Reviving A Dying Delta

Cultivating Human and More-Than-Human Synergy in the Indus Delta through Networks of Care

Master Thesis (2025)
Author(s)

M. Ejaz (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)

Contributor(s)

Luca Iuorio – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)

A.L. Nillesen – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Design)

F. Tanış – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Building Knowledge)

Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Graduation Date
17-06-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
['Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Urbanism']
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
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Abstract

This thesis investigates the socio-ecological degradation of the Indus Delta – particularly its mangrove ecosystems – caused by upstream freshwater loss, coastal urbanization, and extractive economic activity. Situated at the intersection of the Karachi metropolis and the agricultural landscapes of Sindh, the project combines research and design to examine and reimagine the interdependencies between communities, ecologies, and governance systems. Drawing on field observations, informal interviews, critical mapping, and systemic analysis, the study traces both localized practices and broader structural forces that shape the delta.

The research culminates in a spatial strategy structured around three networks of care: preservation, production, and recreation. These interlinked strategies aim to restore ecological balance, support adaptive livelihoods, and build synergies between human and more-than-human actors. Envisioning a gradual inland-to-sea transition in land uses that respond to salinity, biodiversity, and socio-economic needs, the project offers a replicable model for climate-adaptive coastal urbanism rooted in situated knowledge, collaboration and care.

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