One of the 14 finalists for the 2011 Brisbane Ideas Competition (BIC) organized by the Heise Pty. Ltd. Group, Waterground by French firm Collectif MAP is a complete re-imagination of the Brisbane, Australia. Entrants were asked by Heise two quite broad questions, “What is missing from Brisbane?” and “What does Brisbane need for the future?” Heise hoped that the broad entry requirements would solicit broad entries, and judging by their 14 finalists the diversity exceeded expectations.

For their top 14 entries, Heise chose a great mixture of entries, ranging from studies and solutions for Brisbane’s pedestrian routes to proposals for towering water collection/sprinklers to be strewn throughout the city. Waterground however, is perhaps the project that would change Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia the most.

Waterground is a proposal to create a network of canals to run throughout the city off the Brisbane River, which runs directly through the city. Waterground would expand the network of the already well-known and widely used ferry service that already operates 26 vessels in its fleet. The project would use existing passages as well as construct new passages to create a more efficient water transport platform.

Aside from establishing what would likely become one of the most intricate canal system in the world outside of Venice, Italy, Collectif MAP says the Waterground would create entirely new public space, what they call the wet space. Canals, the green space that would surround them, and the business’ they would attract would become leisure areas for locals and tourists. The Waterground would also be integrated into established water and green parks, and would have kayak/canoe self service stations at each major location in the city.

Collectif MAP’s design philosophy stems from a desire to “deconstruct premade ideas to present new ways of thinking”. They came up with the Waterground concept as a locally specific answer to public demands for a Brisbane Underground system to be constructed. The winning design for the 2011 Brisbane Ideas Competition will be chosen at an exhibition opening, tentatively scheduled for this month.

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