rubénbeltrán · arquitectura · urbanismo · consultoría
Territorial resilience strategy in l’Horta Sud — l’Horta Sud, Valencia

Territorial resilience strategy in l’Horta Sud

l’Horta Sud, Valencia · Spain · 2024–2029

Technical data

Client
Municipios de l’Horta Sud
Period
2024–2029
Type of intervention
Flood-risk mitigation
Scale
Basin · supra-municipal scale
Studio role
Territorial diagnosis, technical strategy, coordination and definition of actions
Scope of work
Ravine catchment in the southern metropolitan area of Valencia
Status
Design and execution

Description

Ongoing technical work for municipalities of l’Horta Sud affected by the October 2024 DANA, focused on the territorial, hydraulic and urban analysis at catchment scale.

The event exposed the vulnerability of certain urban centres located where channels, infrastructure and runoff from several sub-basins meet. At some points, the concentration of flows caused water to partially enter urban areas; downstream, the accumulation of flow produced very severe impacts on the residential, productive and community fabric.

The strategy addresses the problem at a basin scale, combining territorial diagnosis, flood-attenuation criteria, improvement of hydraulic capacity, removal of critical points and the definition of spaces able to take on water in a controlled way.

The aim is not only to reduce the risk of future extreme events, but to transform the hydraulic corridor into a blue-green infrastructure: a system of protection, landscape, soft mobility and public space serving the territory.

Gallery

Nine projects in l’Horta Sud.

Described by type, scale and stage.

  1. Reconstruction and resilience agendal’Horta Sud · 29 actions · Completed · 2025–2026
  2. Catchment study and DANA diagnosisl’Horta Sud · 5 sub-catchments · 2.7 km of channel · ~38,300 m³ eroded and ~47,700 m³ deposited · Diagnosis completed · 2026
  3. River channel clearance and reshapingl’Horta Sud · 2.7 km of channel · ~78,000 m³ removed · 1,750 m of bank with rock armour · Studies and outline design completed, permits in progress · 2026
  4. Channel renaturalisation and bioengineeringl’Horta Sud · ~570 m of rock armour ready for planting · 500 m of earth bank · 6 separable parts · Outline design in progress · environmental application submitted · 2026–2028
  5. Linear river park with flood-protection embankmentl’Horta Sud · ~1 km of riverside edge · Preliminary studies and concept · 2026
  6. Post-DANA reconstruction special planl’Horta Sud · ~51 ha of river-affected zone · 2.2 ha of floodable parks · Proposal submitted · 2025–2026
  7. Planning amendments for resiliencel’Horta Sud · 5 regulatory changes · 60 % of rainfall absorbed by SuDS · Detailed amendment approved · 2026
  8. Elevated crossing over a ravinel’Horta Sud · Deck of ~50 × 10 m · two lanes and a cycle and pedestrian path · Design in progress · 2026
  9. Urban regeneration and sustainable drainagel’Horta Sud · 6 projects · ~250 m² of draining tree pits and planters · ~500 m² of permeable playground · Detailed designs and costed reports · 2025–2026