Urban water bodies like tanks, ponds, and canals are constructed to harvest rainwater for local use and provide environmental benefits. They serve functions like flood control, irrigation, drinking water supply, and groundwater recharge. Major examples of urban water body developments discussed include the Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad, which redeveloped over 500 acres along the riverfront, and the Kankaria Lake redevelopment in Ahmedabad, which enhanced a historic 4.8 km lake surrounded by public spaces and activities. Challenges to managing urban water bodies in India include a lack of clear definitions, data, strategies, and balanced management approaches.

1. URBAN WATER BODIES
Subject: Design Seminar Sem: 09 Group 05 Bhagwan Mahavir College of Architecture, Surat

2. What are Water Bodies ?
A body of water or waterbody (often spelled water
body) is any significant accumulation of water,
generally on a planet's surface. Some bodies of
water collect and move water, such as rivers and
streams, and others primarily hold water, such as
lakes and oceans.
What are the Urban
Water Bodies ?
Water body is an important infrastructure of urban
landscape. Water bodies like tanks and ponds
are constructed to harvest rainwater for local use.
Such water bodies serve many environmental
functions including flood and soil erosion control
and are useful for irrigation, drinking water supply
and groundwater recharge.

3. Types of Water Bodies

4. • The oceans are vast and deep bodies of water.
Usually, it is these oceans that separate continents
from one another. The oceans are bodies of salt
water.
• We have five oceans in our world. They are the
Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean or Antarctic
Ocean.
• Seas are also big water bodies but are
definitely smaller than oceans. They are
partly enclosed by a land mass and open
into the ocean.
Seas
• A lake is a water body surrounded by land on
all sides. It is actually the opposite of an
island, which is a piece of land surrounded by
water on all sides.
• Lakes can be salty or fresh water lakes. Salty
lakes are due to a lot of evaporation taking
place.
Lake
• Rivers are large streams that flow over the land. They
are hence large flowing water bodies, they usually end
up in an ocean or sea.
• Rivers are fresh water bodies which generally originate
in mountainous areas or elevated areas which are the
Snow-fed rivers and the second is the Rain-fed rivers.
Rivers
Oceans

5. • Water bodies like rivers and lakes are the foundation on which human civilization have sprung up from.
• Almost all the major ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Nile Valley, Mohenjo-Daro, and Harappa
flourished on the banks of rivers.
• Modern day urban centers are also built upon the same principles, where the source of water or
catchment area is located with close proximity.
• The reason is because water is one of the basic need which is required by all living beings, without which
life cannot be sustained.
Importance
of
Waterbodies
Aesthetic
Functions
Ecological
Functions
Other
Functions
- Visual
- Audial
- Tactical
- Psychological
- Recharging Groundwater
- Controlling Foods
- Supporting Wildlife
- Adapts to climate change
- Drinking & other
daily activities
- Religious &
Recreational spaces
Urban Development Impact on Water Bodies

6. Important functions of urban water bodies are
1. Drinking
2. Washing
3. Urban Agriculture
4. Religious and Cultural purpose
5. Micro-climate
✓ The phenomenon of URBANIZATION in the last few decades leads to rural-urban migration as the growth and
developments are concentrated in the urban centers of towns and cities.
✓ Water Bodies play multi-functional role in urban area. It can be the source of water for supply, landscaping,
irrigation, fishing and eco-tourism, which add values to social benefits.
✓ They can also be used to prevent heat island effects and to improve the microclimate in cities.
THE CHALLENGES/GAPS IN THE URBAN WATER BODIES MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN INDIA
• Lack of a Clear and Detailed Definition of Lakes.
• Lack of Data/Information.
• Lack of Systematic Strategy and Coordination.
• Lack of an Ecosystem Approach.. Lack of Participation and Capacity Building.
• Lack of Balance of Interests in Management Approaches.
Urban Development Impact on Water Bodies
6. Ground water recharge
7. Channelize of water basin which prevent flooding during rainy season
8. Flora and fauna ecosystem
9. Regulate Urban Heat Island effect

7. 1. RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
SABARMATI RIVERFRONT
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Proposed in: 1960
Ground breaking: 2005
Size: 501.1 acres
Form: Organic form
The form is directed around the conglomeration of these rivers.

8. Scale & Anthropometry
Area: 501.1 acres
Serving people from kids to Adult
to Senior citizens.

9. Social & Cultural
Interaction
Festivals & Gathering
• Kite festival
•Marathon
•Cyclothon
•Navratri festival
•Various Events
Recreational Activities
Boating Facility Vallabh Sadan Sardar Bridge Dadhichi Bridge

10. Public Gardens
Riverfront Park at Subhash Subhash Bridge: East (1.2 Km long, 62,000 Smt Area)
Garden at Usmanpura : West (0.6 Km long, 18,500 Smt Area)

11. Public Space – Lower Promenade
Lower walkway : 23 Km Public promenades along the entire length of the river

12. HAOXIANG LAKE PARK
Location: Bao'an
District, Shenzhen, China
Area: 130000 sq.m.
Form:
It is connected to four urban
rivers including Pailao River,
Xinqiao River, Wanfeng River and
Tantou River.
The form is directed around the
conglomeration of these rivers.

13. Scale & Anthropometry
Area: 130000 sq.m.
Serving people from kids to
Adult to Senior citizens.

14. Material:
The original 600-meter-long revetment vertical
retaining wall was transformed into an ecological
gabion-wall cascade wetland.
The design of Rainbow Bridge collaborates with
SBP, using a total length of 238 meters of curved
steel box girder structure, with a maximum span of
77 meters.
The design of Flora Trellis Café collaborates with
LAAB Architects, using a parametric rhombus roof
and curtain wall.

15. Spatial Arrangement:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
1. Flora Treills
2. Meandering Promenade
3. Rainbow Bridge
4. Reedback Promenade
4
3
2

16. Spatial Arrangement:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5. Oyster water Plaza
6. Oyster Culture Center
7. Amphitheatre
8. Education Wetland
5
6
8

17. Cultural Renewal: The team proposed to retain the original Shajing power plant building and transform it
into a cultural and creative exhibition hall, reiterating the cultural attributes of the urban heritage, and
designing various activity spaces around its surroundings, including the Oyster-Shell Water Maze and
Education Wetland, a grand lawn gathering events and cultural performances.
Social & Cultural Interaction:

18. KANKARIA LAKE, AHMEDABAD
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Length: 4.8 km
Form:
It is man made lake in 15th century. Development of the lake has take
place in circular form as it is around the lake.
2. LAKEFRONT DEVELOPMENT

19. Scale & Anthropometry:
It has a city level planning. It accommodates
around 35000 people in a day.
Serving people from kids to Adult to Senior
citizens.

20. Spatial Arrangement:
1. Landmarks are created in terms of
activities and entrances to the existing
facilities.
2. Food plazas and recreational areas form
the important nodes along with the main
entrances.
3. Landscape becomes an important feature,
as these define the spaces here, whether
it is through semi-enclosed spaces or
open green spaces or play areas for kids.
4. Street furniture become important elements of this
public space.
5. User friendly edge conditions also become important
feature of this design, whether it is low height boundary
which allows people to sit and also restricts people to
reach the heritage steps, or it is ramps for differently abled
and old people to access these pathways

21. Public spaces tend to develop different activities due to involvement of various factors and participation of
various stakeholders over a period of time. These activities and functions are related to the immediate
needs of those using such spaces. These activities associate themselves with various local existing factors,
and start developing patterns. When such a pattern is accepted and practiced by many, it evolves into
‘culture’ (generally accepted and appreciated by all) over a period of time, defining the space as ‘place’.
Social & Cultural Interaction:

22. HIMMATNAGAR CANALFRONT DEVELOPMENT, HIMMATNAGAR
Built- Up Area:
7,000
sqm.(approx.)
Status: Bulit
Form: Curvilinear form in accordance with existing a canal flow.
Before
development
3. CANALFRONT DEVELOPMENT

23. The canal development project holds water for a stretch one kilometer, through out the year and allows
people to be closer to the water level through the lower promenade.
Scale & Anthropometry:

24. Mostly brick and concrete is used with steel bar for railing. Steel framework and tiles/stone flooring.
Material:

25. The project includes a 500 meter long public garden along
the canal front for use by people of all ages, providing the
much-needed green space in the city. Apart from this,
there are conveniently located commercial facilities
including 120 shops, an informal market, vegetable market
and a food vendors' zone. To support all these utilities
there is a public plaza, parking and toilets.
Spatial Interaction:

26. Streets & Pedestrian Networks:
• It connects the two sides of the city through three new pedestrian bridges across the canal.
• The project will work on a self- financing mechanism in the long run, using the revenue generated
from the proposed development to fund upcoming development.

27. Transformation of the site:

28. 4. Sea front Development
CARTAR ROAD SEA FRONT
Location: Carter Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Connectivity:
Train:
3.4 km (13 minutes)
Landmarks:
Airport:
9.8 km (23 minutes)
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Bus Stand: 0.5 kms

29. Scale & Anthropometry:
Form: Natural Organic Form
City level urban design
Site length – 1.2 km
Abutting road width – 18 m wide.
Site Plan:

30. Vegetation on Site:

31. Activity Mapping:

32. Activity Mapping:

33. Spatial Interaction:

34. 5. MISCELLANEOUS
MINGHU WETLAND PARK
Location: Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, China
Area: 222 acers

35. Form:
Crescent shape to accept water from every direction.
Inaccessible Bio- Islands for wildlife habitats.
Bio swales on gentle slope
Terraced bio swales on steep slope

36. Quality of Place:
Liupanshui, known for its cool plateau climate, is an
industrial city built in mid 1960s in a valley surrounded by
limestone hills, with the River Shuichenghe running
though it. With an area of 60 square kilometers, the city is
densely inhabited by a population of 0.6 million. As an
element of a major campaign of environmental
improvement the city government commissioned the
landscape architect to develop a holistic strategy to
address multiple serious problems.

37. Social Interaction:
Creation of public space: Recreation and
green spaces are inadequate due to the
population explosion in the city. The water
system that was once a blessing to the city
has become a deserted backyard, garbage
dump and the dangerous backside of the city.
Pedestrian access to a restored green space
system is badly needed in such a densely
populated community.

38. Material:
Steel – Industrial Memory Wood
Low Stone wall- Agricultural Memory

39. Planting Strategy:

40. By:
Mitiksha Jain
Rutva Devani
Madhvi Patel
Janvi Patel
Dhurvin
Guided by:
Dhruvita Mahida
Nirav Khandwala
Pooja Dhariawala