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Street Network



Andy Sternad
Washington University in St. Louis, 2009

Problem
Most of the canals that convey stormwater out of New Orleans are below ground. Water is invisible and inaccessible. It functions only as a nuisance, moving at high speeds through the storm sewer system and overwhelming the city's pumps in huge pulses.

Proposal
The project expands New Orleans' water storage capacity by creating a network of canals that crisscross the northern part of the city. Streets are reconfigured as multi-use boulevards. Pressure on the London Avenue Canal is relieved by re-routing water through the city's streets and parks. As it travels, the water supports plant life and runs through purifying filters. Its slower movement means that the burden on the pumps is reduced during storms.