Rehabilitating The Intertidal Zone of The Gallegos River | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

Site Context

The project is situated on the outskirts of Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina, with a focus on adaptation, mitigation, and awareness. These three guiding principles shaped the development of an urban intervention that integrates both the city and the coastal edge of the marismas ecosystem.

The analysis provided a comprehensive assessment of the city’s current state, analyzing various aspects in relation to the study. The findings helped identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges, supporting informed decision-making for sustainable development. Within the municipal area, the analysis revealed specific issues such as the unequal distribution of resources, a lack of basic services in certain areas, and environmental degradation.

The estuary experiences semidiurnal tides, with two high and two low tides per day, sometimes reaching variations of over nine meters in height. These tidal fluctuations play a crucial role in coastal dynamics, influencing navigation, marine life, and the area’s geomorphology, shaping a constantly evolving and distinctive environment.

Design Process

The thesis project focuses on the development of an urban intervention that embodies the three strategies outlined in Sustainable Development Goal No. 13: Climate Action, summarized through the concepts of adaptation, mitigation, and awareness.

To structure the study and implementation of this urban intervention, the project is divided into three stages, each addressing different interactions with the city. These stages aim to establish connections with the surrounding environment, define boundaries with nature, and promote environmental education on the importance of preserving the intertidal ecosystem.

1- Adaptation – Harmonizing existing structures with new developments.

2- Mitigation – Addressing and reducing the deterioration of the urban edge caused by city expansion.

3- Awareness – Promoting environmental consciousness and the importance of ecosystem preservation.

Final Outcome

This proposal seeks to address the issue by emphasizing the coastal edge, encouraging the city to integrate this consolidation through a series of axes or ribs extending toward the shoreline. This approach aims to slow urban expansion while fostering awareness of the estuary’s ecological significance.

The intervention is designed to guide visitors from the existing public space toward the waterfront using strategically placed elements that emphasize this axis. It is integrated with the Mirador Apertura, which includes parking areas, a dry plaza equipped for contemplation of the marismas and their fauna, and the extension of the coastal route running east to west.

Urban Scale Strategy: The proposed strategies at the urban scale aim to enhance cohesion by articulating and consolidating key public spaces through an internal connection axis. This approach strengthens the integration of the city’s landscape and functionality.

A key focus is the consolidation of the urban edge, prioritizing the seamless connection between significant natural and urban landmarks, including the Laguna Los Patos Reserve, Plaza Belgrano, Plaza San Martín, the Children’s Park, and the former railway area.

The intervention seeks to reinforce spatial and visual continuity while optimizing urban infrastructure to create a more integrated, accessible, and connected public environment.

CIMT – White-Billed Macá Interpretation Centre: The Macá Tobiano Interpretation Centre was designed to address the urgent need to raise awareness and promote the conservation of the wild flora and fauna of the Río Gallegos Estuary. Situated in the city of Río Gallegos, in the province of Santa Cruz, on Argentina’s southern coast, the estuary faces significant environmental challenges due to its geopolitical and economic relevance.

The presence of hydrocarbon extraction industries in the surrounding areas plays a vital role in the regional economy. However, mineral exploitation and the subsequent release of chemicals into the river and sea pose a substantial threat to the estuary’s biodiversity, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.

Aviary Node: This space is designed for the preservation and appreciation of the maca tobi-ano, a rare and endemic bird exclusive to the provincial territory, currently endangered and declared a natural monument by the Santa Cruz legislature. The project establishes a dedicated refuge to support its conservation while allowing for the observation of both the species and its natural ecosystem.

At the core of this intervention is a central axis, defined by an elevated viewpoint, a staircase, and a large open void within the structure. This axis also houses the maca tobi-ano refuge, granting it the same prominence as the key architectural elements shaping the space.

The void is covered with a specially designed metal mesh, ensuring the bird’s adaptation to the space while facilitating a close yet non-intrusive interaction between visitors and the species.

Conclusion: This project bridges urban development and environmental conservation through adaptation, mitigation, and awareness. By integrating the city with its natural surroundings, it strengthens public spaces, defines urban edges, and promotes ecological awareness, ensuring the long-term preservation of the Río Gallegos estuary.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]