Projects

Flamingo Waterpark

Proposed water tower

by Izgi Uygur (MLA ’18)

In subtropical climates such as Florida’s, there is either too much water or not enough water. It is a place of extremes, as well as a region confronting changing climatic conditions and highly stochastic weather patterns. This project balances freshwater availability seasonally by defining the effects of increased salination on varying types of water due to sea level rise. It is possible to address the freshwater shortage by using a series of stormwater retention tanks in Flamingo Park.

As the only large and open landscape in the city, Flamingo park can address two hydrological issues: the fluctuation of freshwater availability and the threat of sea level rise, without drastically changing its existing character. This helps not only to save energy and water by decreasing the stress on desalination facilities, but also supports the governmental plans of increasing green spaces by irrigating park’s native and aesthetic vegetation. Instead of elevating the entire park, this scenario proposes to place the tanks on an altered topography above the projected flood lines, where the landforms also offer dry ground for post-storm relief.

Oblique site plan and section 1
Oblique site plan and section showing proposed topographic intervention and water tower composition
Oblique site plan and section 2
Oblique site plan and section showing proposed topographic intervention and water tower composition
Sections through proposed water towers
Sections through proposed water towers showing how they interface with adjacent topography, vegetation, and public spaces
Sections through proposed water towers
Sections through proposed water towers showing how they interface with adjacent topography, vegetation, and public spaces

This project imagines strategic interventions that makes the park a part of the municipal infrastructure. An underground network of pipes that connects the tanks within the park can not only help to irrigate the park trees, sports fields and alley trees, but also the green spaces around the park. Overall, this can contribute to individual irrigation and vegetation control. In addition to its role as added infrastructure and public space, the elevated cisterns introduce a new ground for varied botanical landscapes and suggests a new future for the park that combines city’s history of botanical gardens and its planned sea level rise adaptation.

Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art
Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art
Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art
Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art
Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art
Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art
Views of proposed water towers
Views of proposed water towers throughout Flamingo Park, conceived as simultaneously infrastructure and public art

Read about this project in The Miami Herald.

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