Uruguay

53,86% Uruguay, Land of Water explores the intrinsic relationship between architecture, territory, and water in a country where its maritime territory (53.86%) is larger than its land territory. Water is an element deeply rooted in Uruguay’s history and culture and has been fundamental to the country’s development. Possibly, we are facing the age of water — the “Hydrocene” — where the way we manage and conserve it will shape humanity’s future. Architecture has the potential to address water-related challenges through designs that encourage its conservation and efficient use,ensuring a reliable supply for humanconsumption, agriculture, industry, and energy generation. Water in the territory opens up innovative urban planning and design possibilities, acting as an element that unifies and invites us to rethink how we inhabit spaces. Rain and waves (water at its wildest) and the forces of nature — such as wind and sunlight — are some of the few ways we still experience the power of the natural world in our cities. We have arrived at a decisive moment where the management and symbolic value of water are essential for life. Now is the time to come together to preserve and protect this precious resource.