Blue Infrastructure: Rethinking Water's Role in Urban Design

Olivia Poston highlights the critical role of blue infrastructure in urban planning in her article for ArchDaily, published on August 17, 2026. She critiques the tendency to regard water features merely as aesthetic elements, rather than vital ecological components. Poston points out that, while green solutions such as rain gardens are prevalent, blue infrastructure—including rivers and wetlands—tends to be undervalued. Advocating for a shift in perspective, she emphasizes the necessity of integrating water as a core aspect of city design, citing Parque Guiwan in Qianhai as a key example of this approach.