[Waterfronts] - Resource Guide

A waterfront is an incredible asset for any city and usually one of its most popular destinations. Waterfronts are where nature and urban life meet. They are beautiful, serene, and awe-inspiring, magical at sunset and sunrise and a joy to be in at any time in between. However, many cities have waterfronts that do not live up to their potential, due to a lack of amenities or an overwhelming amount of car presence. This is a great shame, because a waterfront is a treasure that shouldn't be buried.

We've written extensively about waterfronts over the years and their various features and benefits. We've highlighted the world's best waterfronts, given advice to ones that are underperforming but that carry great potential, and we've personally worked on revitalizing many of these great places. Below you will find our top articles on the subject. We hope they will offer helpful guidance and inspiration that you can apply to your city's waterfront and make it the best it can be.

Key Waterfront Features/Elements

A waterfront is greater than the sum of its parts. But the parts do matter. While nature itself takes centerstage when it comes to what makes a waterfront beautiful, the way this beauty is emphasized by amenities is important to making the experience of being at the waterfront an enjoyable one. A waterfront that attracts visitation and foot traffic is one that offers appealing places to stroll along, spots for food and refreshment, and options for shopping, play, and entertainment.

The Promenade

The backbone of a waterfront is the promenade – the street that runs parallel to the water. A successful promenade is one that is free of cars, that allows for continuous strolling, and that is flanked by interesting things to do, seating, refreshment, and beautiful things to marvel at.

Piers

A great place is made up of destinations and the connections between them. If we consider the waterfront promenade to be like a continuous set of connections, then the piers are the destinations. A waterfront's piers are great places to start revitalization initiatives because they can be filled with things to do and attractions to experience.

Food

There are few things that attract people to a place as much as food and refreshment. As with all public places that want foot traffic and visitation, waterfronts need to offer a variety of places where people can stop for a bite or a drink, ideally with outdoor seating so they can enjoy the beautiful views of the water.

Markets and Hubs

Walks and views are all well and good, but sometimes people want to do a little more when when they've made a trek down to the water. They want to explore stores, see artisans at work, go shopping, etc. The waterfront is therefore a perfect place to set up a market, and some of the world's most famous markets can be found by the water.

Great Waterfront Examples

The world is full of incredible waterfronts that deserve to be highlighted and emulated. From river banks to seaside boulevards and island edges, waterfronts come in all shapes and sizes. Each one is as unique as the city it's set in and the manner in which it is activated. Below you will find articles about some of our favorite waterfronts around the world.

Guides for Improving Waterfronts

Some waterfronts have great bones but are not performing at their full potential. For these cases, we have put together guidance and laid out plans to give revitalization efforts a fresh vision. Our advice is not limited to the waterfront named in each article. It can be applied anywhere.

Making the most of waterfronts

A waterfront is a blessing for any city. That said, it should not be left without tender love and care. Because a waterfront is such a treasure, it deserves to be seen and experienced by as many people as possible. That means it needs to be designed to be attractive and enjoyable to as many people as possible.

Waterfronts also provide a great opportunity for businesses to prosper because in exchange for offering interesting goods and experiences, businesses can benefit from the foot traffic that views of the water are known to attract. Making the most of a waterfront is one of the biggest opportunities that any city has and it should not be overlooked.

The mission of the Social Life Project is to incite a renaissance of community connection in public spaces around the globe. Through our online publication, presentations, campaigns, and catalytic projects, we can create transformative impact on communities everywhere. Our work grows out of more than 50 years devoted to building the global placemaking movement. It is an initiative of the Placemaking Fund, along with PlacemakingX — a global network of leaders who together accelerate placemaking as a way to create healthy, inclusive, and beloved communities.If you are interested in collaborating (articles, presentations, exhibits, projects, and more) or supporting the cause contact us.