Working Water: Reinventing the Storm Drain

Denver landscape architecture firm Wenk Associates treats stormwater and infrastructure as a resource to support functioning natural systems and enhanced urban open space. Built projects illustrate how stormwater runoff can be directed to support gardens, redevelopment, and restoration plans.

Format: Hardback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 24 December 2021
Publisher: Oro Editions

Water, a precious and invaluable resource, deserves to be treated with utmost care and respect rather than being discarded as waste. In the captivating book titled "Working Water," Denver landscape architecture firm Wenk Associates takes readers on a journey to explore their innovative projects that treat stormwater and the infrastructure that governs it as a valuable asset that supports the functioning of natural systems and enhances urban open spaces. Through a series of built projects, the firm showcases how stormwater runoff can be strategically directed to nurture intimate private gardens, as well as facilitate the large-scale redevelopment of derelict industrial lands in Milwaukee, all organized around a vibrant stormwater park and open space system.

The planning projects showcased in "Working Water" span a wide spectrum, from a meticulously crafted plan for a surface stormwater system incrementally developed for a redeveloping urban district in central Denver to a comprehensive multi-generational plan for the restoration of the Los Angeles River. This ambitious initiative will require profound changes in stormwater management policies and practices to achieve its full realization.

The final chapter of the book delves into the challenges, strategies, and invaluable lessons learned over the firm's 37-year history as pioneers in implementing new approaches to infrastructure design that are resilient and capable of standing the test of time. "Working Water" serves as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful water management and highlights the importance of treating water as a precious resource rather than a mere byproduct. By embracing innovative solutions and integrating stormwater infrastructure into urban landscapes, Wenk Associates contributes to the creation of sustainable and resilient cities that can thrive in the face of changing climatic conditions and growing urbanization.

Weight: 1184g
Dimension: 236 x 288 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781943532360