ABSTRACT
Cities had been structured and sustained by a pre-modern, locally controlled, human ecosystem—watershed model for centuries. The present trend neglects such water edges with pace to accommodate the needs of the increasing populace. Since Canals used to be part of the city structure there is a possibility to readjust them in order to create new dynamic design models of urban ecosystems. Hence interpretation of historical resilience and adaptability of living with water which was evident in indigenous and traditional processes is required for dealing future uncertainty. The paper aims to understand and analyze transportation as an urban design tool to develop the backwater transportation circuit. The methodology comprises of understanding the value of canals with respect to its historic, environmental, functional and cultural values in order to develop policies, canal-based urban movement and recreation structure plan for the Kochi city as a case. The strategies aim to network canals as transit interchange corridor with the hybrid character of functional and cultural design elements for its sustenance.
