People are inherently drawn to water, hence the importance of waterfront development. It is the lure of water, its sparkle, its reflection, its endless movement and change that both captures man’s imagination and provides a variety of opportunities from business to recreation, from active to passive activities. Water is a defining force that fundamentally shapes the character of each place it touches. River sites have been an important part of city development since early civilizations. The role of water in transport, industry, sanitation and nourishment made it the reason of being of human settlement.

Riverfront sites with the greatest potential are often among the most ignored sections of our cities. These sites are dirty, abused, derelict, and plagued by environmental issues: unstable landfills, contaminated soils and water, lost habitats, disturbed artefacts, trapped sedimentary pollutants, etc. Flooding was also a major issue in all towns located on the river. Rivers were straightened and lined with concrete to regulate their flow and control flooding. Cities turned their backs on them, while highway planners found these abandoned riverbanks ideal sites for new highways. City residents were completely cut off from their rivers. Despite these issues riverfronts are still valued. Nothing quite compares to the experience of being close to the waters edge.

Today, cities across the world seek a riverfront that is a place of public enjoyment. They want a riverfront where there is ample visual and physical public access – all day, all year – to both water and the land. Cities also want a riverfront that serves more than one purpose: they want it to be a place to work and live as well as a place to play. In other words, they want a place that contributes to the quality of life in all of its aspects – economic, social and cultural. Riverfronts can broadly be classified as the following.

Cultural Riverfronts – They provide a sense of community, opportunity for festivity, artistic expression, recreation and commercial bustle.

Environmental Riverfronts – “Design with nature”, might include shore stabilization, wetland preservation, prairie restoration etc

Historic Riverfronts – “A sense of uniqueness and character” to a place. They provide a special educational experience to a person by preserving the cultural heritage of the place.

Mixed-use Riverfronts – The mixed-use waterfront projects include a mix of retail, housing, office, restaurant, open space etc. They can provide a dynamic space containing various activities blended to complement each other.

Recreational Riverfronts – “The place of community gathering”. They provide various recreational opportunities for people such as – parks, gardens, picnic areas, walking, cycling and water related activities including boating, fishing, etc.

Residential Riverfronts – Housing is a very important element in riverfront development. Residential development also creates opportunities for other activities like retail, recreation, restaurants.

Working Riverfronts – These riverfronts have some kind of river-related activity on such as fishing, boat repair, etc.

Major riverfront development has occurred in the last 30 years as communities have started to realize this old asset. Riverfront revitalization contributes and often plays an important role in restoring city centers and towns to economic, environmental and social health. A number of different factors led cities to reclaim their riverfronts –

Environmental clean-up – Federal water clean-up began in 1970s and constituted one of the largest public works programs ever. This led to changing the image of rivers from being negative- filthy water to being positive, cleaned up and source of public interest.

Flood control measures – Construction of floodway’s to control the frequently flooding river from damaging the surrounding development. Different flood control measures like – straightening, widening, realigning of river, construction of dams to regulate flow of water in river etc. contributed in making cities almost free of floods. These measures made the future of the river promising.

Preservation Ethic and City-centre Comeback – this contributed to a renewed interest in historic riverfronts and conserving old structures and restoring degraded landscapes. The old structures were saved from destruction and adapted to new uses. Community character was preserved; mixed use was introduced to revive city-centre.

Government Assistance – During the 1970s riverfronts were identified as potential development areas. The government invested funds for their redevelopment because they stimulated more economic, social and cultural growth of the whole city.

Recreation/Fitness – they serve recreational purposes. They could be used for jogging, cycling, open areas, boating, fishing and other active and passive uses. These activities along river edges served three purposes – recreation, healthier environment and healthier people.

Tourism – Tourism improves the economic wealth of the city. The rejuvenated riverfronts attracted the visitors. Cities developed them as destinations to expand their tourism industry.

River reclamation is not easy as it involves a myriad of problems, ranging from riparian rights of adjacent property owners to public perception of the value of public space. This, along with other land use and zoning issues and liabilities, creates issues for the riverfront development. One cannot copy the design of a successful riverfront and apply it to some other place because it can lead to failure. With greater understanding of the environmental and social issues inherent in riverfront sites and a commitment to a sensitive approach, it is possible in the process of redeveloping the riverfront, to improve the environment rather than degrade it and ensure vibrant co-existence.

Some of the key issues for riverfront development are –

History and Location – History plays an important role in shaping a place. Each riverfront has a different context and history. It gives any place its unique identity. Historic buildings can be restored; forms can be derived from architectural or historical features and used symbolically as signage, sculpture etc. It can also be used to educate people about the place.

Location, topography, soils, climate, existing urban fabric and land use, movement pattern, etc. help shape the riverfront and proposing the future development. For example development in a northern region will be quite different from that of one located in southern area, although the basic functions will be the same.

Environmental issues – There are several environmental issues related to riverfront development. New development should be sensitive to the natural habitats in the ecosystem. There are other environment hazards like floods or toxic residues of abandoned industrial sites. These factors must be taken into account and desirable solutions should be proposed to maintain safety along urban riverfronts.

Riverfront development has major impact on the environment because of huge amount of construction and accommodating greater number of people on the site. Interaction with the river has become important for planning of sustainable development. This can be addressed by selecting building materials, heights, native plants for landscaping, reusing disturbed areas and building within the context.

The riverfront redevelopment projects can have a favourable effect on water quality because the water pollution is taken care of and also the surrounding land uses are improved. Zoning restrictions control the inappropriate land uses. The appropriate development of land also brings more local citizens and tourists who have a favourable impact on economy.

Bank stabilization – Another significant design issue is dealing with various bank stabilization alternatives to prevent bank erosion. Since people want to access the river it is important to keep in mind the accessibility factor along with bank stabilization measures. The city should develop desirable solution for bank stabilization as per the land use and requirement.

Public Accessibility – People are drawn to water. Human interaction with water is the most important part of a riverfront development. People want to reach it, feel it; hence it becomes very necessary to provide accessibility to water. Trails, walkways, beaches, along rivers provide a lot of opportunities for people to be near or in the river. There should be multiple entry points to the river so as to have a successful riverfront with active use.

Walkways are significant in defining the movement pattern on the site. They are also physical pedestrian linkages between different parts of the site. They should be planned as to increase the interaction of people with the river. The banks of the river can be linked not just visually but physically.

Public space – Riverfronts are public spaces. They can be used for a variety of activities by the city people, ex: a festive gathering place, a variety of recreation resources (active and passive), a city landmark, mixed use, residential, retail etc.

Visual connectivity – The building layouts and structures should be designed so as to not block views of the river. The presence and view of the river from various locations on the site add as an asset to the surrounding development and add to the success of a project. The public views should be designed and they should be made interesting with materials, textures, building facades, etc.

Riverfront Use – Existing activities like fishing, boating, repair yards etc. along the river give it a character. Newer development should not totally take away the existing activities going around the riverfront. The newer proposal should try to mix a lot of activities so as to have an interesting mix of seemingly dissimilar activities. Zoning or limiting different kinds of activities and not mixing them together might not turn out to be successful river front.

Liability – Building near water can be hazardous for people. With easy accessibility to water there are certain liabilities like drowning or falling from walkways with no railing on them.

Interpretation – Historically many cities came into existence because of the presence of a river. Riverfront redevelopment offers opportunity for a city to educate its residents and visitors about the cities cultural heritage. It can be done by restoring old structures to new uses like museums or the river edge itself also offers an opportunity for educating people about a sites natural history.

River corridor represents greatest challenge and greater opportunity to redefine a city. To understand the opportunities available along the river corridor, it requires understanding the historical role of river in the development and the unique combination of factors that influence the urban riverfront development. The development should therefore be sensitive to geography, culture, timing, existing development, old structures and activities. With a greater understanding of the environmental issues inherent in riverfront sites and a commitment to an environmentally sensitive approach, it is possible, in the process of redeveloping the riverfront, to improve the environment rather than degrade it. Urban riverfront projects have a positive impact on water quality, because the renewed interest in riverfronts also focuses on improving the surrounding land use.

The plan for the community is more than built forms. It is designed for the people who live and visit there. Several cities have effectively reused riverfront sites and buildings, both for economic development and for recreational and cultural activities. The key issues in revitalizing the potential of riverfronts are: to clean the riverfront, to live, work and shops near the water, to spend leisure time on the water, create connection between the river banks, design of building facades, etc. To discover the potential of a river corridor, it is essential to develop a better understanding of the environment along the riverfront – that particular juncture where land meets water, terrestrial meets aquatic. The riverfront development is done to improve the image of the river corridor in terms of places to work, live and visit and to make it a community asset.

Road along Chao Phraya  –  A riverfront development in Bangkok, going on the wrong track

The way of life of the people of Thailand is that they are bound to the river for a long time,” Chao Phraya“ which means the “river line”,  helps sustain the people for consumption and agriculture as well as public transport efficiency. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’ s Public Works Department  proposed the concrete riverbank structure stretches, spanning 14km.  The main objective of the project area is to provide integrated health activities, and promote the use of bicycles in traffic. The motives included Sports, Recreation Travel and tourism as well as safe riverside scenic areas of the country. The concept and design of the construction on the river area  was to make a dam to prevent flooding and erosion.

Increasing the area for recreation by the river by seven-meter wide sidewalk construction through the seven kilometers along the two sides of the river. And activities which are open to the breathtaking scenery and will help address the shortage of public space for recreation in Bang Sue and Bang Phlat, Bangkok’s Dusit district.

Increasing pedestrian paths and bike lanes by building sidewalks and bike lanes wide, increasing choice of commuters that are convenient and safe to people living in nearby communities and help citizens traveling – out.

They derived the solution of encroachment on the Chao Phraya River along the two sides by demolishing buildings and structures that will help prevent intrusion and encroachment on the banks of Chao Phraya, which exactly will happen next.

On the other hand, the first phase of construction information indicated that 268 households had to be demolished because they were poaching the river. They are deemed to be among the first affected people. Boardwalk Chao Phraya on its 14 km of development will affect 24 communities, encroaching on the waterfront as defined by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. They have to discuss and listen to the views of all communities as well as public and private landowners. Not only lead and conclude on the indulgence of one community that is poaching and not ready to move out by law. The negative impact on communities along the Chao Phraya River with the construction along two sides of the river, which has a street-level +2.8 m and the dam’s flood +3.25 meters would obstruct openings or doors and windows of buildings and public space community, Throughout the Chao Phraya River, which is at ground level by an average of + 1 meter. Obstructing the flow of water and affect flooding in the upper area of the structure, it will reduce the ability to drain the water of the river. Converting the streets to automobile traffic which would be out of control.

The way along the two banks of the river are designed to have bike lanes wide, and is designed to recapture the spirit of travelling with the fourth lane on future adjustments that is going to affect the community as well as buildings and structures throughout the Chao Phraya River in the near future.

Due to present budget problems, the metropolitan authority have planned to shift their plans of incorporating a railway system on the same stretch of the river. The Chao Phraya River is the redundant and it can not be used as a supplement to the mass transit rail above. It would give rise to crime like drug dealing, rise in homeless people, Racing motorcycles, risking the stability of life on the river edge. Obstructing the views of the settlement, which includes palaces, temples and communities scattered along the two banks of the river. This settlement pattern is unique to Bangkok that is sustaining from a long period of time.  

On the other hand, the first phase of construction information indicating 268 households had to demolish the building because of poaching the river. They are deemed to be among the first affected people. Boardwalk Chao Phraya 14 km will affect 24 communities, not just one community to encroach on the waterfront by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to understand and try out repeatedly. They have to discuss and listen to the views of all communities as well as public and private landowners. Not only led to the indulgence of one community that poaching and ready to move out because law by forcing. The negative impact on communities along the Chao Phraya River with the construction along two sides of the river, which has a street-level +2.8 m and the dam’s flood +3.25 meters would obstruct openings or doors and windows of buildings and public space community. Throughout the Chao Phraya River, which is at ground level by an average of + 1 meter. Obstructing the flow of water XVI and affect flooding in the upper area of the structure along the two banks of the Chao Phraya River, which has a width of 19.5 meters, it will reduce the ability to drain the water of the river. Convert the streets to automobile traffic. By the way along the two banks of the river are designed to have bike lanes wide, 7 meters wide sidewalks 7 meters and the like island wide and three meters is designed to recapture the spirit of modifying a road to travel by car with the fourth lane to future adjustments will affect the community as well as buildings and structures throughout the Chao Phraya River in the future. Consumption budget to develop the transportation of Bangkok by the Chao Phraya River, along the two lines are parallel to the Blue Line rail transit system which is during the construction, and the Purple Line mass transit rail. , which is the next phase in the construction plans. The Chao Phraya River is the redundant and it can not be used as a supplement (Feeder System) to the mass transit rail above. Consumption personnel and budget for care and maintenance by the way, along the two banks of the Chao Phraya River flood protection flap 3.25 meters high and block access and visibility from the marketing community. It could be a crime Buying – selling drugs. The housing for the homeless. Racing motorcycles, which make personnel and budget for care and maintenance as well. Losing the settlement and scenery Chao Phraya River by way along the two sides of the Chao Phraya River is obstructed views the settlement, which includes palaces, temples and communities scattered along the two banks of the river. Lost the settlement pattern is unique to Bangkok that have been passed a long time.  

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