Canal Juan Angola in Cartagena is a vital link in the chain of water bodies on Colombia’s coast. It connects the Cienega de la Virgen and the Cartagena Bay, and through them, the Caribbean Sea. Current developments endanger and impede this connection. Our design focuses on revitalizing this link, both its own ecological well-being and as a mitigator of flood risks.

In the process we also connect and vitalize communities on either side of it. By selecting five distinct sites along the canal, we propose tailored interventions to address specific challenges and opportunities. We envision these five sites as opportunities such as an ecological mouth, community living with mangroves, connecting expanded edges as well as a resilient sponge park and coast. These interventions include expanding the canal into adjacent communities which serve a dual purpose of fostering mangrove growth alongside human settlement, and treating waste and rainwater before it enters the canal.

Working between high and low grounds, we harmonize community and ecological restoration, promoting resilience and sustainability. Through collaborative efforts, we envision the canal becoming a dynamic hub of biodiversity and social interaction, enriching both the natural environment and the lives of those who call its banks home.