Recreational Quality of Urban Riverfronts: Why Design Matters? [Predavanje po pozivu]

Abstract

In planning and design theory, urban waterfronts are seen as special places that are vital for environmental, social and economic health and sustainability of cities. In contemporary practice, their development is therefore oriented towards activities that help develop better connections with nature, contribute to formation of new city image, and celebrate urban life. Enabling urban recreation in waterfront areas has been recognised as important for achieving these goals. But how we understand what urban recreation is, and why it is important for urban life and development, shapes how we define and evaluate its quality. We argue that for developing vital and healthy cities, recreational quality of urban waterfronts should be considered through three dimensions that reflect its nature and purpose: use, environmental and integrative dimensions. In this paper, specific segments of urban riverfronts in Belgrade are presented, their recreational quality is analysed and compared through the new framework, and is further related to their urban design characteristics. The research shows that urban design plays an active role in achieving recreational qualities of urban riverfronts, since it enables, supports or hinders actions and relations that can be made and re-made in urban space, by shaping its structure, elements and connections at different spatial scales.