Conference Landscape, Water & Sustainability, 26-28 June 2008, EXPO Zaragoza
- “River, City and Landsacape, Which Synergies? “Roadmap” Towards the Rehabilitation of Urban
River and Riverfronts”, Maria da Graça Saraiva, Isabel Loupa Ramos, Fátima Bernardo, Lígia Vaz
RiProCiTy
ANTES DE CUMPLIMENTAR ESTE IMPRESO, POR FAVOR, LEA LAS NORMAS GENERALES E INSTRUCCIONES EN EL DOCUMENTO CON LA NORMATIVA DE LAS COMUNICACIONES
TITTLE: RIVER, CITY AND LANDSCAPE, WHICH SYNERGIES? ‘ROADMAP’ TOWARDS THE
REHABILITATION OF URBAN RIVERS AND RIVERFRONTS
AUTHORS: Maria Graça Saraiva*; Isabel L.Ramos*; Fátima Bernardo**; Lígia Vaz*
INSTITUTIONS: Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, UTL (FA/UTL, IST) e Universidade de Évora, UE
DIRECCIÓN DE CONTACTO: R. Leão de Oliveira, 10 R/C Esq. 1300-352 Lisboa, Portugal;
telef. +351 966773336; email - [email protected].
ÁREA TEMÁTICA: Ordenación del Paisaje, Landscape Planning
CATEGORÍA: Plan o Trabajo de Investigación, Research Project
RESUMEN - ABSTRACT
Key words – riverscapes, urban riverfront, landscape quality, sustainability, aesthetics, rehabilitation.
Based on the literature review about the role and contribution of water to landscape quality, we developed
distinct approaches regarding the mutual relationship of rivers and cities, its adjustment or disturbance,
synergy or degradation, since cultural trends from the past to the current paradigm of sustainability. Is it a
story of mutual enhancement and opportunities, or of degradation and loss of values?
Having in mind the current trend of waterfront rehabilitation, a research was undertaken about criteria that
influence asthetic quality of rivers in the urban context. This research has been conducted through three
dimensions, relevant to the considered context – the river, as the natural element, the city, as the cultural
and territorial environment, and the people, as the actors of social, percepcional and emotional lifestyles,
the users of contemporary riverfront interventions.
This approach was developed within two complementary research projects:
- the results of the participation on the European research project URBEM (Urban River Basin
Enhancement Methods – www.urbem.net), which aim was the comprehensive understanding of urban
river rehabilitation. It aimed the investigation of new tools, innovative techniques and improved procedures
to enhance watercourses in urban areas, and was developed between 2002 and 2005, ending with an
International Conference on Urban River Rehabilitation, held in Dresden, Germany. Within this project, the
team has developed a methodology for aesthetic evaluation of urban rivers, considering its potential for
urban rehabilitation of rivers and riverfronts.
- the research project “RiProCity - Rivers and Cities, opportunities for urban sustainability”, in progress
until 2009, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. This project focuses on the
study of city/river relationships to investigate opportunities for intervention in urban riverfronts, in ways that
would bring positive change towards sustainable development in fluvial cities, integrating social, economic,
environmental and institutional dimensions.
Based on the three main axis mentioned above – river, city and people –, the main attributes that
contribute to the aesthetic enhancement of the urban riverscapes were identified. These attributes were
considered relevant to the rehabilitation of the urban landscape and for the improvement of people’s
quality of life. Hydrological and biophysical characteristics of natural systems, urbanistic and spatial
parameters, as well as more intangible factors related with public perception, such as identity,
distinctiveness, restorative capacity, among others, were studied, looking into their contribution for the
enhancement of landscape quality and sustainability in urban riverfronts.
It is our intention to collect and organize a set of attributes and criteria that can build an inspiring
“roadmap” for rehabilitation projects for urban riverfronts. This “roadmap” is intended as a path to orientate
the creation of new landscapes of water in the city, as essential elements for a sustainable urban planning
and development towards the future.
Secretaría Técnica Jornadas PAISAJES_08: Paisaje, Agua y Sostenibilidad
PAISAJES_08, ETSIA, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n; 46022; Valencia (SPAIN)
WEB: www.paisajes08.com; Teléfono: (0034) 963879854; Fax: (0034) 963879855: e-mail: [email protected]