European Waterfront

An impressive number of waterfront developments in Europe are half riverside. The by-the-water beaches are full of people enjoying warmth and sunshine from their deck chairs. The rest work as commercial, industrial and sustainable sea port and pathways.

Here we present some of the most successful European examples of waterfront developments from a fine Korean language book titled “Essays on Landscape, Architecture, Urban – Design Nomad in Europe” (this original showcases lots of plans and pictures), so that global waterfront developers can refer to them in biggest and smallest waterfront projects on their own.

Mind you, the ultimate question we will unavoidably come to is: will people being in or passing through them be happy and at least moderately satisfied?

 

In Paris, France, a dense public space is budding in Parc de Bercy adjacent to the Seine River. This place used to be full of winery storage. In 1987 a plan was in place partly reminiscing the wine barrel transport which used to be its main function. Now its role is shoppertainment under arched roofs.

 

Hamburg's HafenCity is a cultural complex on creation after a long time going through urban regeneration : there is Zollkanal, canals on the way to Hafencity, and the institution of Elbe Philharmonic are to be housed on the harbour by the sea. A lot of Hamburgians head to sunny Marco Polo Terrassen and sculptural Magellan Terrassen, the two unique plazas in this development. The Hafencity's previous use also was storage.

 

Most of these waterfront developments seem to engage multiple uses – residential, industrial and commercial uses - adding their delectable and unmissable parks to the list.

 

Another remarkable item to cover here would be Copenhagen Harbour Bath in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the form of cozy sunken pools, this structure is snap bang equal depth to the water. Indeed, it's spot on the river level of the Sydhavnen River and in summer, many people obviously find it as hot as waterparks. But ten years before, this space used to be supposedly specified as the backwardest area but has since been re-created as pools for Copenhagen citizens who cannot afford to leave the city for summer holidays. Built through floating Dry Dock, it's all park: it has stairs and pools called Baby, Play, Diving and Lap Pool, and holds an annual triathlon. You can walk down to the riverside pools, splash in any of the pools and just enjoy yourself.

 

Hammarby Sjostad in Stockholm numbers among the world's most outstanding environmental friendly residential zones. The sizeable alignment of water space - waterfront structures - greenery - residentials is the result of the development of various access to the city centre. Energy-saving Hammarby Model features bio fuel occuring through sewage treatment process and promoting carpool system. Also the colourful recycling box is put into use by vacuum suction lines carrying the rubbish into nearby Transfer Terminal.

 

Another bespoke example of European waterfront development would be London Wetland Centre. It's an artificial cluster of little lakes, ponds and swamps in the southwest of London, by the Thames. In the old times this place used to supply drinkable water to London citizens. There's no housing, but its Reservoir Lagoon, Pond Zone and Grazing Marsh all point to wellbeing of nature.

 

River on the three sides, Canary Wharf was a busy corner port for fruit trade in 20th century but lost that function due to the flowering development of land transport in London. However the dockland here was subject of economy revitalization and its success led it to become the center of world finances. Its Reuers Plazas are occupied by tidy classical clockwork towers.