Waterfront

Landscapes

Waterfront
Landscapes

CONTENTS

Promenades

4 Preface

6 Promenade Samuel-De Champlain

12 Dover Esplanade

18 Surfers Paradise Foreshore Redevelopment

24 Mooloolaba Foreshore Stage 2

30 Vinars Promenade

34 Schloss Promenade on Lake Burgsee

Waterfront Squares

38 National Harbour

44 Tjuvholmen, Oslo
Tjuvholmen
50 Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu

56 Old/New Harbour Bremerhaven

/
62 Riva Split Waterfront

68 Elwood Foreshore

72 Storaa Stream

76 The Blue Square

82 Erie Street Plaza

86 The CityDeck Phase I

188 General Maister Memorial Park

90 Sjvik Square

192 Sam Fiszman Park

96 Mendelssohnufer River Bank

198 Rhine Park, Duisburg

102 New White Tower Square

204 Barcelos Fluvial Park

108 Rheinauhafen Cologne

208 Appel Park

Appel

116 Aalborg Waterfront

214 Sandgrund Park

122 Sonnenbrcke Nord

220 Volmepark Hagen

128 Stadthafen Schleswig

132 Wasserplatz Kiel

228 Clinton Cove Park, Segment 7,

Hudson River Park

138 Tel Aviv Port Public Space Regeneration

234 Riverside Park South

144 Waterfront Toronto

240 Sugar Beach

Waterfront Parks

150 Southeast False Creek

156 Ballast Point Park

162 Erie Basin Park

168 Mangfallpark Rosenheim

174 Sydney Pirrama Park

Pirrama
182 East Side Park

246 HtO
HtO
252 Southport Broadwater Parklands

258 Los Angeles Waterfront

264 Ipswich River Heart Parklands

270 Index

PREFACE

Washed Ashore Infinite Opportunities

Thomas Balsley

Education:
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture SUNY
Syracuse
Bachelor of Science at Syracuse University
Registration:
Registered Landscape Architect
National CLARB Certification
Affiliations:
ASLAFellow
AIAHonorary Member
GSANational Register of Peer Professionals
Institute of Urban Design
Urban Land Institute
Landscape Architecture Foundation

Having arrived in New York City to launch my studio in 1970, I was

appalled with the state of the world's greatest city's waterfront;
rotting piers and inaccessible post-industrial sites were severed from
the city by ribbons of highway. Sound familiarCountless cities across
the globe have suffered a similar state of neglect. Recent public
demand for waterfront accessibility, coupled with development
pressure, has led to a rediscovery, reclamation and revitalisation
movement. In some cases, with minimal regulations, environmental
c o n t ro l s o r p u b l i c a p p ro v a l s , s o m e g o v e r n m e n t s p o n s o re d
development plans have brought about extraordinary waterfront
parks seemingly overnight. Other waterfronts, however, have moved
at what seemed to be a glacial pace.
After many failed attempts to redevelop an extraordinary 65-acre
Manhattan rail yard site on the Hudson River, our team proposed a
plan for Riverside Park South in which a 26-acre park would be the
sites centerpiece. The park plan was approved in 1991 yet only had
its first water edge phases completed in 2008! Unbelievably, a core
element of the plan, the relocation of an elevated highway that
visually divides the community and upland park from the river, is still
mired in a bureaucratic morass and likely to be years away from
completion. Across town, Brooklyn Bridge Park, first conceived nearly
20 years ago, only had its first phase completed in 2010. Its clear,
designing waterfronts is not for the faint-hearted or impatient, but the
payoff is spectacular!
Today, the landscape urbanism and water front reclamation
movements are inextricably linked and are now as inevitable as the
rising sun. Signifying shared values and cultural ambition, waterfronts
provide a unique lens by which the viewer, depending on their
position, is able to see across a seemingly intimate expanse.Perhaps
its the dialogue between oppositional environs, or simply the feeling
of being against a great precipice constantly in motion, that brings
a magical attraction to waterfronts. Whether its the offer of land or
water, refuge or prospect, here or there; it stirs the emotions. These
aqueous edges create one-of-a-kind experiences, which in turn
provide transactions that can be both innate and otherworldly.
As the waterfront movement has gained momentum, expectations
have risen. Whereas 25 years ago, we might have been satisfied with
simply staking a claim at the waters edge and forging a few informal
trails, todays educated public demands truly remarkable civic
gestures that strike dramatic poses on the edges of our cities and
define our future aspirations as a society.The design of contemporary
public landscapes requires both sensitivity to context and the ability
to convey, often with clarity and restraint, qualities that are most
special. Indexing a site, and specifically the ways in which recreation,
art, architecture, and culture interact with the natural world within
both near and broader geographic contexts, allows one to create a
new alchemy of space.
As plural environments, the design of waterfront parks requires a
dynamic process involving collision and collaboration.Thisrich
plurality presents the greatest opportunity to form singular, largescale transformations where landscape, infrastructure, and urbanism
are woven into a unified whole.More than seams between city and
water, these sites are metaphorical links between our past, present
and future. In order to avoid monotony these linear landscapes most
often require the definition of distinct zones that have the ability to
treat individual areas like episodes in a narrative while providing
breathing room for the in-between. Encoded in these delightfully
episodic waterfront systems are the collective ambitions of the local

communities through which they pass as is evident in the design

for the Promenade Samuel-de Champlain. Recounting the coastal
environs and the local timber industry, this highly expressive park 1970

repurposes a waterfront site and conveys a history unique of place

through a contemporary design language, much in the same way

that Riverside Park South takes on a rich narrative about the co-
existence of rail systems and waterfronts in the industrialised city.

To change the paradigm of what a waterfront should be often 65

involves moving constituents away from their initial ideas of a single 2619912008
purpose site and into a dialogue about the contemporary culture of
public open spaces. The choice need not be past or future, active
or passive; it can be all, a richly layered space, regenerative and 202010
resilient, springing to life by inviting human and natural processes

to co-exist.Registering deeply in the psyche of the visitors, these

types of landscape typologies enrich the visitor experience, forging

stewards of the resilient ecological systems where land meets
water. Southport Broadwater Parklands is a project that features an
extensive co-mingling of ecology and social systems, evoking both 25
native ecosystems and regional cultural landscapes.The site gives
vast acreage to natural processes while maximising its value to the

visitor and community.

While many waterfronts are fast becoming large scale sculptures
that often appear as no more than one-liners, the question deserves

asking; Will these landscape sculptures have enough public input

to be the truly democratic spaces that endure the test of time

Having chaired the competition jury that selected HtO Park, I offer
an unequivocal yes. Urban waterfronts need not feel as if they are
obligated to recreate a Garden of Eden detached from natural
history; instead the new waterfront can design with nature, allowing
natural processes to melded with cultural expressiveness, and remain
relevant and accessible while also preserving the transcendent
quality of the open space. These expressive spaces draw crowds,
add iconography to cities desperate for character, and capture

the public imagination by remixing the familiar in new and

unexpected ways. To sustain this success, contemporary designers

have embraced a process in which outreach, stakeholders and
collaboration are valued as vital components of this design process,
along with art and innovation.

Water fronts continually evolve, moving through phases and HtO

meanings.Whereas many waterfronts were originally developed as
industrial zones that drove urban growth, their purpose is changing.
The financing of this transformation is also moving away from
private or public entities into public/private partnerships where their

motivations and end-goals are more varied than ever before. A

complicated weave (and sometimes conflict) of natural ecology,

tourism, culture, leisure, transport, security, and politics is taking hold
and their boundaries are becoming more obscure. Notions of global
sustainability are manifesting themselves on the shores of every
coast. The opportunities are infinite.

Its clear from this books extraordinary curation of waterfronts of all

shapes and sizes that the door of design opportunity opened wide for
these designers and they have stormed in! What designers, sponsors
and advocates do with this newfound public trust and artistic freedom 21

should be of collective concern to the design community. Will we

overextend our design muscles again at the expense of public

benefit and urbanism goals, similar to the mid-century modernist

20117
architecture movement that lost public support, or will we fuse our
design passions with the 21st century principles of environmental and
social sustainability
Thomas Balsley, FASLA
New York, July 2011

~

Location : Quebec, Canada Designer : Daoust Lestage Inc., Williams Asselin

Ackaoui, Option Amnagement Photographer: Marc Cramer Length: 2.5 km
linear Completion date: 2008
DAOUST LESTAGEWAAOption
2.5 2008

6
3

10 11 12
13

5
4

1. Quai des Cageux/Pavilion/Tower

2. Coastal Promenade/Marsh/Bridge
3. Bois Tequenonday/Stair Way/Pavilion
4. Quai No.5/Rest Area
5. Intersection/Rest Area
6. Soccer Field/Pavilion
7. Intersection/Rest Area
8. Quai No.10
9. Quai de Brumes
10. Quai des Flots
11. Quai des Hommes
12. Quai de Vents
13. Relocated Champlain Boulevard

1.Cageux//
2.//
3.Tequenonday//
4.5/
5./
6./
7./
8.10
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Award description:
2010 Mdaille du Gouverneur Gnral en Architecture
2009 Award of Excellence lOrdre des Architectes du Qubec
Category Urban Design
2009 Urban Leadership Award, Canadian Urban Institute Category
City Renewal
2009 National Honorable Mention, CSLA Awards Category Design
2009 Best of Jury of Project Management Institute PMI Montreal
2008 Best of Category Award National Post Design Exchange
Awards Category Urban Design and Landscapes Architecture

2010
2009
2009
2009
2009
2008

Promenade Samuel-De Champlain

The project reclaims a neglected infrastructural fringe into a generous
public, leisure oriented naturalised environment, thus reactivating the
citys access to St. Lawrence River and revitalising its shoreline.
Drawing on the sites unique past and genius loci, the project
uncovers and showcases vestiges of natural and coastal heritage,
while balancing the soft, luscious coastline greenery with the
evocative artificial landscape.
The sinuous 2.5 kilometres course of the Promenade consists of a
continuous leisurely river boardwalk and a rythmed sequence of four
diverse thematic gardens. Each of these singular, dense landscape
attractors captures and magnifies the material and poetic qualities
of local coastal environment. They celebrate the mist, the wind and
the sensory pleasures of water, as well as the memory of docklands'
archetypes.
The rich, sublime atmospheres and textures are materialised as much
with stone boulders, timber assemblies and corten steel thresholds, as
with native plants and trees, and as with vapour haze, thick shade,
mellow light glows and water reflections.
Immersed into an all-encompassing green tide, the gardens are
linked by a pedestrian and bicycle path, acting as the projects
connecting spine.
The urban furniture, specifically designed for this project, maintains
the robust simplicity of maritime, harbour heritage, paramount
to this sites genius loci. The linear rhythm of benches and lights is
complemented by freely disposed furniture, dotting the landscape
as rafts in the sea of greenery.
The projects underlying, yet seamless achievement is its strong
contribution to the restoration of the uniquely rich and diverse, albeit
fragile coastal eco-system, and to the renewed accessibility of the
river.

2.54

Right: Quai des Hommes

~

Upper left: Promenade layered textures

Lower left: Shelter in wood cladding
Upper right: Quai des vents wind structure
Lower right: Quai des flots water wall

10~11

Left: Quai des Flots Ice-brake patterns

Upper right: Quai des Flots water walls, waves and ice-brake patterns
Lower right: Quai des Flots wood raft

12~13

Location: Kent, Great Britain Designer: Tonkin Liu Photographer: Robert Polley
and Mike Tonkin Completion date: 2010 Site area: 6,000 sqm
Tonkin Liu 2010
6,000

4
1

5
2
6

1. Lifting Wave
2. Resting Wave
3. Lighting Wave
4. Oak Weathered Benches
5. Sculpted Grass Mounds
6. Shingle Garden with Indigenous Plants
7. Existing Pavilion Retained
8. Sea Sports Centre

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Dover Esplanade
The Dover Esplanade harnesses the architectural language of
Dover's identity; the gentle nature of waves on the sheltered beach,
the rhythmical sweep of the Georgian Seafront Terrace and the
undulating topography of the White Cliffs of Dover. The creation of
three new waves brings a new interactive dynamism to esplanade.
The Lifting Wave is a repeated formation of sculptural ramps and
staircases made of pre-cast white concrete that rise and fall to
connect the Esplanade to the lower shingle beach. The Lifting Wave
combines ramps formed of miniature steps that create a lightcatching textured surface. The gentle ramps both allow access for all
and the sinuous line brings dynamic forms to the beach.
The Resting Wave is a sculptural retaining wall that runs the length
of the Esplanade, providing bay spaces with seating sheltered from
the south-westerly wind and orientated towards the sun. The Resting
Waves form tilts back and forth in a system of convex and concave
forms. Undulating raised lawns follow the curving line of the wall
providing a setting for picnics.
The Lighting Wave is a sculptural line of white columns with artwork
that complements the sweeping form of the sea wall and terrace,
bringing improved amenity lighting and programmed lighting
sequences to the Esplanade. Along the length of the Esplanade
the columns rise and fall like the froth on the bubbling crest of a
wave. The interactive low-energy LED lights have been specifically
programmed to create a dynamic wave movement, bringing a
sense of delight to the seafront.

LED

Award description:
2011 Royal Institute of British Architects Award

2011

Right: Resting Wave and Lighting Wave

14~15

Upper left: Panoramic view of Dover Esplanade

Lower left: The interactive low-energy LED lights have been specifically programmed to
create a dynamic wave movement
Upper right: The Lifting Wave is a repeated formation of sculptural ramps and staircases
Lower right: The Lifting Wave combines ramps that create a light-catching textured
surface

LED

16~17

Left: The Lighting Wave complements the sweeping form of the sea wall and terrace
Upper right: Benches along sculptural retaining wall providing bay spaces with seating
Lower right: Undulating raised lawns follow the curving line of the wall

18~19

Location: Queensland, Australia Designer: PLACE Design Group Photographer:

Gold Coast City Council Completion date: 2011 Site area: 27,000 sqm
2011
27,000

2
1

2
3 5

7
5

1. Soft Green Edge to Park Zones

2. Toilet
3. Beach Shelter, BBQ & Art Element
4. Dune Area Low Planting & Existing Trees
5. Lifeguard Tower
6. First Aid Room
7. SLSC Equipment Storage

2
1

3 5

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Surfers Paradise Foreshore

Redevelopment

Surfers Paradise has iconic status in Australia as a playground for vast

numbers of locals and tourists of all different ages, interests, cultures
and backgrounds. It is a place for fun in the sun, splashing in the surf or
simply relaxing in the shade and watching the world go by. The design
intent for Surfers Foreshore is to create a dynamic and vibrant public
promenade beachfront experience that befits its iconic status.
The site incorporates three distinct zones an urban plaza, urban
beach and urban park. The urban plaza is the central area,
consisting of a 20m wide pedestrian promenade and bikeway, with
seating and a shared vehicular and pedestrian zone.
The urban plaza zone includes terraces, ramps and stairs leading
to the beach. The beach volleyball courts include broad terraced
beachfront spectator seating. The urban park zones incorporate
grassed areas, large quantities of existing retained trees, picnic
tables, barbecues, beach shelters, beachfront markets and on street
parking.
A key principle of the overall design is about access to the beach
it is what it is all about. At each street end node beach goers are
provided with a clear view and outlooks over the beach, shelter
towers, toilets, showers and wide staircases and ramps providing
direct access to the beach destination.
Beach towers and viewing build outs have been positioned along
the entire frontage of the Esplanade. All of the beach towers and
toilet blocks contain large super graphic images depicting the
changing scenes of Surfers through history.

20

Upper right: Access to the beach - the genius loci of the

place is paramount
Lowe right: Picnic furniture and BBQs are the essential part
of the infrastructure

20~21

Upper: Clearly identifiable nodes at the adjacent street ends assist with user legibility and
interface with the beach.
Lower left: The area affords a significant vista to the beach, as well as being available for
public events and celebrations
Lower right: Beachfront showers have been placed in strategic locations so the
experience of showering is part of the animation: on a platform with a view of the beach

22~23

Left: A key principal of the design was accessibility for all, with extensive ramps for variety
of access
Upper right: Super-graphic imagery of historical surfers paradise photos on shade
structures and public amenities have been used to animate the structures and provide a
lively sense of cultural heritage for this iconic place
Lower right: A key emphasis of the design is about a clear interface with the beach and
the provision of facilities for the enjoyment of all

24~25

Location: Queensland, Australia Designer: PLACE Design Group Photographer:

Aperture Photography Completion date: 2007 Site area: 2,800 sqm
2007
2,800

2
1

1. Central Beach Stairs

2. Equitable Access Ramps
3. Upgraded Barbeque Terrace with Tables
and Shelters
4. Lower Picnic Terrace with Tables
5. Toddler Playground

5
3
4

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Mooloolaba Foreshore Stage 2

PLACE Design Group was engaged by the client Sunshine Coast
Council to provide design development and construction
documentation, landscape architectural services for the beachfront
park adjacent to the popular Mooloolaba Sur f Club on the
Esplanade. The park is a compact foreshore park which experiences
concentrated and focused use and demand by residents and visitors
alike. The brief was to provide an innovative, creative and functional
design in keeping with the established strategic direction and vision
for the area.
The design needed to capture the essence of the Mooloolaba
style which required sensitive manipulation of existing levels and
integration of established trees. Coastal She-Oak, Pandanus
and Nor folk Pines were retained as essential character and
shade elements throughout the parkland. Community and visitor
expectations and the demand for a balance between different uses
and their space requirements including pathways, BBQ areas, lawns,
tables, a playground, beach showers and seating were considered
in detail.
Several design options were investigated during the design
development phase, based upon multiple-use principles to maximise
the potential of the limited space. To protect the existing trees, decks
were designed over the existing root zones ensuring a continuity of
character and protection of these important assets. The resulting
space is heavily utilised by the public and has been a very successful
project.

Right: Pedestrian and cycle pathway with water fountains

along the way

26~27

Left: Beach access and pedestrian pathway

Upper right: Roodside pedestrian and pathway with beach views
Lower right: Etched artwork panel by Sunshine Coast Council on stair railings

28~29

Upper left: Bar style seating looks out to the ocean

Lower left: Equitable access ramp
Upper right: Picnic tables amongst green space, elevated to see the beach below
Lower right: Pedestrian and cycle pathway

30~31

Location: Vinars, Castelln, Spain Designer: Guallart Architects Photographer:

Guallart Architects Completion date: 2009 Site area: 3,400 sqm
2009
3,400

1. Trees
2. Buildings
3. Street Lamps
4. Car Parking Entrance

1
1.
2.
3.
4.

Vinars Promenade
Reform of the seafront promenade, as the interface between the
centre of the town and the sea, offered a great opportunity for a
public initiative to define the desired standards of urban quality for
future growth.
The main decision here was to transform the entire promenade into
an area for pedestrian use, in order to take full advantage of the
places latent tourist and civic potential, restricting vehicle access for
loading and unloading to certain times of the day, and allowing freer
access out of season, when this is compatible with the reduced level
of pedestrian activity. The structure of the towns road system is such
that traffic in the part closest to the port could be routed behind
the buildings on the streets parallel to the promenade. However,
the absence of any such parallel streets in the central and northern
sectors prompted the decision to construct a tunnel between the
end of the promenade and the 250-place car park to be laid out
beneath the central plaza.
It was also decided to eliminate the concrete wall separating
the beach from the promenade to enable the whole area to be
perceived as a continuous space composed of a variety of materials.
Another significant decision was that the promenade, which at
present has an irregular topography, should have a constant level
that would set off its eight-hundred metre horizontal line against the
natural line of the seas horizon. This serves to resolve the difference in
level between the beach and the promenade by means of a system
of tiers that can be occupied in a variety of ways.

250

800

Right: General view of the promenade

32~33

Upper left: Aerial view of the promenade

Lower left: Playing area for the children
Upper right: Paving details on the promenade
Lower right: Sculpture, trees and street lamps

34~35

L o c a t i o n : S c h w e r i n , G e r m a n y D e s i g n e r : H F N E R / J I M E N E Z B ro f r
Landschaftsarchitektur Photographer: Hanns Joosten Completion date: 2008
Site area: 5,400 sqm
HFNER / JIMENEZ 2008
5,400

1. Palace
2. Historic Gardens
3. Gardens of the 21 Century
4. Burgsee
5. Schloss Promenade
6. Graf-Schack-Allee

1.
2.
3.21
4.
5.
6.

Schloss Promenade on Lake

Burgsee

The Graf-Schack-Allee and the Schloss-promenade on Lake Burgsee

form one of the most prominent entryways to the inner city of
Schwerin. A new concept for the Schlosspromenade has been
called for in the context of the National Landscape Exhibition, the
Bundesgartenschau, to be held in 2009. HFNER / JIMENEZ Bro fr
Landschaftsarchitektur designed for this 992,195 Euro project.
The street and the promenade are a spatial unit and the completion
of the historic old town to the Lake Burgsee towards. Similar to a
mediterranean beach promenade, allee and promenade are able
to absorb the resulting traffic flows, but to also serve as place to stay.
Areas of fear can be avoided by the openness of the promenade
and increased its attractiveness.
The promenade is underlined as the balcony of the city by a wall
ledge from which Lake Burgsee, the gardens of the 21 th Century
and of course the Palace can be observed in all their splendor. At
this level, the effect of the views to the water surface and to the
opposite shore, are reflected in a calm, reserved fashion. All in all it is
a timeless, unpretentious landscape with low up-keep requirements
and future value.
The wall edge is on account of the difficult foundation soil at the
lakeshore, both constructive and creative element. The balcony on
the promenade provides the quality of stay. The clear edge of the
promenade stages the Schwerin Castle. The planting between the
promenade and the Graf-Schack-Allee has been adapted to this
place.

2009HFNER / JIMENEZ
992,195

21

Right: Planting along the promenade

36~37

Upper left: View to the castle

Lower left: Wall edge
Upper right: Promenade and the lake view
Lower right: Cycling on the promenade

38~39

Location: Maryland, USA Designer: Sasaki Associates Photographer: Craig

Kuhner, Ed Wonsek Completion date: 2008 Site area: 1,214,057 sqm
Sasaki 2008
1,214,057

5
1

1. Marina
2. National Plaza
3. The Balcony
4. American Way
5. National Gateway

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

National Harbour
National Harbour is a mixed-use complex located along the
Potomac River just south of Washington, DC. While convenient to key
tourist sites, National Harbour is a resort and convention destination
that offers an alternative to the urban experience of Washington
proper.
The project is evocative of the regions great urban places such as
Georgetown, Annapolis, Maryland and the Baltimore Inner Harbour.
The vehicular entrance to National Harbour called the National
Gateway is designed to provide a sense of transition and arrival.
Motorists pass through a monumental gateway portal featuring a
site-specific sculpture by Albert Paley, across a series of cobblestone
paving bands and under the dappled light of a densely planted
birch grove before arriving at the projects urban street grid.
A major pedestrian thoroughfare called Grand Avenue, inspired by
Barcelonas famed Las Ramblas, establishes the primary spine for the
project. Defined by an allee of majestic plane trees, Grand Avenue
showcases multiple iconic fountains, numerous pieces of public art,
and a series of small-scale vendor kiosks. The colour and texture of
the avenues paving set the stage for its terminus a waterfront
plaza which steps down to a natural sandy beach along the
Potomac. Both this avenue and the waterfront plaza are designed
as flexible spaces capable of hosting the activities of daily life while
also accommodating major festivals. These key urban spaces are
framed by retail storefronts and restaurants, promoting both street
activity and urban interaction.

Right: Rising from the banks of the Potomac River in Prince

Georges County, Maryland, National Harbor is a mixed-used
development

40~41

Upper left: A granite staircase - lined with public art and flags - steps down to the
National Plaza, the beach, and the River
Lower left: Granite furnishings and paving signal pedestrian priority at key intersections
Upper right: A stream of visitors arrives at National Harbour from the water taxi service
from Alexandria
Lower right: A dining terrace along the plaza overlooks the River

42~43

Upper left: American Way, the projects unifying spine, takes inspiration from the great
streets of the world like the Ramblas in Barcelona
Lower left: Visitors arriving by water enter the projects signature plaza, lined with diverse
entertainment and retail uses
Upper right: Public art - here two eagles atop poles and a terrazzo map of the
Chesapeake Bay - provide a gateway between American Way and the Potomac River
Lower right: Lined with retail, seating, lush planting, custom furnishings and a series of
fountains, the American Way provides a shady place to shop, watch and relax

44~45
Tjuvholmen
Location: Oslo, Norway Designer: Bjrbekk & Lindheim AS Photographer:
Bjrbekk & Lindheim AS Completion date: 2010 Site area: 1,785 sqm
Bjrbekk & Lindheim Bjrbekk & Lindheim
2010 1,785

7
6

1. Traffic Area
2. Arrival Area and a Water Fountain
3. Wooden Wharf and Outdoor Restaurants
and Cafs
4. Wharf along the Canal
5. Small Park with Undulated Lawn and Trees
6. Open Area with a View towards the Oslo
Fortress and the Sea
7. Central Square
8. Central Pedestrian Street

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Tjuvholmen, Oslo
Oslo's waterfront, now called the Fjord City, is under transformation
with the implementation of a comprehensive plan under the
auspices of the local gover nment of Oslo. The harbour and
waterfront area have been released to open up the city to the
water front and free the area for the development of a futureoriented urban environment.
The essence of urban planning for Tjuvholmen is defined by the
promenade along the water front from City Hall and from the
neighbouring district of Aker Brygge, which was transformed from
a shipping wharf into a dynamic commercial and residential area
between 1980 and 1990. Tjuvholmen is the end point of urban
development along the waterfront to the southwest.
The street network of the district is laid out in a fan shape creating
changing patterns of sunshine throughout the day. The terrain on
Odden has deliberately been created with the highest point at
the central square, Olav Selvaag Place. Three water features and
a central tree create character with water features representing
waters different characteristics: a still pond in massive dark granite,
a fountain with six water jets and a third feature of rippling, splashing
water inside a hollow pillar of rhomb porphyry. Water runs from the
fountains in channels through the streets towards the fjord.
Street furnishing, lighting, planters for trees and edge stones offset
height difference and are consciously designed so that they provide
positive aesthetic touches and offer seating and places to dwell. The
goal of the project, to create a varied and rich urban experience
reflected in buildings and the urban structure, lies at the core of the
wish to create a peaceful and cohesive street and floor plan. A solid
floor in light tones was designed. The final floor materials consist of
granite and concrete with steel elements moulded in. The use of
these materials was chosen to reflect the history of the area with
elements from the original pier and industrial communities.

19801990

63

Right: Water features in the square

46~47

Upper left: Olav Selvaags square

Lower left: Granite stair and wooden deck
Upper right: Wooden wharf and outdoor restaurants and cafs
Lower right: Details of the water feature

48~49

Upper left: Small park with undulated lawn and trees

Upper right: Wharf along the canal
Upper right: Concrete stairs
Lower right: Little beach

50~51

Location: Tokyo, Japan Designer: EARTHSCAPE Photographer: Koji Okumura/

Forward Stroke, Shigeki Asanuma Completion date: 2006 Site area: 67,499 sqm
EARTHSCAPE 2006
67,499

2
3

1
4
5
6

1. Wave Garden
2. Memorial Dock
3. Kids Wave
4. Dock
5. Dog Run
6. View Terrace Seat
7. Industrial Heritage

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu

In the early 16th century, when people still didn't have a complete
understanding of world geography, European global expansion
and the Age of Exploration began. Subsequent discoveries of
new seaways and new continents played a large role in Europe's
development after that. Skip to the 21 st century, Tokyo Bay Area,
Toyosu, the shipyards once in this area also provided "discoveries"
to the people of the world through the ships they produced. Now,
this location will be reborn as new landscape that provides new
discoveries.
The plan for this project considers the entire landscape as an ocean,
and the people who travel through the area as voyagers. This site
was previously a shipyard, and this project will be constructed by
reclaiming two old docks. Three waves of "green," "water," and
"earth" are layered over the reclaimed land, with a cafe, radio
station, and museum scattered throughout to resemble several
"islands," and white benches with foam and coral motifs floating
above the waves. Voyagers travel freely through the space,
experiencing new discoveries and encounters, sometimes letting
their bodies be swept in the current, and sometimes navigating
through with purpose. The overall vision of the landscape in this
project was to create opportunities for a wide array of discoveries
and encounters including new lifestyle discoveries, a rediscovery
of Tokyo, and a discovery of new places of interest while working
within the parametres of a symbolic background of the old shipyards,
from which the entirety of Tokyo Bay can be seen, as well as a
contemporary city setting and Toyosu.
16
21

Award description:
2007 Good Design Award

2007

Right: Industrial heritage

52~53

Upper left: Memorial dock

Lower left: Wave garden and waterscape
Upper right: Wave garden
Lower right: Industrial heritage where people can take a seat

54~55

Left: Island stage at memorial dock

Upper right: View terrace seat where people can see the sunset
Lower right: Island stage

56~57
/
Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Designer: Latz + Partner Photographer:
Christa Panick, Markus Tollhopf, Latz + Partner Completion date: 2009 Site area:
200,000 sqm
Latz Latz
2009 200,000

7
5

6
4

3
2

1. Entry
2. Old Harbour
3. New Harbour
4. Lloyd Dock
5. Lock Garden
6. Bank Weser
7. Zoo at the Sea
8. Building Plot
9. Hotel

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Award description:
2010 IULA International Urban Landscape Award, Special Commendation
2009 National Award for Integrated Urban Development and Urban Culture
2008 The International Architecture Award
2007 International City. People. Light Award, Special Mention
2006 IIDA International Illumination Design Award of Merit

2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

Old/New Harbour Bremerhaven

The spatial, ecological and technical renewal of the harbour
site becomes the core of a new town quarter with residential
and recreation areas, with public squares and promenades. The
project follows the strategy of a metamorphosis out of traditional
elements and refers to the existing urban pattern. It works with
surface materials common in the place, thus characterising it with a
continuous carpet of natural stone.
Metamorphosis and new development reveal historical links reaching
out from the city to the port and from the port to the city, making it
possible to experience and grasp them both spatially and visually.
Historical and new landmarks such as the Simon Loschen tower and
the radar tower are presented via visual links in terms of both axis
and perspective. The long quays, the rows of tall masts for flags and
lights, enhance the effect of the ports characteristic north-south
orientation, drawing the eye out towards the gigantic gantry cranes
and the new commercial port.
The old street lamps have been replaced by new multifunctional
masts. An energy-efficient lighting system allows the streets to be
lit in an economically and ecologically sound way, and improves
the urban environment. In illumination terms, the lights colour and
brightness and vertical and horizontal arrangement come together
with the dark sky and the reflections in the water of the river to create
three levels.
Natural stone paving covers the quays and squares with a continuous
carpet that conveys a sense of calm and lavishness in relation to
existing and future heterogeneous development.

Right: The Lloyd Square is situated like an inlay within the

stone carpet and represents the entrance to the harbour

58~59

Upper left: Developed especially for this site, the Flow Bench is both, seat and sculpture
Lower left: The surface material consists almost only of recycled natural paving stones
which by use get more and more attractive
Upper right: The structure follows a consistent layout in west-east direction from the town
centre to the River Weser, thus creating orientation and a strong appearance
Lower right: Sawn paving stones with smooth surfaces cover the main walking areas
whereas the rough surfaces of cobbled zones along the edges of the quays signal
attention and caution for pedestrian traffic

60~61

Upper left: A new wooden bridge crosses the historic entrance to the Lloyd dockyard,
thus creating a continuous pedestrian connection and a new landmark within the urban
context
Lower left: The deck of the Lloyd Square rises nearly 20centimetres above the stone carpet
Upper right: The Lock Garden, shaped by the wind and facing the sea, has been
formerly and still today an intimate meeting place
Lower right: Timelessness has been the goal: materials are primarily durable and show
regional expression

20

62~63

Location: Split, Croatia Designer: 3HLD Photographer: Damir Fabijanic

Completion date: 2007 Site area: 24,707 sqm
3HLD 2007
24,707

1. Trees
2. Shading Support
3. Benches

1.
2.
3.

Riva Split Waterfront

The city of Split and its waterfront, the Riva, as the paradigm of its
history and character, are among the most interesting and most
specific sites in the Mediterranean. Split waterfront is an urbanised,
public, open and accessible space, 1,700 years old. It stands in front
of Diocletians Palace, once the home of the Roman emperor. The
modular Roman form of the palace in the latter phase became
the framework that shaped the city and directed its expansion; in
the same way, the dimensions, materials and form of the modular
network of concrete elements laid on Riva directed the arrangement
and positions of all the other elements of the public space.
The waterfront is the focal point where the city meets the sea. 250
metres long and 55 metres wide, it is also the main public square,
the space for all kinds of social events, promenade by day, parade
by night, the site of sport events, religious processions, festivals
and celebrations. The project rearticulates the space for all the
mentioned events and harmonises them on a new integrated
surface. The solution uses not only architectural design, but also
materials, to respond to all the challenges of utilisation set before the
Riva. All urban elements and equipment was specially designed for
this project and they try to meet local spirit and atmosphere.

1700

25055

Right: Aerial view of Riva Split

64~65

Upper left: Exterior faade

Lower left: Palm trees
Upper right: Overall view
Lower right: Bench detail

Upper Left: Resting area with benches

Lower Left: Shading support
Right: Close view of benches

66~67

68~69

Location: Elwood, Australia Designer: ASPECT Studios Photographer: Andrew

Lloyd Completion date: 2009 Site area: 10,000 sqm

2009 10,000

1
2
3

6
4

1. Elwood Sea Scouts

2. Elwood Angling Club
3. Elwood Sailing Club
4. Elwood Life Saving Club
5. Sails on the Bay (Restaurant)
6. Loading Zone
7. Access Road

Elwood Foreshore
The Elwood Foreshore is the focus of the beach activity for residents
of the Elwood area and beyond. The project includes a new regional
cycle way, beach plaza, indigenous plantings, and a new car park
with water sensitive urban design (WSUD). The design created shared
pathways and surfaces, introducing a continuous and safe cycle
path. The roadway and car parking systems were rationalised to
minimise conflict between bicycles, pedestrians and motor vehicles.
The City of Port Phillip and ASPECT Studios keenly pursued an
integrated approach to water, with planning and installation of
water tanks for the various clubs and restaurants in the foreshore and
full WSUD for the renovated car park.
The design provides elegance and sustainability within the limits of its
scale and budget. Recycled ashalt was used for pavements to car
parks, existing subgrades were used for pavements where possible.
Existing furniture such as BBQs and site furniture were served and
reused to minimise material wastage.
This project demonstrates that a seamless connection can be
made between functional design (ie cars, bikes, walkers, boats,
cleaners) and design elegance. The design has provided back to the
community an open and inviting foreshore place, that can be used
from causal to large scale, surf life saving and sailing club festivals.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Right: Overall view of Elwood Foreshore

70~71

Upper left: Pedestrians

Lower left: Water facility
Upper right: Safe cycle path
Lower right: Bench with lighting effect

72~73

Location: Holstebro, Denmark Designer: OKRA and Schul Photographer: OKRA

Completion date: 2009 Site area: 23,000 sqm
OKRASchul OKRA
2009 23,000

2
1
3

5
4

Storaa Stream
The project makes a major difference in the city and a connection
between the two parts of the centre. The north part and the south
part of the centre of Holstebro will be linked by a new focal point.
The public spaces around the cultural buildings, like cinema and
dance theatre, provide new lan to the city by transforming them
into an outdoor stage. The project is the catalyst of changing the
riverside from a backside with functional connections into a "place to
be". Previously, the riverside was neglected and the city had turned
its back towards the water.
Even just after the opening one can notice that the riverside is
already attractive that the quality of public space will be a catalyst
for further development. On the north side of the project, new
developments in the next years will create frontages towards the
riverside, where it is now just the backside of commercial activities
and parking places. In the further future, it can be envisioned that
more private owners want to turn their faces towards the river
scenery. It can be envisioned that some extension of the buildings
combined with underground parking supplies in a future second
phase, where parks, playgrounds and small planted squares will form
an extension of the beautiful riverside area.

9
8
10
11

12

1. Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge

2. Quay Side Seating
3. Storaa Stream
4. Water Podium
5. Planting Area
6. New Dance Theatre
7. Movable Planting and Seating on Rails
8. Water Floor and Fountain
9. Dance Theatre Square
10. Dance Theatre Park
11. Cycle Path
12. Parking Area

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Right: A view to the theatre and bridge at night

74~75

Upper left: A view at night to the bridge

Lower left: The bridge is a link, yet there is also room for informal seats
Upper right: The river, now separating two parts of the centre, will become a public stage
Lower right: The water floor confines the square and the bleachers along the high lawn

76~77

Location: Drammen, Norway Designer: Arkitekt Kristine Jensens Tegnestue

Photographer: Arkitekt Kristine Jensens Tegnestue Completion date: 2007 Site
area: 12,900 sqm

2007 12,900

2
4

1. Waterfront Deck
2. Chairs on the Square
3. Furniture
4. The Square

1.
2.
3.
4.

The Blue Square

In the new park of knowledge in Drammen will be framing an adult
education centre and a library. The connections between the new
main building and the existing heritage buildings is created by a
continuous city floor, called the Blue Square.
The floor surface and materiality is developed as a metaphor on an
enlightened surface of water, so the unity of the plaza is perceived
as a long, flowing course towards the river. The surface is made in
different shades of grey granite, in which the blue tint is accentuated
by narrow stripes of glass and aluminium in blue nuances. Outdoor
zones are created on each side of the main building, so that one
can always find a lovely place for a break in the sun. Adjacent to the
river a big stair is build, and on the south bank there is created a big
activity zone with furniture placed in the lee of cherry trees.
All furniture is specially designed for the project. The overall
placement of the furniture was initiated by the idea of note lines
organising, specifying and keeping the different elements into place.
The continuous course is even accentuated by the repetition of steel,
as a paper chain bended and turned creating various spaces. Light
poles with coloured light underlines the blue shade in the evening
hours.

Right: The wooden waterfront deck allows people to enjoy

the beautiful view

78~79

Left: The blue tint is accentuated by narrow stripes of glass and aluminium in blue
nuances
Upper right: Light poles with coloured light underlines the blue shade in the evening hours
Lower right: Light details

80~81

Upper left: The surface is made in different shades of grey granite

Lower left: The continuous course is even accentuated by the repetition of steel
Upper right: The specially designed furniture allow parking bicycles
Lower right: Bench details

82~83

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA Designer: Stoss Landscape Urbanism

Photographer: Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Vetter Denk, James Dallman
Completion date: 2010 Site area: 1,208 sqm

2010 1,208

3
4
5

1. Federal Channel to Lake Michigan

2. Concrete Pavers
3. Poplar Grove
4. Seating
5. Restaurant and Condominiums
6. Erie Street

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Erie Street Plaza

The project grows from three hybrid ecologies that step down across
the site towards the water: radiant grove, flexible field, and steel
marsh.The radiant grove occupies the upper end of the vegetal
gradient, at the plazas urban edge. The poplar grove is positioned
to shelter the rest of the plaza from cold winter winds yet are
deliberately transparent to allow for views and safety. The grove
maintains a dense straight line parallel to street edge but opens
up toward the river. The primary element the flexible field is a
hybridised plaza-green, with pavers and lawn surfaces that allow for
both intense activity and more passive use. The plaza is articulated
as an eroded field of custom pre-cast pavers distributed to maximise
variability and flexibility.
The plazas indeterminacy is accentuated by the erratic scattering of
seatwalls and luminous fiberglass benches, which capture and reflect
ambient light and project light from within. Their irregular placement
allows for multiple and diverse social groupings or solitary retreats, in
shade or full sun, protected or exposed. The luminous qualities of the
fiberglass are accentuated as night falls, projecting light from within
and reflecting the passing headlights of automobiles. The glowing
benches have become a signature element of the project.
The variegated surface extends into the steel marsh, which occupies
the lower end of the plaza gradient at the rivers edge. Capturing
and cleaning site stormwater, the steel marsh is key to the site's
stormwater management strategy. Lowering the grade behind
the bulkhead wall allowed for the collection of site stormwater in a
perched position above the river, newly protected from industrial
activities and barge wakes.

Right: The variegated surface extends into the steel

marsh, which collects and cleans stormwater from the site

84~85

Upper left: Along the boardwalk the grove opens up intermittently, allowing passage
through to the heart of the plaza. The benches glow at night and have become a
signature of the project
Lower left: The grove is positioned to protect the site from cold lake winds, yet it is
deliberately transparent to allow for views and safety
Upper right: View from the upland terrace across the plaza to the lower wetland and
the river beyond. Heavy rainfall collects in the steel marsh, making environmental cycles
legible to plaza visitors
Lower right: View from Erie Street towards the river. The poplar grove holds a straight line
parallel with the street edge, opening up into a looser configuration toward the river

86~87

Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA Designer: Stoss Landscape Urbanism

Photographer: Stoss Landscape Urbanism Completion date: 2010 Site area:
10,117 sqm

2010 10,117

2
1

1. Transient Docks
2. Pine Street Steps + Stage
3. Interactive Water Feature
4. Lawn
5. Cherry Street Landing
6. Grove

6
5

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The CityDeck Phase I

The project starts as a simple boardwalk deployed at the edge of
city and river. The highly articulated wooden boardwalk undulates,
folding in response to technical, code, and programmatic issues.
At the scale of the human body, these folds create diverse seats,
benches, and chaise lounges that allow for choice and flexibility.
The idea was to give people many choices about where to sit,
depending on their own desires, their body type, their mood, and
their attraction to various ambient light, heat, or weather conditions.
The wood surface folds up and over the existing bulkhead wall at
the north end of the site, rising to form a dramatic overlook perched
above the river on piles a great place to watch passing lake
barges and small recreational boats. At the city edge, the surface
folds up again, affording adjacent buildings required protection
from flooding and creating retail and dining terraces, seating,
and communal chaise lounges looking out to the water. A flexible
upland plaza floats atop fill between the perched terraces and
the undulating boardwalk, creating a free-zone to be inhabited by
festivals, vendors, and spontaneous activity; it doubles as an informal
amphitheatre for performances and is marked at its southern end by
an interactive play fountain.
Lawns are located at both north and south ends of the project,
allowing for casual play and picnicking. Groves and scatterings
of gingkos, elms, and coffee trees offer shade in the hot summer
sun and reduce adjacent buildings cooling loads. During football
season, the trees turn bright yellow, half of the green and gold color
scheme of the citys beloved Green Bay Packers football team. The
green is manifested in custom-designed concrete pavers (with a
green aggregate), shaped to resemble fish scales and perforated to
allow for stormwater infiltration.

Right: View looking south along The CityDeck from the

Main Street Bridge

88~89

Upper left: Larger and longer bench forms allow for gathering and group sun-bathing
Lower left: The wooden surface expands at the Shopko Landing, rising up as a dramatic
overlook and fishing pier
Upper right: In the fall, the gingkos, Kentucky coffeetrees, and Liberty elms all turn bright yellow
Lower right: Overview of the southern end of The CityDeck, near the Walnut Street Bridge

90~91

Location: Stockholm, Sweden Designer: Thorbjrn Andersson Landscape

Architect Photographer: ke E:son Lindman, Patrik Lindell Completion date:
2010 Site area: 12,000 sqm
E:son
2010 12,000

3
1

1. The Square
2. The Benches
3. The Grass Garden
4. Grove

1.
2.
3.
4.

Sjvik Square
Sjvik square is situated right on the quay of rstadal. It opens up
towards the water and thus includes the larger landscape in its
design. To underscore this basic idea, the square is laid out as a flat
plane which has then been tilted towards the view. Two recreational
lawns furnish the upper part, outlined with a broad granite edge for
seating. The lawns are horizontal and rise gradually from the ground
plane, clarifying the plaza slope.
Two 100-metre-long wooden boardwalk promenades frame the
plaza and direct the view. They have a Y-shaped configuration,
where the western leg steps down towards the water in series of sun
terraces. The eastern leg is a pier which passes the quay edge by 40
metres, hovering over the water.
To balance the openness of the triangular square, an equally
triangular grove of semi-transparent Gleditsia trees has been added
at the western perimeter of the plaza. The trees stand in a gravel
surface, which also hosts a small playground and lanes for boucl
games. The grove transcends into a sunken garden with horticultural
content, shadowed by cherry trees.
Included in the design is also a 35 metres wide water feature, with a
thin layer of water rushing over a shingled surface of Norwegian slate,
as well as an environmental sculpture by artist Jan Svenungsson. This
artwork consists of three very large boulders, one of them engraved
with headlines fetched from the daily newspapers of the day the
square was opened to the public.

100Y
40

35

Right: The square is tilted 3 % towards the water in order to

give focus on the view
3 %

92~93

Upper left: The square has an edge definition by two long wooden decks, laid out in a
V-configuration
Lower left: A site-specific artwork by artist Jan Svenungsson consists of three very large
boulders with inscriptions from daily newspapers
Upper right: Terraced sun decks at western side of the square
Lower right: The lawns are accessible for the disabled at their upper side
V

94~95

Upper left: The east wooden deck is planted with Gold Rain/ Laburnum
Lower left: The surface of the square has a pattern composition as a textile fabric with
granite imported from China, complemented by lines of steel
Upper right: One of the boulders is placed in a wide water feature with streaming water
occurring as a thin layer
Lower right: At dusk, the lake surface reflects last rays of the sun

96~97

Location: Leipzig, Germany Designer: GFSL Clausen+Scheil Landscape

Architects Photographer: Gunter Binsack Completion date: 2007 Site area:
7,500 sqm
GFSL Clausen+Scheil 2007
7,500

1
4

6
2
5

1. Grass
2. Planting Area
3. Seating Area
4. Concrete Paving Stones
5. Recommended Location of Mendelssohnmemorial
6. Column Lights

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Mendelssohnufer River Bank

The redesign of the green space known as the "Mendelssohnufer"
commemorated the former Gewandhaus choirmaster and founder
of the first German music conservatory with a bust and the expression
of the access down to the waterway as musical staves with the
theme of the E-minor violin concerto. The old Gewandhaus, which
was destroyed in the war, stood on the same spot as the music
academy that today bears his name.
Before the redesign, the square in front of the former Reichsgericht
and the old Gewandhaus sites was a triangular lawned area
surrounded by traffic and was generally unused or just treated as
somewhere to walk the dog by the local population. The construction
of the new Humanities centre has transformed the area where the
destroyed Gewandhaus once stood.
The introduction of the underground car park and the repositioned
entry and exit routes reduced the impact of traffic in this residential
district. By redesignating road space as green space, the location
becomes a much a more pleasant place to sit or linger.
More details:
-By rearranging the traffic flows using traffic calming measures on the
residential area.
- The creation of a landscaped park to form areas for relaxing and
communication
- Opening of a further length of the Pleie, which had been culverted
in 1950s
- Formation of a wide planted bank zone with access to the water by
appropriately shaping the buried structure of the underground car
park.
- Commemoration of the old Gewandhaus destroyed during the war
by the inclusion of the Mendelssohn bust.
" "
E

-
-
-2050
-
-

Right: The open space includes the watercourse bank with its
step seating as musical staves and cubes as notes in its design

98~99

Upper left: Panorama

Lower left: The defining features of the watercourse bank are its wide, grassy step seating,
which can be occupied for walking or relaxing right down to the waters edge
Upper right: By redesignating road space as green space, the location becomes a much
a more pleasant place to sit or linger
Lower right: Path leading to the the Bundesverwaltungsgericht

100~101

Left: The park is primarily used by students from the neighbouring colleges but also by
walkers, tourists and officials from the court
Upper right: The open space makes reference to the generous gable front of the
Bundesverwaltungsgericht
Lower right: Commemoration of the old Gewandhaus destroyed during the war by the
inclusion of the Mendelssohn bust, who is the first director of the orchestra

102~103

Location: Thessaloniki, Greece Designer: Katerina Tsigarida Architects

Photographer: Yorgis Yerolumpos Completion date: 2008 Site area: 24,000 sqm

2008 24,000

11

1
2
3

4
5

10

1. Entrance to the White Tower

2. Remaining of Byzantine Fortification
3. Alley of Trees
4. Limestone Pillars Tracing the Old City Wall
5. Public Toilets
6. Limestone Carpet
7. Green Carpet
8. Pebble Dash Carpet
9. N. Votsi Statue
10. Old City Waterfront
11. New City Waterfront

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.N. Votsi
10.
11.

New White Tower Square

The projects main objective is the reconstitution of public space
around the White Tower important historical monument and
landmark at the waterfront of the city of Thessaloniki. The new square
required the partial deviation of the waterfront avenue in order to
provide adequate space in front of the monument. The restoration of
the surrounding space on its initial foundations level was additionally
proposed.
The synthetic design procedure explores the principles of centrality,
monumentality, strict plane geometry, axis continuity, while refraining
to a minimal intervention. The architectural discipline and the design
austerity focus more on their long-lasting effect in the city, rather
than on the implementation of ephemeral design styles. Special care
was taken so as to provide a realistic and viable result.
A trapezoid square is ultimately generated, perspectively opening
towards the sea, materialising a system of multiple geometry
originating whether from the monument itself, the water front
pedestrian zone or the tangential East Cultural Axis. Level height
difference creates coherent sub-areas at selected locations and of
clear and legible shape.
The architectural elements that organise the square constitute of
green plots that at the same time operate as zones for sitting. In
remembrance of the East City Wall part of the old citys fortificationa series of limestone pillars function as a linear kinetic sculpture
that seems to move as one walks along. An alley with big trees runs
parallel to the pillars as a symbolic exit towards the sea at the point
where the old city meets the new.

Award description:
2008 Architectural Awards of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture

2008

Right: View of the White Tower from the west

104~105

Upper left: Aerial view to the east side of the square

Lower left: Walking through the alley of trees
Upper right: View of the White Tower from northwest
Lower right: View from the entrance towards the city

106~107

Left: Stairs to the entrance of the White Tower

Upper right: View towards the sea
Lower right: Ramp to the entrance of the White Tower

108~109

Location: Cologne,Germany Designer: FSWLA Landschaftsarchitektur GmbH

Photographer: Manuel Kubitza Completion date: 2011 Site area: 118,500 sqm
FSWLA 2011
118,500

1. Boardwalk
2. Central Axis
3. Urban Space
4. Play and Recreation

1.
2.
3.
4.

1
4

Rheinauhafen Cologne
When port activities were transferred to other areas of Cologne, a
new urban design challenge arose for Rheinauhafen. The area that
once served as the river port is to acquire new functions. As part of
the restructuring process, a competition for the open spaces was
held in 1999. FSWLA Landschaftsarchitektur GmbH emerged as the
winner and was commissioned with planning the open spaces.
Rheinauhafen is very close to the town centre of Cologne, with a
direct link to the Rheingarten redesigned in the 1980s, and stretches
for about 2 kilometres down to the popular southern district of the
city. This much favoured location within the urban context is to be
reinforced by an attractive, structured design of the open space.
The interplay of historical and modern architecture sets up a tension
echoed in the outdoor terrain. The historical significance of the port
area is linked into the modern architecture by combining historical
materials such as natural stone paving, old rail track and restored
cranes with large concrete slabs, glass, steel and a sophisticated
lighting design. This will enable Rheinauhafen to present a new face
to the world while retaining its original character as a port.

1999
FSWLA
2080

Award description:
2010 Germany Urban Planning Award

2010

Right: The Rhine promenade viewed from Southern

Kranhaus to the southern cape
Kranhaus

110~111

Upper left: Modern design and historical materials create a unique atmosphere
Lower left: The new Elisabeth-Treskow-Square
Upper right: Large scaled concrete slabs and natural stone pavement define a
corporate design for the open space
Lower right: Hedges sculptured as blocks and large scaled slabs structure at the
Siebengebirge

112~113

Left: The central passage in the southern part

Upper right: Spacious seating sculptures invite to stay
Lower right: Generously proportioned steps

114~115

Left: The new Elisabeth-Treskow-Square with a piece of art in the centre and the Rhine bastion
Upper right: The Wohnwerft in the middle of the Rheinauhafen
Lower right: The so called sail-lamp provides indirect light to avoid blinding

116~117

Location: Aalborg, Denmark Designer: C. F. Mller Architects and Vibeke

Rnnow Landscape Architects Photographer: Helene Hoyer Mikkelsen
Completion date: 2010 Site area: 170,000 sqm
C. F. MllerVibeke Rnnow
2010 170,000

1. Football Court
2. Pedestrian Path
3. Ramp

1.
2.
3.

Aalborg Waterfront
The master plan for Aalborg Waterfront links the citys medieval
centre with the adjacent fjord, which has previously been difficult for
citizens to access due to the industrial harbour and the associated
heavy traffic. By tying in with the openings in the urban fabric, a new
relationship between city and fjord is created.
The qualities of the approximately one-kilometre stretch of quayside
are emphasised with a tree-lined and unusually detailed boulevard
to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. The medieval Aalborg
Castle once again becomes the harbours centrepiece through
the establishment of an extensive green area to frame the historic
embankments.
At the same time, Aalborg receives a harbour promenade with
steps and recessed terraces, allowing people to get close to the
water. Various kinds of urban gardens facilitate activities such as
markets, ball games and sun-bathing. The aim is to create robust and
attractive spaces to benefit many different users.
The central activities field is designed to accommodate various
games and sports, from beach-volley in the summer to ice skating
rink in winter, surrounded by dramatically angled netting and lighting
masts. The adjacent gardens are a calm, slightly sunken green space
with a dense planting of trees and flowers.
The materials chosen are as raw as the fjord itself, including asphalt,
rubber, cor-ten steel, concrete and wood, while at the same time
containing subtle references to the sea through wavy pavement
patterns - an architectural quote of the famous Copacabana beach
promenades by Roberto Burle Marx.

Right: The gardens are situated along the city's new

harbour promenade. They are divided by wide tali-wood
decking areas

118~119

Upper left: Various kinds of urban gardens facilitate activities such as markets, ball games
and sun-bathing. The aim is to create robust and attractive spaces to benefit many
different users
Lower left: Special attention has been given to a mix of functional and ambient lighting
of different colour temperatures using efficient low-energy fixtures
Upper right: The flower garden is a lush, colourful oasis for all ages - primarily designed for
quiet pursuits and as a recreational space for Aalborg's new harbour pool
Lower right: Wavy pavement patterns along the boulevard create subtle references

120~121

Upper left: Concrete is used throughout, most notably in the new quay, featuring wide
in-situ cast sitting steps. Cast into the concrete steps are a multitude of fiber-optic "starspangles", the intensity of which is regulated by an anemometer
Lower left: Materials chosen are as raw as the fjord itself, including asphalt, rubber, corten steel, concrete and wood
Upper right: Outlook posts provide tourists with great opportunities to overlook the fjord
Lower right: The sunken gardens are framed in concrete "bastions", incorporating stairs
and ramps for full accessibility

122~123

Location: Berlin, Germany Designer: Henningsen Landschaftsarchitekten BDLA

Berlin Photographer: Christo Libuda Completion date: 2010 Site area: 1,300 sqm
2010
1,300

5
4

2
7

8
1

1. Entrance
2. Granite Stair Complex
3. Fountain Covered with Slates
4. Wooden Decks
5. Waterfront Promenade
6. Lawn Slope
7. Apple Trees
8. Lavender and Roses
9. Beer Garden

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Sonnenbrcke Nord
In the context of the German urban development programme
"Stadtumbau West", the area beside the bridge "Sonnenbrcke"
in Berlin-Neukln was turned over to the public after one year
construction period as a new attractive plaza with fountain and an
open stair complex at the waterfront.
Henningsen Landscape Architects planned these previously rundown waterside area as an urban public open space for residents
and visitors. Beside the waterfront, the grand scaled stair complex
made of light grey Portuguese granite stone with its numerous
wooden decks invites the visitors to stay and relax. The wide staircase
resolves and stages the huge level difference between the street
and water channel.
Some extant robinia trees, a row of apple trees at the stair head as
well as lavender and roses planted at the slopes frame the otherwise
stony setting of the stair complex. In addition to the nearby water
channel, the topic "water" can also be found at the plaza as a water
play, which is installed even to the ground in a covering of dark grey
German slates.
Close to the water play lies a big open sand surface, which can
serve the neighbouring beer garden with beach chairs and deck
chairs as comfortable living zone. Light orchestrations of the water
play and the wooden decks with built-in lights as well as light-bands
underneath the hand rails and stairs set a course during the evening
hours.

Right: Water feature

124~125

Left: Stairs with wooden deck

Upper right: Side view of the square
Lower right: Fountain at night

Upper Left: Whole scene of the square

Lowe left: Wooden deck
Right: Wooden deck as a planter

126~127

128~129

Location: Schleswig, Ger many Designer: BHF-Landscape Architects

Photographer: BHF-Landscape Architects Completion date: 2007 Site area:
10,000 sqm
BHF BHF 2007
10,000

4
5

1. Lawn
2. Bench
3. Car Parking
4. New Pavement
5. Parking Area for Mobile Homes

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Stadthafen Schleswig
The office BHF-Landscape Architects received the direct contract
for the re-designing of the promenade (approx. 200 metres long),
the area around the harbour gastronomy, the parking area for
mobile homes, and a central square at the harbour head. The town
harbour is the central home-port for luxurious yachts of the brand
Comfortina.
The promenade along the town harbour in Schleswig was completely
redesigned following a renovation of the quay wall. The quay wall
received a broad flat head of in-situ concrete. In addition lies a
double band of granite paving stones
The existing shed has been converted into a fish snack with numerous
outdoor seats. To protect the shed against floods, the built-in under
the shed roof containers were placed on a pedestal, which was
enclosed with large size ashlars of fair-faced concrete. Here people
can wind-protected sit and look at the fjord.
The shipping buoy in the harbour apron was installed on the top of
a small grass hill. Despite the small difference in height of one metre,
can be seen from here even better the bustle of the harbour. Here to
the waterside fair-faced concrete ashlars were also built as the seat
blocks. In the appropriate steps flat LED lights are integrated.
BHF200
Comfortina

1
LED

Right: The shipping buoy on the square

130~131

Upper left: Seating area and lookout

Lower left: Yachts and crane
Upper right: Aerial view
Lower right: Promenade pavement

132~133

Location: Kiel, Germany Designer: BHF-Landscape Architects Photographer:

BHF-Landscape Architects Completion date: 2008 Site area: 3,500 sqm
BHF BHF 2008
3,500

2
6
5

3
8

Wasserplatz Kiel
The waterside square is a new development at the Germaniahafen.
This square is directly adjacent to the Norwegen-Terminal on
the east side of the Kieler Frde, and forms, together with the
3-segment bascule bridge over the Hrn, an important connection
between the city, with the main station on the west side, and the
district Kiel Gaarden on the east side. The square negotiates a
height difference of approx 6 metres and connects the promenade
with Gaardener Ring and the following pedestrian bridge over the
Ostring, a heavily frequented main road in Kiel.
A generously designed stepway, with two flights and an integrated
slow-rising ramp, enable pedestrians to negotiate this height
difference. The lower deck offers opportunities to sit, the openair gastronomy and freenet-centre offer time to linger. Seefarers
can watch the bright life of the harbour in the shade of trees. The
sculpture Adam and Eve by Bjrn Norgaard stands in the centre of
the square.

1. Square North
2. Barrier-free Way
3. Square Centre
4. Square South
5. Sculpture
6. Steps
7. Seating Element
8. Bicycle Way
9. Bicycle Stand

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Upper right: View to the historical fishing boats in the

Germania-Hafen
Lower right: City life on two levels

134~135

Upper left: The Wasserplatz in the spring sunshine

Lower left: Corten steel sheet as reminiscence at the former shipyard
Upper right: Biking, rest in front of the sculpture Adam & Eva by Bjrn Norgaard
Lower right: The retaining walls are planted with parthenocissus tricuspidata Veitchii

136~137

Upper left: Evening atmosphere at stairs

Lower left: Corten steel with integrated turtle light
Upper right: Night view of the Wasserplatz
Lower right: Detail of Corten steel sheet with integrated turtle light

138~139

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel Designer: Mayslits Kassif Architects Photographer:

Daniela Orvin, Adi Branda, Galia Kronfeld, Albi Serfaty Completion date: 2008
Site area: 55,000 sqm

2008 55,000

1
2
3

1. Existing Hangers
2. Parking Park
3. Undulating Deck Surfaces

1.
2.
3.

Award description:
2011 Winner of Domus Russia ARCHIP Prize
2010 The Rosa Barba European Landscape Prize Nomination as One of
the 9 Finalists of the 6th European Biennial of Landscape Architecture
2008 Israel 'Rechter Award' for an Outstanding Architectural
Achievement by the Israeli Ministry of Culture
2007 Israel 'Ot Haitzuv Award' for the Best Urban Architectural Project
in Israel

Tel Aviv Port Public Space

Regeneration

Situated on one of Israel's most breathtaking waterfronts, the Tel Aviv

Port was plagued with neglect since 1965, when its primary use as an
operational docking port was abandoned. The recently completed
public space development project by Mayslits Kassif Architects,
managed to restore this unique part of the city, and turn it into a
prominent, vivacious urban landmark.
Remarkably, despite city planning being dominated by market
forces, and because of its immense popularity among the public, the
project has been able to circumvent massive development schemes
intended for the port's 50,000 square metres area. The suspension of
all the area's rezoning plans set a precedent for creating an urban
transformation not propelled by building rights, but by an alternative
design strategy gearing towards the public space.
The design introduces an extensive undulating, non-hierarchical
surface, that acts both as a reflection of the mythological dunes
on which the port was built; and as an open invitation to free
interpretations and unstructured activities. Various public, political
and social initiatives from spontaneous rallies to artistic endeavors
and public acts of solidarity are now drawn to this unique urban
platform, indicating the project's success in reinventing the port as a
vibrant public sphere.
1965

50,000

2011DomusARCHIP
2010
2008Rechter
2007Ot Haitzuv

Right: Wooden deck Adi Branda

140~141

Upper left: Close view of GRC elements Adi Branda

Lower left: Parasols Daniela Orvin
Upper right: Multipurpose surfaces for parking and events Adi Branda
Lower right: The hybrid ipen space that combines the qualities of the informal beach
environment with the city fabric Daniela Orvin

142~143

Upper left: Paving pattern defining the traffic areas Adi Branda
Lowe left: The GRC elements designed for a variety of sitting positions Galia Kronfeld
Upper right: The port as a vibrant public sphere Albi Serfaty
Lower right: Paving pattern defining the traffic areas Daniela Orvin

144~145

Location: Toronto, Canada Designer: West 8 and DTAH Photographer: West 8

Urban Design & Landscape Architecture Completion date: 2009 Site area: 650
sqm + 630 sqm
West 8 DTAH West 8
2009 650 + 630

1. Portland Wavedeck
2. Spadina Wavedeck
3. Rees Wavedeck
4. Simcoe Wavedeck
5. York Wavedeck
6. Yonge Wavedeck
7. Jarvis Wavedeck
8. Spadina Bridge
9. Peter Bridge
10. Rees Bridge
11. Simcoe Bridge

2
8

10

11

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Waterfront Toronto
The Toronto Central Water front, a 3.5 kilometres length of Lake
Ontario in direct proximity to the downtown business district, is one
of Toronto's most valuable assets. Yet despite decades of planning
and patchwork development projects, there is no coherent vision for
linking the pieces into a greater whole visually or physically. In this
context, the fundamental objective of the project is to address this
deficiency by creating a consistent and legible image for the Central
Waterfront, in both architectural and functional terms.
West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, in joint venture with
DTAH, prepared a comprehensive vision for the Central Waterfront
that produced a powerful design language with the strength and
simplicity to overcome the existing visual noise and create a sense
of interconnectedness and identity. Connectivity between the
vitality of the city and the lake and a continuous, publicly accessible
waterfront are the plans priorities. The plan expresses a vision for the
Central Waterfront that brings a sustainable, ecologically productive
green foot to the rich culture of the metropolis.
West 8 + DTAH are currently implementing the first phase of the
strategic masterplan. Spadina WaveDeck and recently Simcoe
Wavedeck and Rees Wavedeck have been completed. A series
of timber pedestrian bridges, new streetscapes, public realm and
waters edge promenades will follow or construction already started.
3.5

West 8 DTAH

West 8 DTAH

Award description:
2010 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada National Urban Design
Awards Spadina WaveDeck
2009 Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture National Merit
Award for Spadina WaveDeck
2009 American Society of Landscape Architects Honour Award for
General Design, Spadina WaveDeck

2010
2009
2009

Right: Spadina WaveDeck

146~147

Left: The design of the WaveDeck is inspired by the shorelines of Ontarios great lakes
and the Canadian cottage experience
Upper right: The WaveDeck is an urban dock that is both a piece of art and a functional
gathering space
Lower right: The large swell features slender stainless steel railings that follow the
undulations of the waves in the deck

148~149

Upper left: The backless bench acts as an elegant barrier to the water while also
providing seating for users of the space
Lower left: The four WaveDecks explore variations of a simple articulation in the change
in level between Queens Quay Boulevard and Lake Ontario
Upper right: In-water LED lights have been installed to create a surreal experience by night
Lower right: A curving 57-metre-long bench along the edge highlights the experience at
Spadina

LED
57

150~151

Location: Vancouver, Canada Designer: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects

Inc Photographer: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc Completion date:
2008 Size: 320,000 sqm
PWL PWL 2008
320,000

4
1. Community Gardens
2. West Pedestrian Promenade
3. Timber Boardwalk
4. Wetland Bridge

1.
2.
3.
4.

Award description:
2010 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Lovable
Communities Awards
2010 Canadian Institute of Planners Award of Excellence in
Neighbourhood Planning
2010 Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award
2009 The Waterfront Centre Honour Award
2009 CSLA Professional Awards National Merit
2008 Design Exchange Awards Award of Merit
2006 Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Urban Design Award
Honour Award

2010
2010
2009
2008
2006

Southeast False Creek

Waterfront Park Phase 1 represents the first phase of Southeast False
Creeks primary park and open space system and a 650-metre
extension of Vancouvers iconic seawall. Through walkways, bicycle
paths, diverse seating and gathering areas the park provides a
variety of vital green spaces that will reconnect people with the
heritage-rich waterfront and offer unique experiences unlike any
other in Vancouver.
Social opportunities and cultural heritage were carefully integrated
with the projects ecological design features. The sites past life as a
shipyard, rail yard, and industrial centre are reflected in the design
narrative, material selection, and construction detailing. People
have been reintroduced to False Creek through a series of stone
terraces and a tidal amphitheatre that lead to the water; all were
constructed with locally-sourced granite.
Naturally, an important part of this public spaces ecology is its
ability to engage people and impart a sense of discovery and
fun. Distinctive lounge chairs inspired by the wings of a seagull are
enjoyed by people of all ages and have become one of the most
recognisable features of the new Waterfront Park. Metal swivel
chairs allow 360 views of the neighbourhood, downtown peninsula,
and mountains. To complement the industrial materials in the park,
native plantings punctuated by strips of ornamental grasses provide
movement and texture to the landscape while reintroducing longabsent living materials to the site.
Water front Park Phase 1 completes the existing water front
promenade and bike lanes found throughout the False Creek and
Downtown Vancouver areas. This innovative project demonstrates
that environmentally sensitive design is completely at home in a
dense residential and commercial neighbourhood and shines even
brighter when layered with historical references, social spaces, and
recreational opportunities.
650

360

Right: Bridge to science world

152~153

Left: Aerial view

Upper right: Boardwalk
Lower right: Swivel chair detail

154~155

Left: Rainwater runnel

Upper right: Boardwalk with bikes
Lower right: Bench and paving detail

156~157

Location: Sydney, Australia Designer: Mcgregor Coxall Photographer: Christian

Borchert, Landscape Solutions Completion date: 2009 Site area: 25,000 sqm
Mcgregor Coxall
2009 25,000

8
1

9
7
6
4
5

12

11

10

13

14
2

1. Wharf Road Amenities

2. Yeend Street Amenities
3. Belvedere
4. Tank 101
5. Menevia
6. Amphi Theatre
7. Grass Rings
8. Grass Ring Bund Wall Stair
9. Walkway below Grass Rings
10. Grasslands on Ridge
11. Ridge Terraces
12. The Point
13. Lower Grass Terraces
14. Grasslands Bund Wall Stair

1.
2.
3.
4.101
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Award description:
2010 International Waterfront Design Honour Award
2010 NSW National Trust Heritage Awards
2009 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW Award
2009 BPN National Sustainability Award Landscape Design
2009 Landscape Contractors Association Awards of Excellence

Ballast Point Park

The design uses world leading sustainability principles to minimise
the projects carbon footprint and ecologically rehabilitate the
site. The design reconciles the layers of history with forward looking
new technologies to create a regionally significant urban park.
The environmental approach is further underpinned by site-wide
stormwater biofiltration, recycled materials, and wind turbines for onsite energy production.
This design brings to life the principles established in the original
master plan where there is a fine balance between what is removed
and what is retained. The end product is a park that proudly
communicates all the sites past layers and human interventions in
both, an innovative and informative manner.
The design challenges our perception of materials and their use.
Dominant new terrace walls sit atop the sandstone cliffs but these
walls are not made of precious sandstone excavated from another
site, rather from the rubble of our past. What once was called rubbish
is now called beautiful. It is the new ballast. But it is more than this at
play: it is the total composition of these recycled rubber filled cages,
off set with concrete coping panels topped with fine grain railing,
that allow these walls to sit confidently at the portal to the inner
harbour.
8 vertical axis wind turbines and an extract from a Les Murray poem,
carved into recycled tank panels, forms a sculptural re-interpretation
of the sites former largest storage tank. The wind turbines symbolise
the future, a step away from our fossil fuelled past towards more
sustainable renewable energy forms.

2010
2010
2009
2009BPN
2009

Right: The Point

158~159

Left: Grass rings bund wall stair

Upper right: Aerial view
Lower right: Rubble filled wall detail

160~161

Upper left: The lube ring-wind turbines

Lower left: Boules play area and seating
Upper right: Grasslands bund wall stair
Lower right: The entry gate at Wharf Road

162~163

Location: New York, USA Designer: Lee Weintraub Landscape Architecture LLC
Photographer: Collin Cooke Studio Completion date: 2008 Site area: 26,305 sqm
2008
26,305

1
6
2

8
4

9
11

10

12

13

1. Entry Pergola
2. West Facing Lawn
3. The Mound
4. Picnic Lawn
5. Blue Light Bridge/Columbia Street Allee
6. Pier 4
7. South Esplanade
8. Bosque
9. Ferry Arrival Plaza
10. Salvage Gardens
11. Chock Garden
12. Dwight Street Allee
13. Graving Dock Ghost
14. West Esplanade

1.
2.
3.
4.
5./
6.4
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

14

Erie Basin Park

Lee Weintraub first came to Red Hook in 1987, and led a community
design process that resulted in the design of the Coffey Street Pier
and the development of Valentino Park. In 2003 they returned to
Red Hook; an incredibly compelling place, filled with the memory
of the waterfront as a place of commerce and production. Invited
by the Ikea Corporation to design a new waterfront park, Erie Basin
Park comprises approximately a mile of green park, esplanade and
plaza spaces. Incorporated into the fabric of the park are remains of
the site's former occupancy - the New York Ship Yard. Four inactive
cranes will be stabilised and will serve as heroic markers and powerful
reminders; remains of a dry dock are expressed in planting and in
pavement. The park language interprets the industrial archeology of
the ship yard into a series of linked moments that use landscape to
tell a powerful story.
The Client of Erie Basin Park was the Ikea Corporation. LWLA's
responsibility was to help Ikea overcome the contentious relationships
that they had encountered in attempting to build in the New York/
Westchester Region. With the client's counsel, the open space
improvements including a 26,305-square-metre park and streetscape
improvements were proposed. As the process developed, these were
the lynchpin for the project's approval by the City and the adjacent
community. LWLA used both it's design skills and it's community
design skills to help facilitate the review and approvals process.
1987
2003

26,305

Award description:
2010 The Waterfront Centre: Annual Honour Award

2010

Right: Sculptural kiosk and crane

164~165

Left: Night shot of sculptural kiosk.

Upper right: Birds eye view of bosque with honey locust trees.
Lower right: View from esplanade looking toward Pier 4

Upper left: Night view of ferry plaza

Lower left: Winch and wave bench at Pier 2
Right: Seating cove along south esplanade

166~167

168~169

Location: Rosenheim, Germany Designer: A24 Landschaft Robel Swillus und

Partner Photographer: Hanns Joosten Completion date: 2009 Site area:
130,000 sqm
A24
2009 130,000

3
2

1. Nicklwiesen Boardwalk
2. Mangfall Boardwalk
3. Promenade Board
4. Mhlbach Creek
5. Old Town Rosenheim

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Mangfallpark Rosenheim
The new Mangfallpark connects Rosenheim with its rivers. The
landscape boardwalk concept reinforces the unique character of
the existing river landscapes and makes nature come alive for the
visitors in a variety of ways. The 500 metres long system is made up
of landscape boardwalks and eight bridges that connect the city
with the Inn, Mangfall, Hammerbach and Mhlbach waterways.
The boardwalk for ms the backbone of the new park and is
multifunctional as an architecture hybrid its a ramp, bridge,
promenade, viewpoint, seat and lounger all in one.
Along the landscape boardwalk, broad steps can be sat on and
luscious stream-side gardens invite you closer to play in and linger
by the water. The northernmost part of the boardwalk ends in an
eight-metre-long protruding platform, which offers a wide view from
the waterways all the way to the Chiemgau Alps.
The Mhlbach Creek, which was previously built-over, has been
uncovered and devised as an attractive green corridor from the city
centre to the Inn. Between the future residential area and an existing
power station, embankments confine the stream, whereby inlets
create space for urban gardens along the waterside.
In the form of a graceful bridge, the Nicklwiesen boardwalk crosses
the Hammerbach, which has been transformed into a kayak route.
The large Kiesinseln (gravel islands) affect the river flow while at
the same time offering the visitors a place to sit and lie down. The
recreational offerings are complemented by extensive playgrounds
and sports areas.

5008

Right: Lookout point

170~171

Left: Top view of the Mangfall Bridge

Upper right: Terraced lawn elements at the lookout point
Lower right: Entry area to the kayaking route at the Hammerbach creek

172~173

Upper left: The uncovered Mhlbach designed as a city creek

Lower left: Silhouette of the Mangfallbridge
Upper right: Giant garden at the Hammerbach Creek
Lower right: Gravel island at the Hammerbach Creek

174~175
Pirrama
Location: Sydney, Australia Designer: ASPECT Studios in collaboration with Hill
Thalis Architecture+Urban Projects and CAB Consulting Photographer: Florian
Groehn, Adrian Boddy Completion date: 2009 Site area: 18,000 sqm
Hill Thalis CAB
Consulting 2009 18,000

4
5

1. The Community Square

2. The Pole Garden
3. The Green and the Point
4. The Shoreline Promenade
5. The Grove

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.Pirrama

Award description:
2010 AILA NSW Awards The Medal
2010 Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design (Australian National
Architecture Awards)
2010 Kidsafe National Public Playspaces Winner
2009 The Best Overall Project National Award, CCAA Bi-annual Public
Domain Awards
2009 The Winner of the Precincts Category, CCAA Bi-annual Public
Domain Awards
2007 AILA NSW Award for Excellence in Planning

2010
2010 Walter Burley Griffin
2010
2009
2009
2007

Sydney Pirrama Park

ASPECT Studios was commissioned by the City of Sydney to design
a new waterfront park on the former water police site in Pyrmont.
The brief was to develop a master plan for an 18,000 square metres
parcel of land on the Pyrmont peninsula into public parkland
incorporating a significant childrens play environment.
The New Park on the Former Water Police site required significant
marine engineering at the harbour edge to create a sheltered
bay and interpret the former shoreline. The public realm includes
wharfs, promenades, squares, laneways, rain gardens and a cycle
way which forms significant public fabric, linking the City to the
Docklands.
The bay creates passive recreation opportunities at the waters edge
and strengthens the sites historic relationship to Sydney Harbour. A
range of other park rooms are created which celebrate this unique
location.
Worlds best practice initiatives were embedded into the master plan
and rain gardens and bio-filtration trenches in the park capture and
clean the water from the surrounding park storm water catchment.
Street tree pits along Pirrama Road collect street runoff and 200,000
kilolitre water tanks have been proposed to ensure irrigation is
maintained sustainably throughout the year. Add to that, the proposal
of solar panels on the shade canopies to power park lighting and the
master plan is an exemplar of best practice ESD. Social sustainability
is promoted through the creation of a significant public space at the
end of Harris Street which provides an opportunity for social interaction
and public gathering.
()
18,000

Right: The playground shade canopy provides shelter to

parents and children. Low walls andplanting form informal
buffers and help contain the playground space

176~177

Left: The central spine contains a boardwalk and existing concrete wall which formed
part of the existing site. A planted swale captures and filters rain water for reuse
Upper right: An aerial view showing the parks context within Pyrmont and the city
Lower right: A suite of custom furniture using concrete and recycled timber is featured
throughout the site

178~179

Left: The pole garden and existing concrete wharf structures have been retained which
reflect upon the sites post industrial history
Upper right: An existing whale bone structure has been recited and reworked into an
existing and playful entry element
Lower right: Crossing points have been designed to allow access across the central swale

180~181

Upper left: The Sheltered Bay changes the existing Harbour shoreline and allows
unimpeded access to the water
Lower left: The shoreline promenade reflects the pre-development shore edge and
creates a strong foreshore link between Harris Street and Pirrama Park
Upper right: An elegant kiosk structure and canopy/belvedere provide opportunities for
gathering and reflection
Lower right: Precast concrete steps from transitions through the planted swale from the
shoreline promenade

Pirrama
/

182~183

Location: Berlin, Germany Designer: HFNER / JIMENEZ Bro fr

Landschaftsarchitektur Photographer: Hanns Joosten, HFNER / JIMENEZ Bro
fr Landschaftsarchitektur Completion date: 2009 Site area: 39,720 sqm
HFNER / JIMENEZ HFNER / JIMENEZ
2009 39,720

7
2

1. Park along Spree

2. Brommy Bridge
3. East Side Park
4. Plaza
5. Spree River
6. Oberbaum Bridge
7. Mhlen Street

4
5

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

East Side Park

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ushered in one of the busiest
moments in the history of modern, urban architecture as innumerable
buildings and open spaces became available for development
throughout the former Communist East. One of the most famous of
these spaces in Berlin is the East Side Gallery, a strip of the original
wall that has been left as a monument to the division of the city
where artists began painting a mural in the 1990s.
As a meaningful and multilayered historical document, along with its
impressive constructed appearance and artistic design, the East Side
Gallery follows the entire length of open space along the Spree from
the Mhlenspeicher at the Oberbaum Bridge to Stralau Square. It
makes this strip of the Sprees bank unique and momentous for both
tourists and Berliners. The promenade on the south bank of the Spree
creates an attractive open space for residents of the two boroughs
bordering the site and visitors to the wall monument.
The park is conceived in two parts with the East Side Gallery and
the patrol path forming the historical monument while the new park
opens toward the water. The expanse of the Spree, the liveliness of
the water and the traffic of the ships offer important potential for a
rich and multi-faceted downtown Berlin experience. The prominence
of the water in the area surrounding the East Side Gallery is an
important measure in creating quality city development.
1989

2090

Right: Park an der Spree Promenade

184~185

Upper: Park an der Spree Panorama

Lower left: View to the Oberbaum Bridge
Lower right: Ramp

186~187

Left: Overall view at dusk

Upper right: Retaining wall as reating area
Lower right: Sand playground

188~189

Location: Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia Designer: Bruto Landscape Architecture &

Design Photographer: Miran Kambic Completion date: 2007 Site area: 1,500 sqm
Ljubno ob Savinji Bruto
2007 1,500

1. Benches
2. Event Area
3. Sculptures
4. Grass Terrains
5. Rack Embankment
6. Access to the Water

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

General Maister Memorial Park

The memorial park is designed as abstract three-dimensional space,
where the paths lead around geometrically cut grass ridges. It is
a very abstract illustration of the mountain ridges of the northern
border, for which Maister's soldiers fought in the year 1918.
The main elements of the space articulation are the reinforced
prefabricates of concrete, which are separating single triangular
sur faces and framing the terrain like retaining walls. The
multifunctional elevated retaining walls are also resting places view
points, which include benches, litter bins and light elements. The
whole embankment is secured against inundation and erosion with
solid stone blocks, which protect the park like a stone shield. AB
prefabricates divide rigid surfaces of the rock embankments.
The grass terrain along the road ends in the retaining wall, which
from the side view presents the abstract form of a mountain ridge
and functions as part of the memorial place, as near by stands a
sculpture which is composed of several stylised soldiers, and the
statue of general Maister with a horse. The sculptures are made
from welded metal rods. The abstract wire frame sculpture has the
appearance of a sketch, at the same time it forms with the subtle
accentuation of key lines of the torso real volume and fullness of the
soldiers bodies
The abstract design suggests strength of the existing value and sense
of place in a highly artistic mode. The design makes use of art and
sculpture to tell the story of the past. The materials and scale of the
design gives a harmonious linkage to the landscape.

1918

AB

Right: The park is designed as abstract three-dimensional space

190~191

Upper left: Panoramic view

Lower left: Illuminated sculpture by night
Upper right: Night view from the bank
Lower right: Elevated retaining walls as resting places

192~193

Location: Sydney, Australia Designer: 360 Landscape Architects, McGregor

Westlake Architecture Photographer: Dianna Snape, Kyal Sheehan Completion
date: 2007 Site area: 1,100 sqm
360
2007 1,100

4
2

1. Raised Lawn and Seating Edge

2. Look-out Point/Standstone Wall
3. Look-out Point
4. Native Ground Cover

1.
2./
3.
4.

Sam Fiszman Park

The programme required that an existing above ground carpark
be replaced with a pedestrian space that also linked to the beach
and the coastal cliff walk. Focussing on edges and views, the design
strategy was to work as much as possible with the topography and
the layout of the existing rock shelves and floaters. The level changes
were to be met by a series of terraces, steps, seats and walls to
afford passage down the site and to create a range of interlocking
spaces from which to enjoy the panoramic views. Each of the
terraces contains planting beds that are designed as bio-retention
basins, capturing diverted stormwater that would otherwise cascade
off the cliffs into the ocean. The terraces are planted with endemic
plants that create a soft compliment to the hardscape of concrete
and sandstone.
At the top of the site, 2 room-like lookouts crown the rock floaters,
like concrete tiaras, one orientated towards the horizon, the other to
the southern headland of Bondi Beach and the coastline beyond.
Each is richly lined with glazed bricks, which capture and condense
the blue of the view. The two lookouts, accompanied by a circular,
raised lawn are little monuments to the view recalling the military
architectures scattered along Sydneys ocean edges.
The entry to the park is marked by a long walled element, containing
the park title. On the lee side is a long seat that provides a pointer
back to Bondi Beach and the city. Together, the lookouts and seat
are organised as a triptych of tighter spaces, providing shelter from
the ocean winds.

Award description:
2010 The AILA NSW Award for Excellence in Landscape Architecture
2008 Civil Contractors NSW Earth Award

2010
2008

Right: South coast view showing balconies and lower site

194~195

Upper: View across Sam Fiszman Park at dusk

Lower left: Outlook to Southern Headland
Lower right: Terraced planters in simple material palette

196~197

Upper left: Concrete to sandstone outcrop

Lower left: Seating Wall and lookout point
Upper right: Outlook to Pacific Ocean
Lower right: Park name imprinted in concrete wall

198~199

Location: Duisburg, Germany Designer: Atelier Loidl Photographer: Phillipp

Obkircher Completion date: 2009 Site area: 400,000 sqm
2009
400,000

3
4

12

5
9

10

1. New District
2. River Meadows
3. Bird Pine Groves
4. Former Sintering Walls
5. Skate Park
6. Old Water Tower
7. Conference Centre
8. Beach Balcony
9. River Caf
10. River Rhine
11. Marina
12. Hotel

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

11

Rhine Park, Duisburg

The subsequent use of the Thyssen-Krupp steel mill in DuisburgHochfeld created the opportunity to turn the property into a lively
leisure park on the river, thus strengthening Duisburgs profile as a city
on the Rhine. The Rhine Park leads the city to the river and also
closes an important gap in the city planning concept of a Green
Ring.
The topography of the park landscape supports the orientation of
the main paths to the future site of the promenade along the Rhine.
The meadows of the park are designed as an open, lightly contoured
landscape. The meadows rise from the level of the park as "floes"
that ascend gently up to the station and that continue beyond the
tracks. As a result, the tracks dive into the new terrain model. If the
topographic relationships (incisions, prominences) between the
park and the Rhine are examined, a type of folded landscape can
be seen in which the tracks (which were intrusive until now) can be
viewed as the comforting link in the search for the horizontal line.
The folds, i.e. the interplay of varying high and low places, let a
number of different spaces and utilisations develop. All the design
approaches serve to strengthen the perceptibility and experience of
the river landscape.

Right: Meadows ascending from the ground level of the park

200~201

Upper left: Topography as means of orientation

Lower left: Fragments of the old steel mill are integrated as play and sports areas into
the new park
Upper right: Orienting the city towards the waterfront of the Rhine
Lower right: The Rhine park is part of the "green ring" of Duisburg

202~203

Upper left: "Floes" ascending from the ground level of the park creating various spaces
and connecting to the Rhine river
Lower left: Integrating playgrounds into the park
Upper right: Synthesis of old and new
Lower right: Visual relationships are created through axes

204~205

Location: Barcelos, Portugal Designer: PROAP Landscape Architecture

Photographer: Diogo Bento Completion date: 2009 Site area: 73,380 sqm
PROAP 2009
73,380

1. Amphitheatre
2. Grassed Platforms
3. River
4. Water Canal

1.
2.
3.
4.

Barcelos Fluvial Park

The proposal is characterised by the redefinition of the main
connection routes with the city, through the integration of adjacent
buildings and the definition of a cycle/pedestrian path along the
River. Due to the lands major level variation, the proposal design
is based on the definition of platforms and stairs that adjoin, in a
smooth and natural, the lands slope while defining visual directions
and paths of gradual approach to the water level. The limited
range of materials used, concrete that defines benches and paths
edges, highlights the green element and unifies the entire space
while enabling the continuity of the design system and of a low
maintenance regime.
The intervention area is a nuclear area, very important for the
implementation of a new and desired relation between the city
and the river. The construction of a boardwalk along the river will
generate extensions upstream and downstream and enunciates
the resumption of the connection to the opposite shore and to the
fluvial beach on the south. The proposal sets a number of essential
goals, in search of a complete answer to the questions posed by
the intervention objectives: to establish the necessary formal and
function unification of the space, and its unity with the city and the
river, to recover the pre-existent valuable elements by dignifying
them, to implement the correct management of the vegetative
cover through the clarification of the covering typologies related
to certain situations-type and precise objectives, simplifying
the maintenance processes, thus enabling the continuity of the
projected system.

Right: General view of the park

206~207

Upper left: Access to the amphitheatre

Lower left: Overview of the topographical elements
Upper right: Overview of the amphitheatre
Lower right: Topographical elements as an amphitheatre

208~209
Appel
Location: Queensland, Australia Designer: PLACE Design Group Photographer:
Aperture Photography Completion date: 2007 Site area: 5,750 sqm
2007 5,750

1
4

5
2
3
6

Appel Park
Just across the road from Circle on Cavill apartment, one will find
the Appel Park overlooking the Nerang River. This park is frequented
by tour boats taking people onto the Gold Coast waterways for the
day or venturing out into open waters in winter/spring for the annual
whale migration. It is also the perfect place to relax and soak up the
sun's warm rays.
A key objective in the design was to provide a strong visual and
pedestrian link from the Nerang River through to Surfers Paradise
Boulevard. To support this connection to Circle on Cavill, the
designers have re-designed and landscaped Appel Park on the
riverfront.
As part of the Circle on Cavill development, our client rejuvenated
Appel Park creating a strong physical and visual connection
between the river and the city centre. The resulting urban space
incorporates giant public artwork that represents the timber logs that
were floated down the river from Nerang and upstream areas in the
early days of settlement.
Appel

Appel
Appel

1. River Link Access Path

2. Toilet Block
3. River Lookouts
4. Bus Shelter
5. Lawn
6. Cedar Cutter Memorial

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Right: Giant public artwork represents the timber logs

210~211

Left: Featured lighting continues the public space lighting from Circle on Cavill and
highlights the public art elements
Upper right: Elevated seating decks reinforce the park geometry
Lower right: Public artwork detail

212~213

Left: Lighting has been incorporated as a key design consideration in this 24 hour public
space
Upper right: A pavement and lawn channel aligns with the Broadwater boating channel
Lower right: Custom designed public space lighting links Appel Park to Circle on Cavill
24

Appel

214~215

Location: Karlstad, Sweden Designer: Thorbjrn Andersson Landscape

Architect Photographer: ke E:son Lindman, Kasper Dudzik, Johan Krikstrm
Completion date: 2010 Site area: 40,000 sqm
E:son
2010 40,000

9
10

8
5

1
3

1. Viewing Platform
2. Jetties with Boat Mooring
3. Riverside Walk, East
4. Riverside Walk, West
5. The Ridges with Granite Steps
6. Reedbed Park
7. Event Location
8. Activity Space
9. Sandy Beach
10. Sunset Boardwalk

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Sandgrund Park
The Sandgrund Park in Karlstad, Sweden, has undergone a major
change from being an unused peninsula of sand, transforming into
an attractive park in the middle of the city. The aim of the project has
been to create a certain place from which to enjoy the grandeur
of the surrounding landscape. The new park now offers lush valleys,
viewpoints and extensive boardwalks by the river.
At the point where the Klar river splits, a 400-metre long peninsula
forms what from the air looks like a birds pointed beak. The presence
of water, the dramatic end point and the urban setting were the
most obvious features here. The designers concept became to
amplify those same qualities for the future park. Along the river's
edge, the proximity to the water was further stressed through a
system of boardwalks on the western shore, facing the sunset. The
very end was given a sharper profile by adding a 40-metre long
viewing platform.
The grounds were shaped as undulating terrain with five parallel
ridges, about 100 metres long. The ridges were designed to offer
green viewpoints along their crests, and contained valleys in
between. Each other valley was designed to be a distinct plant
habitat, a beech forest, a magnolia grove, a fern valley. The others
were made into activity areas for rest and play, formed by grass and
low granite steps marking the contour lines.

400

40
5100

Award description:
Best Park of 2010 by Associates of Architects of Sweden

2010

Right: On the west side, a series of boardwalks form a

sunset promenade at the parks edge

216~217

Left: High attention has been put on details in planting and construction design
Upper right: The park is designed as a series of five valleys. The so-called activity valley
has seating of granite curbs
Lower right: The park is centrally located in the city of Karlstad, Sweden

218~219

Upper left: The valleys lead the visitor to the edges of the peninsula with their wooden decks
Lower left: The sun decks create terraces stepping down to the water
Upper right: Trees of Silver Willow planted in one of the decks to give shade and character
Lower right: Three of the valleys are plant habitats, as for instance this Firn valley

220~221

Location: Hagen, Germany Designer: Bro Drecker, Architect E.Stckemann

Photographer: Peter Drecker Completion date: 2008 Site area: 11,000 sqm
E.
2008 11,000

3
4

6
7

8
10

1. Skate Park
2. Playing Field
3. Esplanade
4. Perron
5. Playground with Rope Garden
6. Volme River
7. Sur-terrain
8. Playground
9. Sunbathing Area with Concrete Steps
10. Floristic Plant Association

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Volmepark Hagen
The River Volme is the main body of flowing water that crosses the
City of Hagen. The development of a continuous green corridor
along the River Volme is essential to the town-planning. The
associated park Volmepark is part of this green corridor and is
located between two existing bridge constructions in north-south
alignment.
Concerning the green corridor structure, the final project design aims
at a longitudinal alignment according to the rivers form. A so-called
sur-terrain gives the opportunity to linger above the surface of the
river Volme. The construction almost levitates and corresponds to the
planned perron placed on the opposite bank. The archaic character
of the structures in combination with the invisibility of the supporting
constructions transforms the ordinary waterfront into a poetic stage
over water. The esplanades and the removal of groves close to the
wall allow the visitor a direct contact to the brink of the river. The
sur-terrain as well as the perron in combination with the esplanades
unite different elements of the area and give people opportunities to
interact with the river.
In the southern sunbathing area steps are formed in the grass in a
longitudinal alignment to sustain the topography of the river ashore
and even the difference in altitude between the river and the street.
The playing area north of the River Volme will be rearranged. Several
elements and amply sandpit areas will offer playing opportunities to
children of different stages of life.

Right: Sur-terrain

222~223

Left: Esplanade
Upper right: Aerial view
Lower right: Rope garden

224~225

Left: Statue
Upper right: Top view of the sur-terrain
Lower right: Band of perennials

226~227

Upper left: Sunbathing area with concrete stairs

Lower left: Sur-terrain details
Upper right: Long esplanade
Lower right: Playground in rope garden

228~229

Location: New York, USA Designer: Dattner Architects, MKW + Associates, LLC.
Photographer: Bruce Katz, Jonnu Singleton, Luca Vignelli, MKW + Associates,
LLC. Completion date: 2005 Site area: 10,522 sqm
MKW
MKW 2005 10,522

3
4
5

9
6

1
1. South Entry
2. Sloped Lawn Bowl
3. Pier 95 Get-Down & Shade Structures
4. Shaded Seating Areas
5. Esplanade
6. Public Art
7. Pier 96 Boat House
8. Kayak Launching Platform
9. Bow Notch

1.
2.
3.95
4.
5.
6.
7.96
8.
9.

Clinton Cove Park, Segment 7,

Hudson River Park

Clinton Cove Park represents the first constructed phase of Hudson

River Park Segment 7 and is the northern terminus of the overall park.
The "cove" between existing Piers 94 and 97 provides fairly calm
water, so the incorporation of a public boathouse and launching
ramp was ideally sited at the former Pier 96 location. It has been
designed to incorporate kayak storage and launching and its east
and west facades feature roll-up doors that provide open views
to the Hudson along the view corridor of the 56th Street. The large
lawn bowl was created by building a planted berm along Route
9A, shielding the park from the sights and sounds of the road and
orienting the view towards the Hudson. This raised earthwork also
allowed plantings to easily occur over the concrete remains of a
former concrete manufacturing facility, without those remnants
having to be removed. Historic granite bulkhead coping stones
salvaged from other areas of the park provide informal seating
elements within the lawn. Broad, sweeping steps connect the raised
berm pathway to the esplanade and the Pier 96 Boathouse Plaza,
the setting for the public art piece developed for this park, Private
Passage by Malcolm Cochran.
Canopy trees provide shade and ornamental trees provide seasonal
colours and scale as shrubs and perennials. Mounds of ornamental
grasses retain steeper portions of the berm and add movement to
the park experience as breezes blow along the Hudson.

949896
56
9A

96

Right: A public art piece occupies the broadened

esplanade near the Pier 96 boathouse MKW Associates
96 MKW

230~231

Left: The pier and get-down at Pier 95 allow the park visitor to shift from the esplanade
to a vantage point above and closer to the river. Both steps and a serpentine ramp
provide access Bruce Katz 2007
Upper right: Aerial view of the park and esplanade and public art piece Luca Vignelli
Lower right: The esplanade repeats the park-wide material of granite and bluestone
pavement and stainless steel bulkhead railings Jonnu Singleton
95

232~233

Upper left: Aerial view of Pier 95, looking southwest Luca Vignelli
Lower left: Pier 95 engages park visitors on multiple levels Luca Vignelli
Upper right: Aerial view of the park looking southwest, just after completion Luca Vignelli
Lower right: The open lawn bowl provides numerous opportunities for relaxing and
enjoying views to the water Jonnu Singleton
95
95

234~235

Location: New York, USA Designer: Thomas Balsley Associates Photographer:

Thomas Balsley Associates, David Quinones, Betsy Pinover Schiff Completion
date: 2010 Site area: 93,078 sqm

2010 93,078

12 11
4

13

14
9

1. Pedestrian Entry Plaza

2. Pedestrian Path
3. Bicycle Path
4. Existing Transfer Bridge
5. Amphitheatre
6. Terraced Park Overlooks and Promenades
7. Earth Promontory and Hudson River
Prospect
8. NYCDPR Maintenance & Storage Facility
9. Natural Landscape Area
10. Boardwalk Through Natural Landscape
Area
11. Gardens
12. Northern Childrens Play Area
13. Southern Childrens Play Area
14. Restaurant Concession

10

7 1

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Riverside Park South

The master plan called for the relocation of an overhead highway
into a tunnel beneath the new park and extended from the 59 th
Street to the 73rd Street at the Olmsted Riverside Park. The process
involved working with local and state government agencies,
community groups, stakeholders and the client to create a vibrant
new public space that reintroduced the community to the water
s edge and responded to the unique industrial history and riparian
ecology of the site.
The new park, called Riverside Park South, features a series of special
architectural park structures and landscape spaces that vary in
scale and highlight the experiential qualities of the park. Terraces,
expansive lawns, architectural shade structures, recreation areas,
lawn mounds, and intimate tree groves create viewing areas, spaces
for play, that draw one to the rivers edge. A circulation system of
esplanades, boardwalks, footpaths, and bike paths tie the individual
places together. Overlooks at each historic pier piling field, terraced
walls and a two hundred and fifty metre long pier take visitors out to
and across the water. A new serpentine pedestrian bridge sweeps
out across the water and encircles a reconstructed wetland planted
with native grasses. The design is guided by site remediation and
social and environmental sustainability principles.
5973

250

Award description:
NYASLA Honour Award

Right: Grasslands, cove, and the southern lawn plaza are

punctuated with interpretive overlooks at the historic pier
landings

236~237

Upper left: Terrace with "train shed" shelters that overlook the historic pier pilings
Lower left: A train shed inspired structure shelters and custom lounge chairs on the
grassland terrace
Upper right: Removed from the main esplanade, a row of shade shelters provide
comfortable and intimate moments of river views
Lower right: Off the beaten path, timber seats offer extraordinary intimacy with the river
and its environment

238~239

Upper left: Pedestrian walkway crosses cove heading south

Lower left: Custom deck chairs overlook the river just past the tot play lawn
Upper right: Double-width high-backed timber lounge chairs designed to capture the
breathtaking views in a comfortable incline
Lower right: Distinctive seating defines spaces

240~241

L o c a t i o n : To ro n t o , C a n a d a D e s i g n e r : C l a u d e C o r m i e r A s s o c i a t e s
Photographer: Waterfront Toronto & Claude Cormier Associates Completion
date: 2010 Site area: 8,500 sqm
Claude Cormier Claude Cormier
2010 8,500

4
3
6

1. Urban Beach
2. Promenade
3. Plaza Concert Space
4. Chorus Concert Stage
5. Interactive Fountain
6. Candy-Striped Bedrock
7. Temporary Berm over Future Development
Parcel
8. North Plaza (Proposed)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach takes its queue from adjacent Redpath Sugar Factory,
source of the noteworthy sugar spray frequently carried by westerly
breezes onto the site. Sweetness is here manifested through
candy-coloured umbrellas across a sandy wedge of beach, and
bedrock outcrops patterned after rock candy. Intergrating the
future Waterfront Promenade and a plaza for programmed and
unprogrammed events, the design for Sugar Beach playfully adopts
some of the most enduring elements from Toronto's emerging
landscape identity - its beaches, tree and water - embedding them
into the urban horizon with a trace mood of the city's industrial past.
Canadas Sugar Beach, whose design includes a plaza, urban
beach and tree-lined promenade, is like three parks in one.
The parks engaging plaza space offers a dynamic space for public
events. A large candy-striped granite rock outcropping and three
grass mounds create a colourful amphitheatre-style space with
unique vantage points for larger events. The spaces between the
mounds result in a natural performance space for smaller events.
At the beach, white Muskoka-style chairs under playful pink umbrellas
line the waters edge giving people a place to while away the
afternoon. A dynamic water feature embedded in a granite maple
leaf beside the beach makes cooling off fun for adults and children.
Between the plaza and the beach, people will stroll through the
park along a promenade with granite and tumbled concrete
cobblestones in a maple leaf mosaic pattern. Lined with mature
maple trees, the promenade offers a shaded route to the water's
edge giving the public ample opportunity along the way to sit
and enjoy views to the lake, beach or plaza. At the lake, the park's
promenade connects seamlessly to East Bayfronts continuous
kilometre-long waters edge promenade and boardwalk.

Right: Panoramic view of Sugar Beach

242~243

Left: Tree-lined promenade

Upper right: Interactive water features
Lower right: Water feature details

244~245

Upper left: White Muskoka-style chairs under playful pink umbrellas line the waters edge
giving people a place to while away the afternoon
Lower left: A dynamic water feature embedded in a granite maple leaf
Upper right: A large candy-striped granite rock outcropping and three grass mounds
create a colourful amphitheatre-style space
Lower right: white Muskoka-style chairs under playful pink umbrellas

246~247
HtO
Location: Toronto, Canada Designer: Janet Rosenberg + Associates, Claude
Cormier Associates, Hariri Pontarini Architects Photographer: Jan Becker, Neil
Fox Completion date: 2007 Site area: 24,281 sqm
JRAClaude CormierHariri Pontarini
2007 24,281

1
8
6

1. Metropolitan Toronto Condominium

2. HtO Park West
3. Queens Quay West
4. HtO Park East
5. Lake Ontario
6. Fire Station
7. Urban Beach
8. Urban Dunes

Award description:
2009 ASLA Honour Award
2008 CSLA Regional Honour Award
2007 Gold Award, Design Exchange

2009
2008
2007

1.
2.HtO
3.
4.HtO
5.
6.
7.
8.

HtO
HtO, an urban beach along Torontos waterfront, is not only an
adored, seasonally adaptive public space where people of all
ages can spend extended time by the water away from downtown
commotion, but it is also a catalyst for the citys future waterfront
development, having set high design standards. Transformed from
an abandoned industrial site, the park is a welcoming, branded
destination that effectively draws visitors to the waterfront and
animates it with colour and activity.
As a flexible public space that allows for passive and active uses and
as a one-of-a-kind, iconic destination, HtO, as soon as it opened,
became highly popular. Nearby residents spend the day sun tanning
on the beach; strolling tourists admire the site, which offers majestic
views of the Toronto skyline and the lake. The topography of HtO
allows visitors to go uphill through a series of green berms as they
enter the park and then they descend down towards the beach and
the lake, feeling as though the city and the elevated expressway are
left behind.
But the design of the park had many challenges, the biggest of all
being environmental concerns. HtO sits on a site with history and
a legacy of environmental damage. The design had to address
issues of soil contamination and other remnants of industrial
progress. Contaminated soils were capped and on-site storm water
management systems were put in place such as pervious surfaces
that infiltrate water and gradually dispersing infiltration pits. In
addition, all the water that is used for irrigation is lake water. To revive
some of the natural ecologies in the lake, fish habitats were built
along the edge of the park and in the slip using recycled concrete
from the site and rip-rap.
HtO
HtO

HtO
HtO

HtO

Right: A boardwalk extends along the edge of the park

248~249

Upper left: HtO is dramatically lit up at night

Lower left: Aerial view of HtO
Upper right: The name HtO is a branding tactic, created to give identity to the park
Lower right: HtO offers panoramic views of Lake Ontario
HtO
HtO
HtO
HtO

250~251

Upper: Panoramic view of HtO

Lower left: Night view of the entrance
Lower right: Families spend time together at HtO, picnicking
HtO

HtO

252~253

Location: Queensland, Australia Designer: Mark Fuller, Aecom Photographer:

Christopher Frederick Jones Completion date: 2009 Site area: 3,486 sqm
Aecom
2009 3,486

9
8

10
5

3
6
8

4
2
1

1. Southern Park Entry

2. BBQ Shelter and Play Equipment
3. Central Events Lawn
4. Secondary Central Event Lawn
5. Event Deck
6. Outdoor Cinema Structure
7. Water Garden
8. Solar Array
9. Nerang Street Pier
10. Water Play Area

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Award description:
2010 Australian Institute of Architects, State Commendation, Urban
Design
2010 Australian Institute of Architects, Regional Commendation,
Urban Design
2009 Planning Award in Landscape Architecture, Australian Institute
of Landscape Architecture (AILA) Queensland

Southport Broadwater
Parklands

The Southport Broadwater Parklands has realised its vision of

becoming an iconic gateway for the Gold Coast and a popular
destination, where events, history and water combine to create an
active green waterfront.
The design draws on natural and urban cues, creating a place that is
both legible and functional, while being layered in the sculptural and
poetic. Bold geometric forms frame up major gathering spaces and
circulation routes, while dunal landforms and planting enclose more
intimate spaces.
The re-introduction of long forgotten historical functions and
structured community activity spaces, including pier, memorial,
stage and bathing boxes now provide an adaptable framework
to encourage new uses. A strong desire to reflect the distinct "Gold
Coast Lifestyle" and emotive experience of the beach is referenced
through striped beach towel paving patterns, fun, colourful beachstyle furniture, and "the Rockpools" childrens water play precinct.
However, the key underlying initiative that binds together these
social, cultural, historical and physical aspects of the site is clearly the
projects bold and visionary response to the natural environment and
the preservation of the Broadwater. By layering green technologies
such as water cleansing and harvesting, solar energy production,
recycled materials, use of non-potable water sources and
preservation of sand dunes, AECOM has created a truly integrated
open space that has set a new benchmark for the design of public
open spaces and will be a legacy for generations to come.

Aecom

2010
2010
2009
Right: The parklands provide opportunities for shaded
seating with open water views

254~255

Upper left: Water sensitive urban design wetlands design to capture and filter storm
water runoff from roads and urban surfaces before it enters the Broadwater
Lower left: Natural materials has been used where possible such as timber for the cross
wetland boardwalk
Upper right: Expansive parkland paths have been designed to accommodate a mix of uses
Lower right: The use of solar panels reflect the parklands commitment to sustainability

256~257

Upper left: Bio-filtration garden beds have been integrated into the main entrance path
making sustainable processes visible to all parkland users
Lower left: Water play provides opportunity for passive and active recreation for age groups
Upper right: Public access water play is a key element to the parkland design
Lower right: Water invigorates childrens play

258~259

Location: San Pedro, USA Designer: AECOM Photographer: AECOM

Completion date: Ongoing Site area: 1,618,743 sqm
Aecom Aecom
1,618,743

3
4

1. Cruise Ship Promenade

2. Gateway Fountain
3. Harbour Boulevard
4. Cabrillo Beach

1.
2.
3.
4.

Los Angeles Waterfront

The Los Angeles Waterfront project is a long-term plan to transform
the industrial Port of Los Angeles property along a 7-mile stretch of
waterfront to include promenades, parks, retail and commercial
spaces. Designed to reconnect the community with its waterfront,
improve environmental quality, create new economic opportunities,
and triple the amount of San Pedros existing open space, the
development has already dramatically changed the appearance of
the Ports working waterfront and spawned new development.
Built portions of the San Pedro Waterfront Gateway Project include
the Cruise Ship Promenade, Gateway Plaza, the Harbour Boulevard
Parkway and the Fanfare Fountain. The one-mile promenade is
dotted with plazas, event spaces, fountains and art, and represents
the first phase of realisation of a long-awaited community vision to
recapture an industrial waterfront for public access and use. It has
been a catalyst for urban revitalisation and created momentum for
on-going phases of redevelopment. Connecting the promenade with
the Gateway Plaza, the 21-metre-wide Harbour Boulevard Parkway is
designed to accommodate pedestrians and bike riders, and includes
seating and gathering spaces with historic interpretive elements. The
Gateway Plaza is located at the entrance of the Los Angeles World
Cruise Centre and the welcoming station of the Waterfront Red Car
Line. The Fanfare Fountain, located in the heart of the Plaza, is a
choreographed exhibit of water and lights. The Plaza creates a civic
gathering place, surrounded by significant icons such as the Vincent
Thomas Bridge and the visual attractions of Cruise Ships and cranes.
11265

1600

21

Award description:
2010 Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects,
Northern California Chapter
2010 Los Angeles Architectural Award, Los Angeles Business Council
2009 Honor Award, Waterfront Centre

2010
2010
2009

Right: The promenade creates a shady link to downtown San

Pedro. A coloured asphalt Class 1 bike trail, custom lighting and
furniture were designed in collaboration with the community

260~261

Upper left: This catalyst project will remake seven miles of industrial Port of Los Angeles
property, photographed here prior to development. Acres of asphalt will be replaced
with public amenities, tripling the amount of open space on the site
Lower left: An iconic arc of Canary Island Palms frames a new gateway to San Pedros
waterfront
Upper right: A granite band Story Rope extends the length of the promenade. Thirteen
stories of San Pedros history are engraved in gold granite medallions with illuminated
blue terrazzo compass-rose medallions that serve as trail markers and give directional
reference
Lower right: The promenade provides a venue for new community attractions and
events, creating a spectacular new context for experiencing the working harbour

13

262~263

Upper left: LED lighting effect is meant to create a festive contrast with the industrial
background
Lower left: The outward focus of the design accentuates the richness of experience
without competing with the majesty of scale of the surrounding port, and provides the
communitys number one preferred activity on the promenade: viewing the working
harbour
Upper right: A major water feature anchors the Gateway Plaza, celebrating the
revitalisation of San Pedro
Lower right: Wooden deck overlooks have moveable deck chairs to create a new
context for viewing the working harbour through ornamental grasses that allude to the
sites natural history as a tidal marshland
LED

264~265

Location: Queensland, Australia Designer: Mark Fuller, Aecom Photographer:

Christopher Frederick Jones Completion date: 2007 Site area: 18,000 sqm
Aecom
2007 18,000

2
1

4
3

1. Park Entry Signage

2. Reconfigured Carpark
3. Vehicle Drop Off and Toilets
4. Informal Grassed Terraces
5. Ramp to Water Edge
6. Water Plaza
7. Jetty
8. Interactive Cascading Water Feature
9. Wetland Water Feature
10. Boardwalk along River Edge

10
9

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Award description:
2008 AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards, Award for Design
2008 Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand
National Awards, Award of Excellence
2007 AILA Queensland State Awards Commendation Award for
Design in Landscape Architecture

2008
2008
2007

Ipswich River Heart Parklands

Sensitivity and understanding of the Bremer Rivers significance to
Ipswich and its residents enabled the design team to transform a
once neglected river edge into the heart of the city. As lead design
consultants for the project, Aecom recognised and harnessed the
social and geographic importance of the Bremer River to revitalise
it from an underutilised and unsightly urban river precinct into a
vibrant, multi-use public space.
Key features of the parklands include:
Terraces, boardwalks, jetties and walkways through a replanted
and rejuvenated rivers edge;
Collapsible and removable handrails for sections of boardwalk to
reduce damage to structures caused in the event of flooding;
New shelters, picnic facilities, toilets and seating;
A 180 square metres water feature, which operates on recycled water;
A small-scale wetland to encourage localised opportunities, such
as fauna access to freshwater;
Simple, robust and cost effective historical interpretative panels
and directional signage; and
Open and legible landscape design, thoughtful design lighting and
the inclusion of video surveillance to improve access and safety.
The true test of public domain is the publics enjoyment of a space,
and since its opening in 2007, the Parkland has been enthusiastically
embraced by all sections of the community for its richness, quality
and sense of place. The resurrection of this portion of the river has
reinvigorated peoples use and expectations of their public domain
as a place where they can feel safe, comfortable, accessible to
everyone and therefore highly valued.

Aecom

180

2007

Right: Site contours are the inspiration to the design of the waterfall

266~267

Upper left: Creative interpretive and wayfinding signage is a key design element of the parkland
Lower left: Elevated boardwalks provide greater site wide usage and views of
surrounding landscapes
Upper right: Filtered river water feeds the waterfall as a sustainable element of the
parklands design
Lower right: Shade structure provide rest and gathering areas of a more intimate scale
within the parkland

268~269

Upper left: Entry signage for parkland was designed to activate creative play and
investigation throughout the park
Lower left: Strong creative design has led to many successful outcomes for structures
throughout the parkland
Upper right: Local artist were engaged to install site specific artworks throughout the parkland
Lower right: A strong focus of the design was to bring people closer to the waters of the
Bremer River

INDEX

DAOUST LESTAGE Inc.

OKRA

Email: info@daoustlestage.com

Email: mail@okra.nl

Tonkin Liu

Arkitekt Kristine Jensens Tegnestue

Email: mail@tonkinliu.co.uk

Email: kj@kristinejensen.dk

PLACE Design Group

Stoss Landscape Urbanism

Email: brisbane@placedesigngroup.com

Email: admin@stoss.net

Guallart Architects

Thorbjrn Andersson

Email: infoguallart@gmail.com

Email: thorbjorn.andersson@sweco.se

HFNER / JIMENEZ Bro fr

Landschaftsarchitektur

GFSL Clausen+Scheil, Landscape Architects

Email: info@haefner-jimenez.de

Sasaki Associates
Email: info@sasaki.com

Bjrbekk & Lindheim

Email: post@blark.no

EARTHSCAPE
Email: info@earthscape.co.jp

Latz + Partner
Email: post@latzundpartner.de

3LHD
Email: info@3lhd.com

ASPECT Studios
Email: aspectsydney@aspect.net.au

Email: info@gfsl.de

Katerina Tsigarida Architects

Email: contact@tsigarida.gr

C. F. Mller Architects
Email: cfmoller@cfmoller.com

Henningsen Landschaftsarchitekten BDLA Berlin

Email: info@henningsen-berlin.de

BHF-LandscapeArchitects
Email: Bendfeldt@bhf-ki.de

Mayslits Kassif Architects

Email: mk@mkarchitects.com

West 8
Email: pr@west8.com

PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.

Thomas Balsley Associates

Email: bchan@pwlpartnership.com

Email: info@tbany.com

McGregor Coxall

Claude Cormier Associates

Email: christian.borchert@mcgregorcoxall.com

Email: info@claudecormier.com

Lee Weintraub Landscape Architecture LLC

Janet Rosenberg + Associates

Email: l.weintraub@lwlallc.com

Email: office@jrala.ca

A24 Landschaft Robel Swillus und Partner

Aecom

Email: post@a24-landschaft.de

Email: info@aecom.com

Bruto Landscape Architecture

Email: info@bruto.si

360 Landscape Architects

Email: Kajsa@360.net.au

McGregor Westlake Architecture

Email: peter@mwarchitects.com.au

Atelier Loidl
Email: office@atelier-loidl.de

PROAP Landscape Architecture

Email: proap@proap.pt

Bro Drecker
Email: markus.schmidt@drecker.de

MKW + Associates, LLC.

Email: info@mkwla.com