Project entry 2020 for Latin America

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    The project recognizes the wetland’s structure. It establishes a transition area between the city and the ecosystem, creating a linear park of 5.5 km that highlights and protects diversity of natural, cultural, and historical landscapes through careful interventions. Trails run along the edge of the wetland, respecting its natural structure, allowing for the enjoyment and understanding of the ecosystem while establishing a clear limit to control the expansion of the urban development.

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    Historically, urban development processes have reduced wetland areas and modified their natural border, affecting the ecosystem and its relationship with Bogotá’s ecological structure. Trails run along the edge of the wetland respecting its natural structure, allowing enjoyment, and understanding of the ecosystem while establishing a clear limit that will control further urban expansion.

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    Natural qualities of wetland ecosystems.

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    Holistic analysis of current issues and design determinants.

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    The use of native vegetation, extending the concept of the VIVA Botanical Collection to the park.

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    Preservation: Reduce physical interventions and protect the ecosystem’s autonomous development

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    Recover: the identity of the places, articulating them to current needs and aspirations.

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    Strengthen: Enhance existing conditions and needs of local ecosystem, and spatial and cultural needs.

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    These breaks in the paths allow for “pauses” when journeying through the park.

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    Paths permit a spatial experience bringing you closer to nature and the history of Muisca people.

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    Work team. Connatural.

Last updated: November 13, 2021 Medellín, Colombia

Regulation of the water cycle

Wetlands are vital for human survival. The interaction of physical, chemical, and biological elements form part of the planet’s natural infrastructure, lending innumerable ecological “services”. Wetlands are waystations for many types of migratory birds and home to great biological diversity, both animal and botanical. They are sources of water that help regulate local water cycles, mitigating rising waters and permitting the loading and recharging of aquifers. They retain nutrients, sediments, and pollutants while naturally purifying the water; they contribute to the stabilization of local climatic conditions, helping regulate climate change.

A symbiotic landscape

Landscape design is an opportunity to create a live botanical collection, contribute to the conservation of native flora, and establish educational opportunities for the research of genetic heritage on-site. The specific criteria for the selection of plant material include taxonomic, ecosystem, economic, cultural importance, and whether or not the plant is native or adapted to the area. The plants in the landscape are organized based on their impact on the ecosystem (terrestrial, amphibious, and aquatic) and their ability to strengthen the wetland ecosystem. Sequential replacement of foreign species by native species is achieved through the establishment of seed forests, allowing for improved natural succession, and strengthening the development of fauna associated with the wetland.

Citizen participation and use

The project generates spaces for a relationship between inhabitants and the wetland.
The visibilization of archaeological artifacts is accompanied with community gardens, showcasing plants that were important within Muisca traditions and acknowledging the ancestral values that were made invisible by the trauma of colonization. Placing these in spaces of contact with the urban landscape, they become transition zones. These gardens are also opportunities to contribute to the food security and local economy of local populations.
Because the wetland is located close to various educational institutions, the wetland can act as a type of environmental classroom, this guarantees that local youth feel a sense of ownership over the space, helping ensure its preservation over future generations.

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