Water as Public Space

Gepubliceerd in vakblad My Liveable City, uitgave januari-maart 2016.

Urban water in its role as public space has formed the basis for healthy, vital and resilient civic societies in many cultures around the world. In the history of Mankind, where cities grew at locations which were easily accessible, the banks of rivers and sea-shores were obvious places for the formation of cities. Across the world, there are examples to be found aplenty of great cities which have a special relationship to water. In these cities Water is not only functional for transport and trade but also helps determine the identity of these cities. The water and the public spaces along its edges play an important role in places of congregation and traditional rituals. In this article, examples from three different countries demonstrate the major contribution water makes to civic life.