Rhonescape

Rivers have once served as the backbone of civilization as they represent vital freshwater resources that sustain greatest-on-earth lifeforms' biodiversity, and establish a direct link between the built and the natural environments. However, the push towards industrialization, increasing agricultural needs and growing urbanization across territories have resulted in the gradual degradation of streams. During this evolution, contemporary river systems have become more and more "hidden" and alienated from the population because of two main reasons. On the one hand, the gradual channelization of natural meandering or braided streams today "physically hides" the main water course behind dikes and levees, so as concrete or large riprap structures in urban areas reduce accessibility to the stream. On the other hand, dealing with river ecosystem problems exacerbated by climatic changes requires cross- and transdisciplinary approaches which are rarely adopted. This mirrors the "culturally hidden" public perception that flooding and drought events of rural-industrial and urban environments as well as environmental criticalities such the global loss of river ecosystem biodiversity are indeed part of the same problem, which has not been solved by the past river channelization (engineering) practice.

In this course we shall learn answering the following question: how can innovative river engineering projects better contribute to integrate the ecomorphological dynamics of large rivers (e.g., the Rhone-River), in the context of growing urbanization, land use constraints and global changing scenarios?

There is still a limited multi-disciplinary knowledge about natural or nature-like rivers - whether they are understood as natural ecosystems, cultural landscapes or artificial water infrastructure. However, the challenges within these areas are multiple and complex, hence requiring interdisciplinary approaches. An ecological engineering know-how is gradually emerging on the footprint of integrated urban, landscape, water and environmental management methods that are today used for river restoration or river revitalization projects. This allows for taking into combined consideration river's tributaries and their watershed space as well as their ecosystem ensemble, which together share public spaces and water management infrastructures.

ENAC week's RHONEscape attempts to expose students to the ecological, hydrological and morphological spatial issues affecting the problematics of large rivers. This will be done with the support of professional inputs, guided field observations, as well as analytical and operational methods. By crossing engineering, biology and architecturally related skills, this interdisciplinary approach shall engage in new design-based ideas regarding the future of the rivers' ecosystems, and ecohydraulics across spatial environments, and to use the experience acquired from the ongoing 3rd Rhone correction.