Weaving with Water

Kochi, shaped by its coastal location and vast green-blue network of canals, rivers, lakes, and backwaters, has long thrived on trade and local economies. Yet rapid urbanization has undermined this fragile hydrological system, vital for drainage, flood protection, and community resilience, leaving the city vulnerable to climate change and recurrent flooding that disproportionately affect the urban poor. Weaving with Water proposes an integrated urban vision that bridges ecology, infrastructure, community, and governance through a collective design framework. Its kit of parts organizes water-based interventions across scales, costs, and stakeholders, making technical knowledge accessible and enabling participatory decision-making through scenario-building. The Mullassery canal serves as a pilot, where eco-sensitive zones, green corridors, mixed-use housing, and active public spaces are layered with floodable parks, rain gardens, and inclusive amenities. Together, these strategies regenerate blue-green networks, support adaptive infrastructure, foster inclusive neighborhoods, and advance collaborative governance, weaving water back into the structure of Kochi’s urban life.