Wednesday 23 September
Urban Renaturalisation, Habitat and Placemaking
The first day will focus on urban renaturalisation, habitat creation, floating parks and placemaking, with case studies presented from leading projects around the world.
23 & 24 September 2026 | London Museum Docklands
LIVING WATER CITIES
Bringing nature back into every stage of the urban water cycle
Biomatrix Water is pleased to announce the Living Water Cities Conference – a two-day international gathering dedicated to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: restoring nature to the full urban water cycle.
From catchment to coast, from treatment works to storm tanks, from reservoirs to hard-edged urban waterways, this event will bring together the practitioners, innovators, water companies, designers, and thought leaders shaping a living water future.
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THE PROGRAMME
Thursday 24 September
Ecological Engineering and Water Infrastructure
The second day continues the exploration into ecological engineering and ecosystem infrastructure, focusing on how living systems and technologies can be applied within water management infrastructure.
OUR SPEAKERS
Layering Life Beneath the Surface
Etienne Abadie – Ecocean
Subsurface habitats and floating ecosystems
Water’s Edge: New Life for the Urban Harbour
Marshall Blecher – MAST
The case for a new chapter, in which floating architecture and living landscapes bring back both nature and people to urban water
Living Walls, Living Water
Els Corporaal & Jorine Noordman – Municipality of Amsterdam
Reimagining Amsterdam’s quay walls as habitat, infrastructure, and public space
From Prototype to Thriving Ecosystem: The Harbor Wetland Journey
Charmaine Dahleburg – National Aquarium
How nature-based solutions can restore ecological function in urban harbors while inspiring public stewardship
From Floating Parks to Floating Districts: Upscaling Living Water Cities
Rutger de Graaf – Blue21
How floating and ecological infrastructure can move from experimental showcase to serious climate-adaptive urban development
New Wetlands, Old Wisdom
Gabriela Dotro – Constructed Wetland Association
Hybrid constructed wetlands and engineered ecosystems for stormwater, wastewater, and CSO management
Shaping the Future of our Urban Waterways: A Wild Mile Case Study
Zachary Damato – Urban Rivers
How a 5×10 wetland turned into the largest floating, publicly accessible park in the United States
Rise of the Blue City
Koen Olthuis – Waterstudio.NL
A new urban future, where buoyancy becomes a design principle and water becomes the foundation for the next generation of cities
Beyond Phosphorus: The Future of Nature-Based Media for Water Pollutant Elimination
Mark Merkelbach – SWIG LLC
How nature-based media systems are evolving beyond phosphorus removal to address a broader range of water quality challenges
Bridging the Gap between the Green and the Grey
Nick Schreiner – Biomatrix Water
New hybrid approaches bringing nature-based solutions to green and grey infrastructure alike
Ecosystem Infrastructure – from Water Credits to Long-Term Frameworks
Chris Streb – Biohabitats
A sustainable model for the on-going monitoring, maintenance and optimisation of floating wetlands and their application within the urban waterscape and nature based water treatment works
Measuring the Benefit
Morgan Taylor – Greengage Environmental
Viewing engineered habitat solutions in aquatic urban environments through the BNG, natural capital and ESG lens
Water Quality Benefits of Floating Treatment Wetlands
Rob Zisette – Herrera Inc
A statistically-based approach for monitoring floating treatment wetland effectiveness
SITE VISITS
Eden Dock & Royal Docks
During the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to be introduced to two innovative floating installations in a live urban context within the East London Docklands – one of Europe’s most ambitious urban waterfront regeneration projects.
THE VENUES
London Museum Docklands
A Grade I listed quayside warehouse in the heart of Canary Wharf, London Museum Docklands offers a striking backdrop and four centuries of docklands history to the Living Water Cities conference.
London Museum Docklands
No 1 West India Quay
Hertsmere Road
London E14 4AL
No. 35 Mackenzie Walk
Delegates are invited to join us on Wednesday 23 September for a drinks reception at No. 35 Mackenzie Walk – a popular waterfront gem in the heart of Canary Wharf.
No 35 Mazkenzie Walk
29-35 Mackenzie Walk
Canary Wharf Estate
London E14 4PH
REGISTER NOW
To reserve your place on the Living Water Cities International Conference and Forum, please complete the registration form on Eventbrite
Alternatively, for more information, please contact us on solutions@biomatrixwater.com
With thanks to our sponsors
Headline sponsor
