Designing with water

Water is the project's primary design tool. It structures the sequence of parks and plazas de agua, guides movement through the site and connects the project to the wider ecological network of Ibagué. Rather than treating stormwater as something to collect and remove as quickly as possible, the proposal understands water as part of a living cycle that can be retained, filtered, reused and experienced.

Rain gardens, bioswales, permeable landscapes, retention areas and natural drainage systems are integrated into the public realm, allowing water to become visible throughout the neighbourhood. These strategies reduce runoff, improve biodiversity, support climate resilience and contribute to the everyday quality of public space. Water is not only managed—it becomes part of the identity and life of the city.

The project responds to the character of its surroundings through a gradual transition of intensity. Beginning along the Airport Avenue, public spaces are more active and commercial, supporting higher levels of movement and exchange. As the sequence of parks approaches the stream, the atmosphere becomes progressively quieter, greener and more contemplative. This transition is expressed through changing uses, vegetation, materials, shade, sound and the presence of water, creating a continuous landscape rather than a series of isolated zones.