Waterfront development

TBA was selected by the City of Tampa in an open design competition to help redefine its waterfront cultural center with a vital metropolitan park. The result of a successful public-private partnership, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is an extraordinary urban transformation of a barren and lifeless riverfront site into a space teeming with vibrant civic life. Framed by the newly constructed Tampa Museum of Art by Stanley Saitowitz and the Glazer Children’s Museum, this new civic green boasts performance lawns and gardens, dramatic water and lighting displays, play areas, cafes, and a dog run; all hallmarks of Thomas Balsley’s unique design approach to enhancing urban life have been well received by the local institutions and residents, and... More

The Central Waterfront, 3.5km of Lake Ontario shore line immediately adjacent 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. More

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. The architects viewed the project as a unique opportunity to construct a public space which challenges the common contrast between private and public development, and suggests a new agenda of hospitality for collective open spaces. The design, a winner of an open competition held in 2003 (entry submitted by Mayslits Kassif Architects in collaboration with Galila Yavin) w... More

The Municipality of Almada has commissioned the practice to devise a masterplan for a 115-hectare site encompassing extensive former dockyards and a part of Almada’s conurbation along a two-kilometre stretch of river frontage. The location is an outstanding topographic feature of the Tagus Estuary, important both in terms of geography, history, economy and environment and the scheme aims to create a new urban centre that helps establish the Tagus Estuary as the focus of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Originally a fishing village, Almada is now a major residential centre; its shipyard community was active from the 1960s until its decommission in the ‘90s. The historic centre of Lisbon lies to the north of the site across the estuary, while... More

Sparch’s first major project in Asia, a dramatic redevelopment of the river front district of Clarke Quay in Singapore, is succeeding in drawing tourists and locals back to the historic waterfront. Developed by CapitaLand, the SGD 88 million (approx. £30.6m) mixed use scheme, designed to increase commercial and leisure activities, gives the riverfront area a new identity and re-positions Clarke Quay as a vibrant and attractive destination. Crucial to the success of the project has been the architect’s and engineers’ ingenious manipulation of the site’s micro climate through the design of a distinctive and sophisticated shading/cooling system that provides the Quayside with tremendous visual interest and environmental benefit. Following a... More

This riverfront redevelopment project provides a range of possibilities and aims to improve urban life and spatial appropriation. There are no grand gestures; areas remain open, often surprising, and spatially generous. The project invites residents to take a walk with children along the river, go fishing, stop under the trees of Lent Square, watch a show at night with the water tower forming the backdrop to the stage, walk under the tall trees on the right bank while looking at the city lights. Take the ferry under the main bridge, relax on one of the wooden decks and enjoy the spectacle of the river. The design was developed within the existing context and does not seek to make unnecessary alterations. For example, the project could b... More

Kalvebod Brygge is situated opposite the popular Copenhagen summer hang out, Islands Brygge. Kalvebod Brygge has the potential to be Islands Brygge’s more urban counterpart but has, until now, been synonymous with a desolated office address devoid of life and public activities. This new waterfront will be a place for a larger spectrum of public activities. With a close connection to the central train station and Tivoli, Copenhagen’s famous city amusement park, ‘Kalvebod Bølge’, the ‘Kalvebod Waves’ will become a hub, buzzing with activity and providing a chance for the inner city to regain its connection to the harbour. Constituted more by its functionality than its tradition, this inner city site is less fragile than others and manifest... More

Located on the pier 'Ponte Parodi', a 3-dimensional 'piazza sul mediterraneo' (square on the water) has been designed. Located within the design are different public functions, such as sport facilities, exhibitions, terminal for cruise ships, cinemas, shops, cyber cafes, studio's, restaurants, an auditorium and offices. The 3-dimensional design continues in the roof and is designed as a park, sport fields, beaches and other public facilities. With its low-slung, undulating outlines the piazza leaves open the view of Genoa and its Alpine setting. The project does not propose to replace one icon with another, but to establish a new type of attractor, based on the proliferation of experience. People are central to the effect of the piazza... More

The Sea Mountain is a Cultural Forum extending out from the waterfront to encircle a beautiful pre-existing rocky bay. The architecture is conceived as a rolling dune-scape with multiple functions stretched along its 2 kilometer length to accommodate many visitors and locals alike. It is a hybrid-truss which rolls in 3 dimensions along the untouched coastline of Tripoli. There will be a wide variety of public and private spaces all differing in character and scale. The entire form gently emerges out of the sandy shore and up and over the bay allowing visual access both to the Mediterranean Sea and back to the mainland. The mega structure will lift out of the water to allow boats and other watercraft to move under it as well as maintain... More