URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SPONGE CITY: UTILIZING BIOMIMICRY AS A SOURCE

Abstract

The urban planning and development of Sponge Cities represents a paradigm shift from traditional urban water infrastructure, the so-called gray urbanization, to a biomimetic approach that uses the natural ecosystem as a model for water management in pursuit of green urbanization, that is, the replication of the hydrological functions of undisturbed landscapes, where precipitation is intercepted, infiltrated, filtered, and slowly released into the water cycle. The objective of this research is to demonstrate how biomimicry inspires the design of green infrastructure systems and low-impact development by adopting permeable pavements, green roofs, and rain gardens, which act as sponge cells. The methodology included bibliographic research and technical literature addressing the major changes occurring in the way we adapt, plan, and create new urban centers using technology and biomimicry, where humans, technology, and nature work together for a more resilient ecosystem. The result is increased urban water resilience with the minimization of flood and natural disaster risks, establishing an urban metabolism that synergistically co-evolves with natural processes, mimicking nature. It is concluded that decentralized sponge cells maximize the retention and detention of rainwater, increasing urban water resilience.