Portraits of Port Cities: Waterfront Regeneration Projects and Contemporary Design Approaches

Activity: Talk or presentationTalk or presentation at a workshop, seminar, course or other meeting

Description

Marked on maps not only along bodies of water, but also at the convergence of entangled local and global networks of flows, port cities have always been subject to rapid transformations in relation to changing political, economic, social, and technological developments. As the primary site where overseas trade operates, advancements in shipping technologies have had direct consequences for planning and designing port cities. Ports and port-related functions have been relocated in each era of their histories to enable synchronisation of port activities, serving as the backbone of trade among interconnected port cities.

A series of changes during the 20th century transformed the face of port cities. Among others, deindustrialisation and its subsequent economic and social consequences left parts of port cities derelict. These abandoned areas have been revitalised within the framework of waterfront regeneration projects, bringing together diverse actors—both governmental and non-governmental bodies. The projects offer sites for contemporary architecture while incorporating these areas into cities and urban life.

Though port cities share a common fate, they follow different timelines for developing projects and applications. Each project—together with its process as well as results—offers learnings for future projects. In this respect, this lecture provides a brief history of waterfront regeneration projects since the first examples undertaken in North America. By focusing on different examples executed in the 1960s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, it reflects on evolving development strategies and contemporary design approaches.
Period11 Oct 2024
Event titleHistoric Ports, Future Cities
Event typeCourse
LocationIzmir, TurkeyShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational