New waterfronts and the role of urban design
Authors
Citation
Building journal Hong Kong China, Dec, 1995, pp. 48-57
Abstract
In both the U.S.A. and Britain, the inspiration for new waterfront development has been closely linked with urban regeneration projects. Many cities grew up around ports or river crossings which became the focus of commerce and industry. In many cases the decline of port uses or industry over the past 30 years has led to stagnation of relatively large areas that are, in theory, in prime locations. Urban waterfront regeneration began in the USA around twenty years ago where projects such as Quincy Market in Boston, completed in 1978, the National Historical Park in Lowell, Baltimore Harbourplace in 1980, New York's South Street Seaport in 1982, and Miami's Bayside Marketplace in 1987 provided models for similar projects. In Britain there are both good and bad examples, the best of which form part of wider visionary strategies. Cardiff Bay, Newcastle, Southampton, Salford and Swansea Docks have secured a mix of uses which are helping to knit the waterfronts back into the cities through linked parks, maritime 'quarters' and genuinely sustainable attractions. Government investment in infrastructure and overall environmental standards have attracted private investment and grants for specific proejcts eg cultural uses that act as catalysts for new development including housing and offices. Arts uses have, for example, played a significant role in the regenreation of the old Bristol Docks. In Birmingham, a large canal basin forms an energised setting for the city's new Convention Centre.
(1) Potential of Waterfronts in Hong Kong
(2) Design of the New Public Realm
(3) Development of Design Parameters
(4) The need for innovative design thinking
(5) Essential principles
(6) How to make it happen
Description
Subject
Type
Article
Format
Date
1995
Language
en