The New River is the first artificial aqueduct in London, which transports drinking water from Hertfordshire to North London. Although it was at one time threatened with closure, the northern part of the New River is still a link in London’s water supply. With parts of the New River tucked away in underground pipes between homes and under hard tarmac this waterway is unobtrusive. However, the water quality is decreasing, and the hydrological culture and history that it represents are fading.

This project aims to use daylighting to develop a series of naturalised open riverbanks that can replace the culverted channel. In a densely urbanised environment, this presents a complex challenge. Through sensitive investigation of the current site, its contextual disadvantages are moulded into opportunities. The project focuses on the participation of the local community in the process of daylighting, which contributes to the restoration of disconnected cultural links with water, creates a sense of place, explores the sensitive relationship between urban rivers and people, and provides new ways to build a sustainable relationship between people and water.