Introduction:
Water is an ecological resource. It is an element of creation and sustenance. It is considered the symbol of life, and rightfully so. Historically, it brought about the existence and prosperity of many civilizations. Likewise, it coerced many civilizations to evacuate their land of origin, and even ended some, when the water resources diverted their course or dried up.
Still landscape with a water source, Vancouver BC, Canada
Source: Author
Water as a Physical Element:
Water forms a part of the natural terrain. It is a part of the ecological system and is essential for many biological processes, such as the water cycle. Historically, oceans and seas have been a part of ancient transportation routes, which continue to date.
It can shape landscapes through erosion and sediment transportation. It exists as diverse ecosystems including rivers, oceans, seas, mangroves, brooks and lakes. All of these are crucial sanctuaries for biodiversity.
Spiritually, water is considered a cleansing element in many faiths. It is often associated with the nature of the feminine - with the stillness and the flow. In Hinduism, the cremated remains of the loved ones are dispersed into the holy rivers, symbolizing their transition from the material to the spiritual world. It is an act of letting go. This symbolism can provide a deep sense of relief to those grieving their loved ones, as this act is rooted in faith, culture and tradition. One can begin to perceive the continuous cycle of life and death with this revered gesture.
Still waves at the beach horizon, Vancouver BC, Canada
Source: Author
Psychologically, the sights of the still backwaters or lakes, and the sounds of the waves washing up on the beach, can bring about a sense of peace in the nervous system. The visuals of the sea waves or their horizons can instill a sense of hope and expansiveness in a chaotic mind. Its fluid, and constantly moving texture, can provide a visual and experiential respite from mundanity.
The Primary Function of Water Resources:
Water symbolizes life. Some of the first (and consequent) civilizations in the world originated and prospered along water resources (including rivers). These include the Harappan Civilization, which originated along the banks of the Vedic Saraswati River, the river valley civilizations along the Niger River, and the ancient civilizations along the Huang He, and the Yangtze rivers in China.
Historically, water resources such as the ocean and the sea were used to navigate unexplored terrains. Eventually, water became a medium of transportation and trade activities. Many port cities continue to have traces of the cosmopolitan identity, in the built fabric along their shores. This can also be observed in the inhabitants whose roots are not indigenous to the region - those who have continued to live there for many generations, and now form a part of the new region.
As globalization encouraged outreach to different parts of the world, it transported fruits, vegetables, grains and spices from one region to another. This transaction shifted the consumption, food-rearing patterns, culinary habits and social cultures. It was also how many countries from the West colonized the countries of Asia.
The Arabian Sea Waterfront at the Gateway of India, Mumbai. The Monument was constructed to Welcome King George V, the Emperor of India at the time. Source: Author
Apart from trade, navy, and navigation, water terrains are also used as a mode of civilian transportation. Water landscapes can meander through many regions. This persuades the population to use water transportation services. These include the Abras in Dubai, the water metro in Kochi, the traditional row boats in Tongli, China and the punter boats, and whisper boats in Giethoorn, Netherlands
The ancient Grand Canal internal water system in China extends from Beijing to Zhejiang Province in the South. This 2000 km inland water navigation network links 5 river basins in the country. Currently, it is still used as an important mode of transportation and communication. This system has provided economic prosperity and stability to China. Source: Pinterest
These boats also serve for recreational purposes. As an event venue, as a resort, or as a leisure-filled ride. This creates commercial opportunities for the locals as well. These are some ways to experience the local culture.
Water Resources as Social Connectors:
As unprecedented as it may seem, the waterfront's edge can foster social connections. As the water stream serves as a natural boundary, creating a connection along an edge, and/or between two edges can facilitate interaction of different aspects, including trade, social interactions and cultural exchange.
Mumbai's renowned waterfront, Marine Drive, is flocked by Mumbaikars to catch a glimpse of their cricket heroes, after their notable win during the T20 2024 World Cup. Source: Ujwal Puri on Twitter
During regional festivals, many people flock toward the waterfront for collective celebrations. Usually, the promenade and the surroundings are decorated with lights, and other ornamentation to match the festive spirit. During celebrations such as the New Year or Diwali, the local authorities set lights and drone shows, or fire crackers at a safe distance from the public, to enhance the joyful experience of togetherness.
The Dubai Fountain, located within the premises of the Dubai Mall, was inspired by the Fountains of Bellagio, which is located on the sidewalk along the Las Vegas Strip. Both these fountains awaken the audience's senses. The fountains move to the rhythm of the music and are a visual treat. The access to both these fountains is restricted by low-height railings, for safety purposes. Else, both these fountains have easy visual access to those strolling nearby.
The Dubai Fountain
Source: Christine Power on Pinterest
The beach is another excellent example of a naturally created waterfront for social activities. People visit beaches to wind down or partake in socializing or active recreation (if provided by the specific beach). Most beachfronts also incorporate local eateries nearby.
Water Resource as Political Common:
Many water resources flow through different regions, inter and intra - country. The Danube River, for instance, flows through about 10 countries. It sources from the Black Forest Mountain Range in Central Europe, to the Black Sea in South Eastern Europe. Counting its watershed territories, it covers 4 more countries.
Standing along the edge of the River Danube in any of the countries it flows through, is a humbling reminder that it is a shared resource. The river is named differently in each country that it flows through, accounting for the language and cultural shifts. Its tributaries are also named as per a variation of the word Danube.
Danube Riverfront in Budapest, Hungary
Source: Author
Some towns or cities along the Danube river have developed their waterfront extent, to engage with it. Others have set buffers to create a natural boundary along the river's extent before entering the physical boundary of the region. The terrain along the extent is quite transient. These terrains have been re-purposed to accommodate suitable activities given its context.
For instance, smaller biodiversities are created within the river, such as a lake. In one transect, the terrain transforms into a smaller creek where a row of floating houses is provided for eco-recreation. Similarly, some island features are observed within the river, such as the Donauinsel. It is a 21 km long artificial island feature near Vienna. This is used by cyclists for athleisure. It was constructed as a measure of flood protection.
Many tourist towns have hotels facing the river. Some of these edges also have art museums or installations that serve as local recreation. Some traces of history such as the Hrad Devin castle can be seen in some towns along the river. Ribbon development, fort-bound planning and linear development are observed in some towns. Other than this, based on continued history, some towns have port industries along the river edge. Others have dams and road bridges for transportation.
Hrad Devin, historical remnants of a castle
Source: Time for Slovakia
As it is one of the longest rivers in Europe, it requires management practices that encourage fair use of the resource. Some organizations governing the resource include the Danube River Protection Convention and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). These are supported by the Water Framework Directive set by the European Union.
The River Danube has been an ancient trade route in the European territory. Hence, it is a crucial artery for economic activities - including trade, transportation and tourism. The Danube Commission is in charge of maintaining a safe passageway along the river's extent.
Water Front Development:
Many waterfront destinations have emerged from the cultural association of its location. Usually, the waterfronts have activities, and services based on their natural terrains and continued socio-political history. These waterfronts can also become a landmark and renowned for these cultural activities.
A traditional kind located opposite the temple premises in Kasaragode, Kerala in India
Source: Author
Many water use based built-forms become a part of the urban fabric and the cultural collective. For instance, sacred water tanks, known as kunds, are situated near temples. These kunds are step wells. They are used for rituals and social gatherings. These can be located next to the temple, or across it. In neighbourhood localities, these kunds become a form of social landmark, and in time, an urban memory.
Additionally, they also play a role in water management practices, as catchments. This provides a reliable source of water for the temple, as well as the surrounding community. These step-wells reflect the aesthetic of the era in which it was constructed. Its historicity reveals its functions and the stories of its continued culture.
Varanasi Ghat Extent
Source: Aditya Sadukhan
The ghats at Banaras, or Varanasi, have emerged along the holy Ganga river. The open platforms and the steps leading one towards the river are an invitation to engage directly with Goddess Ganga. In Hinduism, this river is considered sacred, as Goddess Ganga is symbolic of purification and forgiveness. People around the country, visit here to take a dip and cleanse themselves of their sins, or to merge the cremated remains of their loved ones into the river.
Many Hindu spiritual rituals such as the Ganga Aarti, and the cremation rites are performed on the platform of the ghats. The evening prayers are performed at the Dhashaswamedh Ghat. The prayers here are renowned for their scale, and the spiritual atmosphere created during them. The cremation rituals are performed at the Manikarnika Ghat and the Harischandra Ghat.
Ganga Aarti along the Varanasi Ghats
Source: Pallavi Barman Photography
When approaching from the North, the Adi Keshav Ghat is the first ghat from the series of ghats in Varanasi. The ghats extend up to 7 km, encompassing about 88 ghats. The last ghat at the south Sant Ravidas Ghat. The ghats are bustling with social activities, which overall form the cultural landscape of the waterfront.
Dubai Marina is an example of an ambitious urban development, where a canal was carved from the coastline. The canal is flanked by luxurious properties, for residential and commercial use. The vision was to create a waterfront lifestyle. Despite the concerns that the project was harmful to the environment, the property is environmentally monitored at regular intervals for the safety of the users.
Dubai Marina Waterfront
Source: Dubai Marina Website
Dubai, having a desert terrain, have developed their city to attract visitors and investors from all around the world. They have also developed many other waterfront projects such as La Mer, the Business Bay, and multiple waterfront projects along the Dubai Creek.
The San Antonio River Walk in Texas, USA was developed as a solution to flood control and an urban planning vision. After a devastating flood in 1921, a dam was constructed at upstream of the region, which controlled the flow of the river stream. The project is exemplary of how waterfronts can be transformed into a multifaceted utility and engagement space. Architect Robert HH Hugman has proposed a reinvented design of the walk which included a winding pedestrian walkway connecting different levels. The common spine connected restaurants, green spaces and shops, creating a unique urban environment with nature's resources.
A section of the vibrant River Walk
Source: City of San Antonio Website
The artificial river channel was realigned to its natural course. This reclaimed its ecological value, inviting the migratory birds and native fish back into its territory. The River Walk is located a level below the road level. It's active and bustling with different recreations along both zones. The project sought to connect the historical legacy, the natural ecology and the social association of the course.
The Fishermen's Boats at the Versova Jetty
Source: Author
The Versova Jetty, in Versova, Mumbai, is a vibrant fish marketplace, where the fishermen, bring in their catch from the Arabian Sea. Usually, the fishermen's wives are in charge of selling the fish. The bustling environment reflects the fresh and colourful display of the day's catch, the haggling between the customers and the sellers, and the traditional boats parked in a line. These are the few places where the city's Koli heritage can be observed along the coastal edge. It fosters a connection between the traders, the consumers, and visitors, thereby creating a significant point of convergence in the city's cultural landscape.
The Dissolution of Habitation, after the Death or Changing Courses of Water Resources:
The Saraswati River was an ancient river named in the Rig Veda, which is said to have existed between the Indus and the Yamuna rivers. However, its exact location is still under debate. In the 1850s, when the location of the river was identified, the ruined settlements of the Indus and Harappan Civilizations were also observed.
Proposed reconstruction of the disappearance of the Saraswati River Basin in 3 phases
Source: Michel Danino
It is termed as the river that 'disappeared'. Its disappearance is said to happen due to shifts in the tectonic plates, climate change, and other shifts in the geology, that changed its course, and eventually dried the river bed. This climatic shift has not just been observed in India. This natural phenomenon has synchronously led to the collapse of the Harappan and Indus Civilizations, and the Akkadian Empire based in southern Mesopotamia. The abrupt collapse of civilizations has also been documented in the Aegean, Egypt and Palestine.
The Saraswat Brahmins who had settled along the banks of the Saraswati River, were forced to migrate away from the drying river banks to ensure their survival. Some moved towards Kashmir in the North, some moved towards the West in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Some moved towards NorthEast - towards UP, and Trihotra near Bengal. Many migrated Southwards along the Konkan coast towards Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
The route of River Saraswati & the migration routes of the Saraswats
Source: CV Shenvi Dhume
Having migrated to new regions, the Saraswat Brahmins adapted to the cultures, while maintaining their customs and rituals. The dialects of this Konkani-speaking community differ according to the regions they are based in, forming distinct identities. However, they continue to be linked with the common ancestry with the Saraswati River. The community is kept together and connected to their family Gods in Goa.
Points of Consideration:
In this day and age of sustainability, innovating towards sustainable technologies can be an expensive affair. Hence, the developing regions in the world, may not still have the resources to systemically merge their disconnect from the water resources.
The Mithi River in Mumbai has been disconnected from the region's front. It is viewed as sewer water, rather than a river. However, efforts to reclaim the resource are in progress. For example, the Maharashtra Nature Park is a biodiversity park formed on the edge of the river, open to the public since 1994. Source: Google Images. Credits to the owner.
Due to the high population density in these regions, many areas along the waterfront are illegally and insensitively reclaimed. This can create distress in the natural ecology, and lead to man-made climate disasters, especially flooding.
Any nature-based, sensitive development requires the concerned departments to also engage with the social and other systemic issues underlying the region. Using natural resources at the crux of our development plans can ensure co-existence, and a sense of harmonious engagement among man, nature and technology. This can also inspire innovation towards healthy and sustainable development.
'Ecology is Permanent Economy'- Sunderlal Bahuguna
Way Forward:
Climate-responsive environments are created when we plan our cities per the region's ecology. It inherently fosters a connection with the natural elements integrating them into the fabric of daily life. When the design is aligned with the natural resources, the public spaces, infrastructure and culture of the inhabitants progress based on its presence, and enhanced accessibility.
The Hatirjheel-Begunbari wetland restoration project in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a model for integrating ecological and design elements into the urban fabric of the country. The project transformed a neglected, and polluted river into an active riverfront. The project has faced its challenges. However, it is a crucial attempt towards creating resilient regional zones that honour nature and culture. Source: Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd
Over time, these water resources influence the local traditions, recreational activities, and building typologies. This creates a sense of belonging with the water source and responsibility towards it, in the users' minds. This association provides a unique characteristic to each water resource, and it becomes integral to the urban character and identity of the place. The water resource is then revered, celebrated and maintained considering this association.
Citations:
1 Bozovic, M, and Miller, MD. (2016). Watersheds: Poetics and Politics of the Danube River. Boston| Academic Studies Press.
2 Danino, M. (2010). The Lost River - On the Trail of the Sarasvati. Delhi|Penguin India.
3 Prabhu, M. (2010). Determining the Age of the Saraswat Community. [online]. Available at: https://www.indiamahesh.com/2010/05/determining-the-age-of-saraswat-community/ [Accessed on 03-08-2024]
4 UNESCO. (1999). World Heritage Convention. [online]. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1443/ [Accessed on 03-08-2024]
5 Ferguson, W. (2022). Texas Highways - Down by the River. [online]. Available at: https://texashighways.com/outdoors/water/how-the-san-antonio-riverwalk-became-more-than-just-a-tourist-attraction/ [Accessed on 04-08-2024]
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