Zaha Hadid Architects' project against floods
While city planners grapple with the need for creative systems to prevent flooding in cities around the world, the famed architecture firm Zaha Hadid Architects offers a shining example in the city of Hamburg.
The new Hamburg's remodeled waterfront located next to one of the most popular tourist areas of the city not only offers spectacular views of the port that falls on the Elbe. It is a new boardwalk and above all, a flood retaining wall.
Historically called 'The Niederhafen Barrier', it was first built in the 1960s, following severe flooding caused by storm surges that killed more than 300 people and destroyed more than 60,000 homes, but according to latest estimates, it was no longer high enough to be effective.
The city announced a competition to design a remodeling and adapt to the new protection objectives after hydrological analysis and computer simulations (See concept of resilience in cities), awarding the project to the office of Zaha Hadid Architects.
The structure has a minimum width of ten meters, with 8.6 meters high on the east side and 8.9 meters high on the west side, the barrier is now high enough to protect the city from the tides caused by winter storms.
The architects carved sculptural staircases at various points along the boardwalk, creating angular amphitheaters that encourage people to stay and enjoy the views.
Street-level bike lanes run the length of the flood protection barrier. Wide ramps at Baumwell and Langdungsbrücken connect the river walk to street level and provide accessibility for all. A third central ramp allows service vehicles to access the promenade and the Überseebrücke.
The river walk is divided into two sections with different spatial environments. The western area is larger in scale and offers wide river views over all the maritime activity. To the east, the harbor marina creates a more intimate space with a long ramp next to the amphitheater that takes visitors to the water's edge.
The pedestrian areas of the promenade are clad in a dark anthracite colored granite that contrasts with the light gray granite of the stairs.
With all the work phases already completed, the riverbed is reconnected with the urban fabric of the city, offering wide public spaces for pedestrians, runners, street artists, food stalls, cafes, etc. Shops and utilities are housed within the street-level structure that overlooks the city.
Of course you are containment structures made of concrete They are not always suitable for all cities, but of course, they have managed to integrate the project, meeting different needs perfectly.
Of interest is the article on sustainable urban water planning where we delve into the techniques and advantages of sustainable urban water planning in cities.
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