By integrating UGBI, the masterplan can showcase a commitment to environmental stewardship and resilience in response to changing climatic conditions, while also enhancing the quality of life for both residents and visitors.

Understanding a workable green and blue network is central to any effective water management strategy. In Broadway Malyan’s Muscat Structure Plan, we addressed the city’s unique topography, located on a plain between the mountains and the coast. In this predominantly dry climate, sudden and heavy rainfall often leads to storm surges. To mitigate this, the plan incorporated the remediation and enhancement of the Wadis running between the upland and the sea. Restoring habitats along the river courses and recognising their role in mitigation and their value as amenities, has become a key element of the broader long-term structural plan.

Given the economic realities of urban development, space for water, nature and thriving communities is limited, multifunctional spaces and solutions are essential. The key is to incorporate sustainable water management within the urban fabric. When designed well, this approach creates healthy urban environments that slow runoff, retain rainwater and recycle wastewater to reduce groundwater extraction. This approach creates spaces where people interact with water, and natural habitats serve multiple functions, including thermal comfort, air filtration, sound buffering, shade, recreation and slow mobility. Protecting and enhancing water resources and nature in cities is crucial for quality of life and combating climate change.

Broadway Malyan’s proposal for New Clark City in the Philippines includes an open space strategy featuring a green and blue grid of interconnected river channels, canals and parks across the city centre. This network plays a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity and resilience, with the capacity to retain and purify stormwater while managing runoff.

The proposal integrates biodiversity corridors and habitats, with the Central Park Lake envisioned as a fusion of engineering, landscape architecture and conservation. This integrated system combines physical, biological, mechanical and hydrological processes to mitigate and manage water flows throughout the city.

To reduce heat stress, several measures can be incorporated into the design of masterplans. These include:

• Increasing Green Space: Planting trees, allocating space for parks, utilising green roofs and linking these elements in a cohesive framework to maximise their collective cooling benefits.

• Cool and Reflective Materials: Using materials with high reflectivity finishes to minimise heat absorption and reduce urban heat retention.

• Water Features: Integrating fountains, ponds and other water elements to expose surface water and encourage movement, enhancing localised cooling effects.

• Orientation: Strategically positioning the urban fabric and streets to optimise airflow and reduce heat retention.