GET IN TOUCH WITH THE RIVER

The aim of the semester project was an urban intervention connecting two parts of the city through the redesign of public space — a proposal for a riverside area, responding to the surrounding (largely damaged) urban fabric, incorporating new public functions, and addressing the role of water in the landscape, including its urban dimension. Part of the assignment included participation in an international workshop, where students explored fundamental approaches to the topic in mixed teams with peers from different disciplines (architecture, landscape architecture, and urbanism) from universities in Dresden and Wrocław. Following the workshop, students continued to work on their individual proposals independently. In her project, the student explores how to connect the two parts of the city in a manner that is both sensitive to the local context and creatively distinct. Disparate fragments and leftover spaces of a city that has historically turned its back on its much-maligned river are now reconnected — by the river itself. Rather than a conventional waterfront promenade, the design envisions a dynamic space shaped by the Biała River, which is finally given the room to act creatively. Beneath this seemingly simple concept lies thoughtful consideration of flood protection and prevention, water retention in the landscape, and the broader handling of surface water. Míša proposes a solution that harnesses the potential of a temporarily re-wilded watercourse, tailored to the local conditions and character of the area. Her design also thoughtfully addresses broader societal issues such as inclusive public space and the optimisation of urban mobility.