The worlds iconic urban waterfronts Chicago, Barcelona, Sydney, Vancouver capture our

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1 3 Big Cities Get Waterfront Design Right Written by Stephanie Norton The worlds iconic urban waterfronts Chicago, Barcelona, Sydney, Vancouver capture our imaginations by creating energetic, mixed-use districts that extend the experience of the urban core literally to the water s edge. These waterfronts possess the elusive quality of being both of the city and yet magically apart from it. They share a common emphasis on their signature spaces the boardwalks, docks and parks that shoot off them, providing vibrant public gathering places while at the same time supporting a rich mix of cultural, commercial and residential uses. It s no wonder then that redeveloping in an urban waterfront environment poses many unique challenges and requires a collaborative approach to be successful. In this article, we take a look at 3 of the next great waterfronts. * * * * * * Hudson River Park is often overlooked by visitors as a must-see New York attraction. But for residents, the picturesque riverside park has quickly become an integral part of daily living. It provides a welcome alternative to heading uptown to Central Park, which until now, has been many NYC residents shared backyard. Even with the premium that New York real estate commands, city and state governments have successfully collaborated to preserve the waterfront for people. Recentlyhonored by the American Society of Landscape Architects for Innovative and Sustainable Design, the park stretches from 59 th Street all the way to Battery Park, and includes ten acres of open land and seven acres of recreational amenities. It is the largest park to undergo construction in Manhattan since Central Park was created in the 1850 s. Hudson RIver Park, New York City

2 The Hudson River Park experience is thoughtfully conceived to consider the needs of many, and artfully executed to deliver special moments along the way. The defining feature is an uninterrupted, 5 mile bike path adjacent to the highway with an additional path for running and walking along the water s edge. In between is surprisingly lush landscaping. A variety of plants and tall grass introduce texture and softness in strong contrast to the concrete and glass high rise buildings just across the street. A wooden esplanade makes you feel more like you re in the Hamptons than Manhattan, and contemporary wood benches shaded by trees, pictured above right, add just the right amount of urban sophistication. Each of the parks renovated piers is unique, designed to maximize the compact space, and hosts a range of recreational programming including soccer fields, children s play area, Manhattan s only waterfront beach volleyball courts, left, and an 18 hole mini-putt. There are splashes of color and patterns too, in the children s playground area, as well as brightening up the less beautiful concrete blocks along some of the piers. Hudson RIver Park, New York City The Yards, Washington, D.C. The Yards, Washington, D.C. The park and paths connect many key sites and landmarks including the World Trade Center site, Chelsea Piers, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, and Riverside Park, giving visitors a new and natural perspective on the Big Apple. In addition to the developments already

3 completed, plans are underway to redesign Pier 26 to include a community boathouse and restaurant as well as an Estuarium that will engage visitors in hands-on teaching of Hudson River ecology. * * * * * * After decades of neglect, Washington, D.C., is finally getting a green waterfront development to be proud of. The Yards, a 42-acre redevelopment along the Anacostia River, will comprise some 1.8 million square feet of office space, 400,000 square feet of retail and cultural spaces, 2,700 rental and for sale homes, and a significant riverfront park and esplanade. Boasting a prime location along a Metro line and just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, along with some excellent sustainable features, the project has already been certified gold under the LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot program. The design includes a range of green infrastructure features to manage rainwater. According to the planning and engineering firm Greening Urban, which worked on The Yards, these include a tree trench infiltration system to absorb water slowly from storm events, vertical recharge shafts that deliver runoff directly to the natural underground water table, smart irrigation and gray water systems for water recycling, and flow thru planter boxes that detain runoff before it enters the constructed storm water management system.

4 It s about time. For a city with two major rivers and miles and miles of waterfront, Washington residents have surprisingly poor access to the water. Most of the land along the rivers has historically been dedicated to military uses or reserved as large federal parks, such as the land around the Jefferson Memorial, far out of range of neighborhood walkability or easily accessible transit service. That s all going to change over the next decade, though, thanks to The Yards, as well as The Wharf, a similar project which will redevelop 47 acres of outdated commercial property stretched along the Channel in the city s Southwest quadrant. A highlight of the development already being enjoyed by the public is The Yards Park. Built by Forest City Washington, master developer of The Yards, in partnership with the city and federal governments, the park includes open grassy areas, a very cool and festive waterfall and fountain area with a wading pool, pictured above left, a riverfront boardwalk running the length of the park, a 200-foot steel pedestrian bridge, above, spanning a unique canal-like water feature, a terraced lawn performance venue for festival programming, recreational trails and riverside gardens. The park s design has won a number of awards, including a merit award from the New York chapter of The American Society of Landscape Architects, designation as best new public space by the Washington City Paper, and inclusion as

5 number 16 on the list of the top 100 public spaces in the U.S. and Canada in an online poll sponsored by the internet planning site Planetizen with the Project for Public Spaces. * * * * * * Waterfront Seattle is a partnership between the City of Seattle and the entire community to create a dynamic public waterfront encompassing 26 city blocks, which will one day become the civic heart of the City. The transformation of Seattle s waterfront is made possible by the need to replace the failing Alaskan Way Viaduct and Elliott Bay Seawall. In place of the Viaduct, the project hopes to create an exciting destination with vibrant public and cultural spaces, access to the water, and a new urban street that will accommodate all modes of travel and provide an important connection to the City s transportation system. Major redevelopment must wait until the Alaskan Way Viaduct is demolished, but the design team, led by landscape architect James Corner of James Corner Field Operations, noted for designing New York s High Line, already has some great ideas. Of course, open spaces and parks with great views of the Olympic mountain ranges are an integral part of the plan, as is a promenade that would stretch along the waterfront, perfect for walking, bicycling, rollerblading and more.

6 Some of the more creative ideas include a misting cloud, conceptualized above right, which people would walk through while descending to the waterfront. A system would spray mist or fog along the downward path leading to a flat plaza that sometimes would be covered by a quarter-inch deep reflecting pool. On warm days, it would become a water feature when jets embedded in the plaza get turned on and create places for children to play. Other preliminary concepts include a floating stage, an exposed seawall area where visitors would learn about estuarine ecology, a beached tugboat to entertain children and a "funicular, a cable railway that could move people between the waterfront and Union Street. Planners stress that none of the ideas are final and the plans will continue to evolve. Construction on the waterfront projects is slated to start in * * * * * As you can see, waterfronts provide designers with a unique natural opportunity to make a memorable urban place. Need more inspiration? Logon towww.caddetals.com today!