'folding water' by kuth ranieri architects
image courtesy kuth ranieri architects

kuth ranieri architects were one of the six winners for their 'folding water' concept
part of the rising tides competition in san francisco.

'folding water' is a new ventilated levee that protects shorelines by regulating both
sides - rising sea levels and the delta and bay waters mechanically managing tides
to create micro bay estuaries for the shoreline of san francisco and other key areas
within the bay. responding to dramatic global and climatic transformations, this dynamic
levee system meets specific shoreline conditions to preserve waterfront properly,
activities such as recreation and tourism and the estuarine ecology dependent on tidal
action. it departs from the conventional, static levee or dam by exchanging waters
through a perforated pump wall to artificially manage tides and to create micro bay estuaries.
these bay avatars essentially maintain the current estuary's levels, activity and ecology,
sustaining the relationship between the estuary and its inhabitants. this mega scaled
civic project provides a vital portal for the cultural and environmental future of
the region in the form of a monumental fold of water.


'folding water'
image courtesy kuth ranieri architects


water level management fold
image courtesy kuth ranieri architects


tidal management: the ventilator
image courtesy kuth ranieri architects

self sustaining energy: geothermal and tidal
image courtesy kuth ranieri architects