What is the next step for river cities once bathing in their canals and rivers has been democratised? We draw our inspiration from a recent trip to Amsterdam, which is starting its ecological revolution from its canals. 

 

How can boat traffic, bathing and renaturation be combined? 

On canals that are still used by boats, bathing must be secure and restricted to certain areas. That's why we've come up with the idea of closed basins located in the extension of the quay. The bathing facilities are combined with work to improve the permeability of the quays, install bio-hotspots to support underwater fauna, and allow local flora to reclaim the waterfront in a natural way. 

 

Biodiversity benefits from the opening of the canals to swimming

In the last series of visuals, the entire canal is open to bathing. The facilities are deliberately kept to a minimum. Nature reclaims its rights according to its own timetable, and city residents once again learn to live in harmony with nature. 

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The last series of images is more art-based, opening up an evocative vision of the relationship between water and nature.