Riverfront Development

Consideration of important parameters

Principles of Riverfront Development

• It feature the riverfront as the front door

• It showcase the river’s history
• It activate the riverfront
• It limits obstacles and connects to the river.
• It engages people with the water.
• It connect seamlessly along the riverfront and into
neighborhoods
• It repair and enhance the environment
• It employs high-quality architectural materials and
sustainable engineering practices.
Riverfront Development
 Physical Parameters of Riverfront
1. Water edge Management

• Physical parameters of riverfront development focus on the

physical aspects of riverfront directly linked to physical
environment of a region.
• Riverbanks, shorelines, riparian buffers, and river habitats are
critically important for planning any riverfront project.
• Maintenance of river bank, Flood control measures, Public
Streetscape, River walk are to be considered

In this context following Waterfronts are important

• Sabarmati Riverfront Development
• Kuching Waterfront, Malaysia
 Physical Parameters
2. Conservation of Architectural Heritage

• Habitat protection and restoration

• conservation of water in the river,
• Human/environmental connections, conservation and
development of land,
• Revitalizing the neighborhood and rise in the value of
properties, act as a catalyst for redevelopment and renewal
of nearby places.
In these contexts following RFD may be considered:
1. Princep Ghat, Kolkata, India
2. Ribeira Waterfront, Portugal
 Social Parameters
1. Sociability and accessibility
• Riverfronts can be leveraged for social benefit of local
communities by enhancing the Quality of Life through
interventions to upgrade health, sanitation, public
amenities and capacity building.
• Development of river based activities, Increase in real
estate values
• Development of existing economic activities and
Improvement in tourist activities have rendered great
economic impact in following RFD projects:

1. Brahmaputra Riverfront Development, Guwahati, Assam

2. GIFT City on Sabarmati river, Gujarat
 Social Parameters
2. Cultural Activities:
• A riverfront with the sense of community, festivity, artistic
expression, recreation, commercial bustle create positive
impacts from the following on urban social life which can be
better understood from the following RFD Projects
• the Kuching Waterfront on Sawarak River, Malaysia is 'self-
contained' with facilities for entertainment, refreshment,
relaxation, cultural enjoyment and arts appreciation.

• Varanasi RFD, Uttar Pradesh, India

• Tajan Riverfront, Sari, Iran
 Socio-economic Parameters
3. Tourism Management :
• Development of tourism by offering a variety of
attractions like water sports, entertainment arenas,
parks, shopping areas, etc.
• Creation of jobs- a place to host commercial activities.
• Source of revenue for government –shops, restaurants,
sport activities, Transportation, boating, etc.
• These may be critically interpreted through following
WFD projects:
1. Southbank RFD, London
2. Kuching Waterfront on Sawarak River, Malaysia
 Socio-economic Parameters
4. Recreational :

• The place of community gathering. parks, gardens,

picnic areas, walking, cycling and water related activities
including boating, fishing, etc. play important roles for
rejuvenation of urban life.
• Related WFD are:

1. Kankaria Lakefront, Ahmadabad, Gujarat

2. Millennium Park, Kolkata, India
 Environmental/Ecological Parameters
1. Urban Waste Management:

• Automated Waste Collection System (AWS) - chute system

• Minimum Human Intervention
• Minimize space requirement
• Minimize impact on health
• Waste sucked through pipes at a speed of 90 km/hr
• Waste Treatment through Plasma Technology
• Above mentioned objectives can be achieved through RFD
alike following projects:

1. Pujali Hooghly Riverfront Amusement park, Kolkata, India

2. GIFT City on Sabarmati river, Gujarat
 Environmental/Ecological Parameters
2. Water purification and distribution:

• Rapid urbanization , rampant encroachments in the river area

and its catchment areas, dumping of sewage, industrial
waste water and solid waste converted many rivers to a
Nallah.
• Out of 3119 towns and cities, just 209 have partial sewage
treatment facilities.
• Wastewater treatment plant market is growing @ 10 to 12
percent annually and Govt. of India is continues on its path of
reform sewage treatment plants.
1. Dravyavati River Project (TATA), Jaipur
2. GIFT City on Sabarmati river, Gujarat
 Environmental/Ecological Parameters
3. Ecological impacts and Sustainability

• Sustainable waterfront development lead to improved living

conditions for the city`s inhabitants.
• Ecological, economical and social goals have to be
combined in a sustainable waterfront.
• It strengthens and celebrates the beauty, the diversity, the
economic vitality, the opportunities, the creativity, the
heritage, and the natural environment of the city.
1. Dravyavati River Project (TATA), Jaipur
2. Pujali Hooghly Riverfront Amusement park, Kolkata, India
3. GIFT City on Sabarmati river, Gujarat
 Important Waterfront for Case study and Desktop Study
(Physical Parameters)
1. Sabarmati Riverfront Ahmadabad, India
• Construction period 2005 – 2012.
• The major objectives of project are environment improvement, social
infrastructure and sustainable development.
2. Kuching Waterfront, Malaysia
• lines the south bank of Sarawak River,
• major restoration and land reclamation project
3. Prinsep Ghat, Kolkata, India
• built in 1841 during the British Raj, along the bank of the Hooghly River
• This is a majestic structure famous for its Greek/ Gothic inlays,
• Famous for habitat protection and restoration -conservation of water
4. Ribeira Waterfront, Proto, Portugal
• Listed as Unesco’s World Heritage
• Conservation of Architectural Heritage on river bank - the labyrinthine
narrow streets and the picturesque houses.
 Important Waterfront for Case study and Desktop Study
(Social Parameters)
1. Brahmaputra Riverfront Development, Guwahati, Assam
• The Masterplan covers the entire riverfront extending over a 20 km
• Linkages from the city to the riverfront and restructuring land use
• Development of cultural precinct in the Government areas
• Revitalisation of the river ecology and Strengthening of riverbanks
• Buildings for social infrastructure-museums, art gallery, conservatory,
conference facilities, youth centre and Local produce markets
2. GIFT City on Sabarmati river, Gujarat
• Located in the state of Gujarat, between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar,
on the bank of river Sabarmati,
• Perennial Water Front ensured through construction of three barrages on
river Sabarmati,
• Recycling and Reuse of Wastewater, Rainwater Harvesting.
• Solid Waste Management, District Cooling System, Utility Tunnel
Important Waterfront for Case study and Desktop Study
(Environmental/Ecological Parameters)
1. Dravyavati River Project (TATA), Jaipur :
• The first-of-its-kind river rejuvenation activity
• Dravyavati River Project will oversee the amortization of 170 Million Liters per Day
(MLD) polluted water
• more than 100 fall structures constructed to turn this rain fed river to a perennial
river.
2. Pujali Hooghly Riverfront Amusement park, Kolkata, India
• Thermal power station solid waste and urban waste are management plant is
converted to an amusement park here
• A water treatment plant is running to meet up the urban needs of drinking water
3. GIFT City on Sabarmati river, Gujarat:
• Sewage generated will be treated in Sewage treatment plant (STP) of 50 MLD
capacity.
• Fully Automated waste collection system (AWCS) for collection & transportation of
waste.
• Recycling centres for material recovery
• Problems of odour, garbage piling are eliminated, thereby improving hygiene
• Human contact with MSW is minimized
Important Waterfront for Case study and Desktop Study
(Sustainability Parameter)
1Toronto waterfront: 20 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5J 2N8, Canada
• It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west, and the
Rouge River in the East.
• It is mandated to deliver a revitalized waterfront.
• Formally created in 2001, Waterfront Toronto has a 25-year mandate to transform
800 hectares (2,000 acres) of Brownfield lands on the waterfront into beautiful,
sustainable mixed-use communities and dynamic public spaces
• It brings together the most innovative approaches to sustainable development,
excellence in urban design, real estate development, and advanced technology
infrastructure.
2. Auckland Waterfront, New Zealand
• This predominantly rural area has transformed into a predominantly urban
population with a diverse range of activities.
• It is the largest urban area in New Zealand
• It aims to have 70% of trips made by walking, cycling, or public transport, fostering
a healthier lifestyle for residents.
• This waterfront redevelopment will contribute $4.29 billion to Auckland’s economy
and support 20,000 new full-time jobs in the city