ABSTRACT
This chapter reflects on a pedagogical exercise conducted with students at the Barcelona School of Architecture (UPC), focusing on studying urban river sections. Through 1:200 scale models, students analysed the form, function, and materiality of 26 urban rivers, emphasising their relationship with the city to comparatively understand dynamics and design strategies. This study identifies four main river section components – riverbed, riverbanks, riversides, and riverfront – and examines their distribution across different urban contexts. The importance of riverbanks and riversides as mediation spaces between urban areas and water bodies is highlighted, underscoring their role in flood mitigation, biodiversity, and urban liveability. This chapter concludes that urban rivers, as ‘urban backgrounds’, offer opportunities for ecological, cultural, and productive functions, advocating for a balanced innovative approach to river design that integrates natural systems and secures urban needs. The tactile, model-based methodology proved effective in synthesising complex river-city interactions, offering insights for urban design education.
