Plazas De La Ribera: An Urban And Landscape Regeneration Project That Seeks To Reconnect The Wetland Of Necoclí With Its People And Heritage Of Antioquia, Colombia | Bachelors Design Project On Urban Regeneration

Site Context

The project is located in Necoclí, Antioquia, Colombia, specifically in the Urban Action Unit No. 12, an area rich in natural resources and community heritage. Surrounded by a wetland ecosystem, the site holds significant ecological and cultural value. However, it also faces challenges such as urban fragmentation, flood risks, and social disconnection. 

The program includes mixed-use housing blocks (3-4 stories), cultural and gastronomic facilities, spaces for artistic and agricultural production, and revitalized public plazas. Existing structures like the house of Luis Hernández are preserved and repurposed for administrative and cultural uses, ensuring a strong link with local identity. The inclusion of the hospital as a social and health hub reinforces the idea of a holistic system that caters to both environmental and human well-being. Overall, the project bridges ecological and social needs by weaving together commerce, culture, health, and community life.

Design Process

The design process began with a comprehensive study of the site’s ecological and cultural value. The team identified major challenges, including the wetland’s separation from the community, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of quality public spaces. In response, the project aimed to harmonize environmental restoration with social inclusion.

The first step involved mapping how different groups—children, adults, and seniors—use and experience the landscape. This informed strategies such as phytoremediation, floodable zones, and green corridors to support wetland regeneration and sustainable water management. Public plazas were envisioned as versatile spaces for local markets, cultural gatherings, and small-scale farming.

Residential areas were designed as adaptable, dignified spaces that support both living and working. Throughout the process, the team collaborated closely with local communities, drawing on their knowledge and traditions to ensure the project reflected their real needs and aspirations. This participatory and evolving approach led to a master plan that is resilient, inclusive, and deeply rooted in its context.

Final Outcome

Plazas de la Ribera presents a comprehensive master plan that weaves together ecological and social systems in a sensitive and innovative way. The project features a network of public plazas—each with a unique character and function—connected by pedestrian paths and cycle routes that enhance mobility and accessibility. 

Residential buildings are strategically positioned to maintain visual connections to the landscape and optimize natural ventilation. Mixed-use spaces seamlessly blend commercial and cultural activities, fostering vibrant community life. Green roofs, permeable surfaces, and bioremediation zones promote biodiversity and water management, transforming the wetland into a living part of the urban ecosystem. 

The restored home of Luis Hernández, now functioning as a cultural and administrative center, anchors the project in local memory and identity. Overall, the project’s form and materiality embrace the landscape’s rhythms, offering a sustainable and inclusive model for future urban interventions. Plazas de la Ribera is more than a project—it’s a statement of how architecture can heal, connect, and celebrate life.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the project showcases a thoughtful integration of ecology, culture, and community. It demonstrates how architecture and urban design can heal fragmented environments, celebrate local identity, and foster social cohesion—serving as a model for regenerative development in similar contexts.

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