Amazonian Floodable Park: Transformation Of The Tingo Maria Airport Towards A New Model Of Resilient Public Space | Architecture Thesis On Urban Regeneration

Site Context

The city of Tingo María, located in the Peruvian Amazon in the Huánuco region, is one of the most productive areas in the country. In recent years, it has experienced rapid urban and economic growth, leading to the establishment of the Tingo María Airport. However, the airport’s location next to the Huallaga River has fragmented the city, exposing it to significant water vulnerability, characterized by frequent flooding and constant river erosion.

In response to these challenges, the project proposes the transformation of a 72-hectare urban void, left by the relocation of the airport, into an Amazonian Floodable Park: a resilient public space that dynamically interacts with the river’s seasonal fluctuations. The program includes four main components: flood mitigation, urban integration, ecological restoration, and activation. The park will integrate areas and activities for commerce, recreation, sports, housing, culture, and production, designed to foster a renewed relationship between the city and the river, turning water vulnerability into a source of resilience and strengthening the Amazonian cultural identity.

Design Process

The design process of the “Amazonian Floodable Park” project followed a methodical approach to address the city’s water vulnerability and ecological and urban regeneration. First, the geographical context of Tingo María was analyzed through the historical mapping of the Huallaga River along the city’s banks. It was discovered that the vulnerability primarily affected the Tingo María Airport.

In the second phase, the focus shifted to systematizing design strategies that addressed the challenges of flood mitigation, urban fragmentation, and ecological restoration. Initial sketches, collages, and diagrams were developed to clarify the objective. Later, with a clear goal, the ideas were further refined by testing different ways to integrate nature-based systems and connectivity between the river and the city.

The design was developed through 4 strategies: mitigate, integrate, restore, and activate. Each strategy was deepened by considering the Amazonian hydrological cycle. As the design progressed, feedback from the thesis advisors and subject matter experts helped refine the final proposal, resulting in a resilient public space that integrates water dynamics and fosters a renewed relationship between Tingo María and its river.

Final Outcome

The thesis highlights that by comprehensively understanding the dynamic relationship between Amazonian cities and their rivers, while factoring in climatic seasonality, innovative and effective solutions can be developed across various scales. The intervention is divided into three sectors.

Sector 1: Arrival at the Amazonian Floodable Park

In this first phase of development, the focus is on the most vulnerable point of the territory in terms of flood risk, based on the current risk map of the Huallaga River. The project proposes allowing the flow of water to enter from this most vulnerable point, giving space to the river and directing the flow from south to north.

Sector 2: A new water landscape in the Amazon

The second development sector focuses on exploring the dynamics of different time periods in the Amazonian context. It proposes a new mitigating water landscape within the park, incorporating activities related to the local environment and housing.

This proposed landscape consists of natural systems such as (1) floodable gardens, (2) community pools, and canoe rides. Additionally, the facilities connected to the footbridge are integrated into this water landscape, creating synergy. The modules, with a modular base structure, are subdivided into productive and recreational. The productive modules address the significant presence of housing with gardens and the proposed floodable garden systems, while the recreational modules cater to the mentioned recreational uses.

Sector 3: Flood outlet back to the Huallaga River

The third and final sector illustrates how the water flow transitions towards the outlet back to the Huallaga River. It shows the shift from high-flow retention to high-flow discharge. This sector includes sports facilities such as soccer fields and an athletics track, as well as the agricultural zone. Additionally, upon arriving from the footbridge, the Observation Tower serves as a notable landmark.

Conclusion: The project concludes that, instead of resisting floods, embracing and integrating natural cycles can yield significant benefits. The proposed model demonstrates the feasibility of creating nature-based, resilient public spaces that are adaptable and replicable in other Amazonian cities, while safeguarding their cultural heritage and identity.

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