Introduction

Urban rivers across the world have been reduced to polluted, inaccessible backyards of cities. Once vital ecological corridors and social spaces, these rivers now face neglect, encroachment, and climate-related stress. The Urban River Reclamation Park competition invites architects, urban designers, landscape architects, and planners to reimagine these forgotten waterways as resilient public parks that restore ecological balance while reconnecting people with water.

Objective

The objective of this competition is to design a visionary yet feasible riverfront park that transforms a neglected urban river into a multifunctional public landscape. Proposals should address ecological restoration, flood resilience, public accessibility, and social engagement while celebrating the river as a living system rather than a static edge.

The Building Program

Participants may interpret the program flexibly. Suggested components include:

• River restoration and naturalized riverbanks

• Flood-resilient landscapes and water management systems

• Pedestrian and cycling promenades

• Public gathering spaces and cultural zones

• Ecological buffers, wetlands, and biodiversity zones

• Recreational areas (passive and active)

• Educational installations related to water, ecology, and climate

• Minimal built structures such as pavilions, decks, or viewing platforms

Site

The site is a hypothetical neglected urban river stretch within a dense city context. Participants may assume:

• A river length of approximately 1–2 km

• Adjacent mixed-use or residential urban fabric

• Issues such as pollution, flooding, informal settlements, or infrastructure barriers

Designs should be adaptable to different global contexts and climatic conditions.