Revealing Urban Waters

Many streams once flowed across West Philadelphia. The largest of these is Mill Creek, a stream that drains nearly two-thirds of West Philadelphia. In the late 1800s, Mill Creek was buried in city sewers.Its streambed was filled in and roads and houses were built on top, but it still flows beneath city streets. Though to most people the Mill Creek is invisible and buried in a sewer, it continues to shape landscape and life. How can the buried river be revealed and rainwater celebrated so people feel and know the importance of these urban waters? The following sketch shows my graphic thinking about the topic "Revealing Urban Waters". Please give me any kind of suggestions. Thank you!

A.

Mill Creek, once existed in natural environment, is now flowing underground. To reveal the water, the first thing pop into my brain is the original view of the creek, the smell and sound of water, and trees and animals nearby.

B.

What will it be when water become an element of urban environment?

The area where water flow through should be a place to celebrate and enjoy urban water. I would prefer to use water as a media to link neighborhood.

C.

Water can exist in residential area in different types. To celebrate water, a water basin is a good idea. You can hear the sound of water and see birds or dogs drinking water.

D.

Water falls, basin, pools can be used to enrich the life of backyard and invisible corner in the neighborhood.

A continuous water belt will become athe best place for children to play, for community residents to meet each other.

E.

In this sketch, I try to express the possibility of creating a continuous water belt as an intent to display urban water which is underground and invisible.

F.

In some corner of street, a spring will be a delightful element. People can touch the water and feel the temperature of water. The sound of a spring can attract people to stop and try to find out the origin.

G.

The Mill Creek can be represented by different paving on the ground or even a bus stop roof filled with water.