kuth ranieri architects: folding water rising tides competition

‘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