TITLE:
Sustainable Urban Land-Water Interface Design: A Context-Sensitive Landscape Framework for Deltaic Region
AUTHORS:
Ayasha Siddiqua, Farida Nilufar
KEYWORDS:
Land-Water Interface, Spontaneous Urban Territory, Local Knowledge, Water-Sensitive Urban Design, Urban Design Guidelines, Integrated Landscape Framework
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.12 No.4,
December
12,
2024
ABSTRACT: Preservation and integration of natural water and land resources into urban areas are crucial for the long-term sustainability of a land-water relationship. In deltaic locations like Bangladesh, natural landscape features are essential for hydrological performance and biodiversity. In order to address the urban crisis, it is essential to develop context-sensitive strategies that incorporate local knowledge and natural processes. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the sustainable integration of land and water resources in urbanized areas, with an emphasis on Bangladesh’s deltaic region and similar cities. The research examines spontaneous settlements along the dynamic land-water interface in the Eastern Fringe of Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA). In response to the environment, these settlements exhibit a natural evolution, demonstrating the potential for communities to harmoniously integrate with the water system that shapes the landscape. The study investigates land-water interactions in this area to find sustainable strategies. The research examines hydro-eco-sensitive landscapes utilizing field survey, semi-structured interviews and ArcGIS spatial analysis. The land-water interface in the research area was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, encompassing physiography, hydrology, soil and land use. The comprehensive findings highlight land-water integration principles, landscape features and their influencing factors. These findings are included into urban design guidelines to improve hydro-ecological performance which prioritize the preservation of natural landscapes, retaining local land-use patterns and the utilization of local knowledge. This study provides a context-sensitive, sustainable landscape framework for urban water edge design that addresses the constraints of engineering-based techniques and promotes environmentally resilient urban design in deltaic situations.