foster Social and Climate Resilience
In 2006, I found myself floating down the Grand Canal in China, in awe of the way that in the middle of the bustling city, it felt like a moment of calm. As we would approach each bridge, a near perfect circle would appear – half of the arch in the bridge, half in the reflection in the water. The synchronicity, balance, and mystery of it, felt like experiencing something magical.
Perhaps this is a small part of what the UNESCO world heritage site saw when they talked about the Grand Canal as “tangible proof of human wisdom, determination and courage”. It was not simply its utility that gave this ancient masterpiece of hydraulic engineering, but also its beauty, and reminder of the interconnectedness with nature and with each other.
I’ve been thinking recently about how the United States handles water. How our cities treat it as a part of the vibrancy and beauty of the city, or as a threat to be controlled, and how this will continue to ripple through our cities and our lives as climate warming and related flooding become more common and pronounced.
In my recent piece for Architect Magazine, I talked about the interplay of social resilience and climate resilience. How as we create spaces that can prepare us for climate change, so too, can we use those as catalysts of social connection.
I’ve been delighted to get to know Melanie Ferguson, one of the key players behind a project to fuse social and climate resilience (not to mention a huge dose of beauty and economic resilience) here in my own backyard of Dallas, Texas – the Dallas Water Commons project at Trinity River.
Seeing these movements on the ground is inspiring, and it also shows the investment, of time, energy, and sustained commitment that it takes to create great infrastructure that can serve for generations, a lesson we can learn from the Grand Canal of China, the impressive canals of Amsterdam, to the San Antonio River Walk.
Questions I’m considering in the future of cities for social and climate resilience:
How does your city, neighborhood, or development deal with water? Do they use it and center activity around it, or hide it away underground?
Does the place allow for heavy rain, or is it flooded by it?
How could investing in climate infrastructure translate to places of gathering, celebration, and learning about our natural resources?
I would love to hear from you –
