This thesis aims to explore ways of interweaving humans with the natural element through the investigation of the relationship between water and the city. It is a continuation of the research project “Hydro-Cultures of Thessaly through a Diachronic Perspective,” which focused on the connection between water and the built environment in the past. The “Reconfiguration of the Hydro Identity of the Xirias Torrent” at the southern edge of Volos attempts to re-examine the relationship between the torrent and the urban fabric and to propose new practices of connection and interaction.

 Xirias constitutes the most important drainage system of Mount Pelion, channeling the water volume toward the coastal plain of Volos. During periods of intense rainfall, it transports and deposits sediments, forming the alluvial deposits upon which the city has developed. The morphological term “geopoios” aptly conveys the torrent’s diachronic role in shaping the landscape. However, the continuous expansion of the urban fabric, combined with the torrent’s geomorphic capacity, leads to serious consequences: destruction of infrastructure and crops, as well as the transfer of pollutants, waste, and toxic substances. An in-depth understanding of the flood phenomena caused by the torrent is crucial for the development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies, as well as for the protection of local communities and the environment.

 The present proposal focuses on addressing existing problems, with the aim of transforming the torrent’s corridor into a functional bio-corridor integrated into the urban fabric. Through the implementation of a parallel project along the torrent, the goal is to reduce flood impacts, achieve rational management of water resources, and shape a new water identity capable of reintegrating the torrent into the city and strengthening its role as a carrier of environmental and social connectivity.

 The reestablishment of meanders, the widening of the riverbed, the creation of sedimentation and retention basins, as well as the development of a wetland and the integrated management of mountain hydrology, aim to transform the torrent into an ecologically balanced and functional axis that will contribute to reducing flood risks, enhancing biodiversity, and upgrading the quality of the urban environment.

Keywords:

Water Resource Management, Urban Hydrology, Flood Protection, Xirias Torrent, Landscape Redesign, Urban Resilience