A research of design in arid zones to prevent flood problems : design proposal for a floodable park in Chañara, Chile

Abstract

The mining town of Chañaral has not built a border for its partially dry river regime. This has always become a cause of tragedy for citizens in the rainy season, there is a history of flooding in the city, and however governments have not carried out a specific project for the river El Salado. On March 25, 2015 there was a major flood caused by climate change, which caused the flooding of the city's only river, leaving a major disaster with the destruction of homes and people killed. Experts warn that heavy rains will be more frequent in the future due to global warming. In 2017 there was another alluvium, the same river overflowed leaving a great collapse in Chañaral, however to date, the government does not have an answer and people demand a project to prevent another disaster. The river nowadays an element that divides the city, becoming a residual and abandoned space that offers nothing to residents. What is the best landscape option to prevent future flooding in this arid climate with a history of mining pollution? The thesis proposal is a floodable park suitable for future flooding suitable for an arid climate. A solution that works in both rainy and dry seasons. The thesis points to a design that takes advantage of rainy seasons through various strategies, the most important are: a) retention pools to retain water, generate more biodiversity through phytoremediation. b) Store rainwater in specific areas to then use them in the irrigation of the future park that will have vegetation that will require little maintenance, but will help generate an oasis that is suitable for the difficult future conditions that lie ahead. In urban terms, the aim is to change the perception of the river and its edge, from a residual element to the city to a recreational space and articulator of the city that allows generating different activities and local festivities of great magnitude with an appropriate and sustainable infrastructure, improving the quality of life of the inhabitants rescuing elements of the local culture in its design.