In country like India where lots of inland water is present but is not used for transport or navigation purpose instead these water bodies have high religious and cultural values. So what could be the possible role of a physical planner for development of such waterfront areas?
Urban planners consider the different spatial processes regarding the landscape, the built-up space and the open space. They need to take into account the geomorphologic and hydraulic processes when planning for waterfront areas. It is a procedural planning, that needs to consider the dynamic nature of the water and its horizontal and vertical changes of surface extent. Furthermore he needs to combine various disciplines such as the before mentioned geophysical one, of course the prevailing architecture of the place and its morphology and typology, the landscape architecture, the engineering of infrastructural networks, the social sciences of the waterfront communities, the urban design as a water-sensitive urban design to include ecological processes into the built landscape. Water needs to be understood by an urban planner as a multidimensional and multidisplinary entity. On a higher scale he needs to consider the uncertainties inherent in the building with water, he needs to be able to adapt to sudden changes in the planning and building process. This also incorporates to consider the resilience of the urban structure to future perturbations, be it storm-surges, flooding, earthquakes or slow variables of societal changes, geomorphic subsidence or technological innovations in transport or energy. He needs a good team of researchers and professionals and has to mediate the sectors inter- and transdisciplinary with a special focus on the local knowledge in living with the water.
This is a general idea of the work of an urban planner at the waterfront. Local qualities, Zeitgeist, genius loci and structures may necessitate further or different working foci.
I wish to add to the answer already provided by Benjamin; that adequate setbacks are allowed between the water fronts and the proposed development. This is to avoid possible surge that may result from regular or occasional water flow. Allowable setbacks vary from region to region, each depending on the statutory regulations applicable there.
a good starting point is speaking to practitioners
Locally Melbourne Docklands was essentially developer driven, planners brought in only in the second phase with the task of making the area - flat, tower blocks, windswept - more friendly to people. Practitioners can tell you how they do this.
Toronto had many teething problems with its water frontages going back to the 1970s and failed Olympic bids but from these failure Waterfrontoronto, a tri-part government entity has emerged with funding for all three levels of government. Within this governance framework, sometimes cumbersome, there is an urban design framework to which all developers have to comply; no outrageous high rises for example. But the best thing the planners themselves have achieved is a strong relationship to surrounding (outspoken) communities, one built up over the years. People listen to each other and try to accommodate each other's views. Planners past and present spend, compared to other cities, much time in talking with their publics and working with them. It takes time but gets results, just go to West Don Lands.
planning of an area should pay attention to local knowledge, along the principles of the ecosystem is maintained
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Correction