Living and Designing with Water
A contribution from Posad-Rosa to the 10th Biennale of Architecture of São Paulo
On the 12th of October, the 10th Architecture Biennale of São Paulo was opened. Posad-Rosa contributed
to the exhibit with the animation ‘Living and designing with water’. The animation examines the relationship
of man and the city to water and the role of the designer within this. Brazil and Netherlands both stand for
several major tasks to give water a place in our cities and find a proper balance between enough and too
much water. Through trial and error, the Netherlands learned to live with water, rather than only defend itself
against it.
See the animation here: www.posad-rosa.com/project/x-bienal-sao-paulo
Living with water
wastewater
Water is a primary condition for life. A human consists of
approximately 60% of water. We need about 2 litres of
fresh water every day. This water transports nutrients and
waste in and out of our bodies, keeps our organs working
and our temperature balanced.
Just like our bodies, water is a central part of the intricate
system of a city. The water cycle of a city is one of its most
important urban systems. Since all systems, both natural
and man-made, are connected to the water cycle,
keeping it balanced is a requirement to maintain healthy,
liveable cities. Yet, the urban water cycle is a precarious
system. Many cities around the world are coping with
serious imbalances in their urban water systems.
mobility
economy
evaporation
rainfall
habitability
energy
streamflow
water cycle
All systems, natural and man-made, are
connected to the water system. If this
system gets out of balance, other urban
systems become also unbalanced,
disrupting the city.
garden watering,
car washing, ...
Domestic, industrial and agriculture water use
drinking,
food preparation
clothes washing
We daily use water for drinking, preparing food, taking
a shower, washing our clothes and flushing the toilet.
Globally, domestic use is about 10%. Relative to other
sectors, water withdrawal for urban use is low.
Agriculture requires large quantities of water for irrigation
as well as good quality water for various production
processes. Water for irrigation and food production
constitutes one of the greatest pressures on
freshwater drinking,
garden watering,
food preparation
washing,
resources. Agriculture accounts for aroundcar70%
of... global
freshwater withdrawals.
clothes washing
Approximately 20% of the world’s freshwater withdrawals
are used by industry. Water withdrawal for industry
are most often reported in combination
shower with those for
energy. Energy requires water for powering turbines
(hydroelectricity), cooling power plants (thermal and
nuclear electricity) and growing biofuels.
shower
agriculture
toilet flush
domestic
industry
agriculture
toilet flush
Average water consumption
How the city changes the water cycle
Outside of the city, naturally, soil and vegetation absorb
90 percent of rainfall through infiltration in the soil (50%)
and (evapo-)transpiration in the air (40%).
Cities drastically reshape the natural water cycle. Within
the city; streets, sidewalks, squares and roofs shed water
rapidly creating huge volumes of fast runoff.
In urban areas, still 30% transpires into the air, but only
about 15% infiltrates.
This difference between the natural and urban water
system causes that densely developed urban areas can
create up to five-and –a-half times more runoff water than
natural areas of the same size.
Because of urbanization and excessive
hardening of surfaces, urban rivers get 5
times more water. Besides that, because of
canalization, rainwater arrive faster in the
rivers.
Water in the city of São Paulo
The water cycle of a city is one of its most important
urban systems. If the water system gets out of balance, it
destabilizes other natural and man-made systems.
Also in the city of São Paulo, the out-of-balance water
system is causing a series of problems.
he large abundance of fresh water was one of the main
reasons for the Portuguese settlers to choose this location
to found the city of São Paulo.
It is the source of energy and drinking water for the city.
For a long time, the water had an important place in
the public life of the Paulistans. Yet, today water is one
of São Paulo’s mayor challenges. Pollution threatens the
availability of fresh drinking water as well as the energy
production. Floodings threaten mobility and liveability.
This has resulted in a situation in which water is seen as
a threat for the city – that has to be solved technically
– instead of a potential to create a spatial quality and
contribute to the liveability of the city.
40%
evaporation
50%
infiltration into the soil
runoff
water cycle natural environment
30%
evaporation
15%
infiltration into the soil
water cycle urban environment
heated up city
Designing with water
Rediscovering the qualities of water to make cities and
landscapes more resilient, is a challenge that involves
many different stakeholders. Working together is key in
(re)designing our cities. In both the Netherlands as well as
Brazil.
This requires a change in how we look to the water.
Instead of seeing water as a risk, water needs to be seen
as an opportunity to make more beautiful and balanced
cities. In the Netherlands we are just doing this.
Engineers, ecologists and spatial designers work together
to discover how nature and technique can enhance
each other to alleviate risks while create spatial quality,
unique public spaces and new opportunities for economy,
ecology, housing and mobility.
10%
flooded city
55%
runoff
Living and Designing with Water
A film by: Posad Spatial Strategies & Posad-Rosa Estratégias Espaciais
Commissioned by: 10th Architectural Bienal of São Paulo
Research: Posad Spatial Strategies
Animation: Studio Duko Stolwijk
Visuals: Posad Spatial Strategies

This project was financed by: