River-Friendly Cities

The book is an outline of historical changes in relations between cities and urban rivers during the periods of Respect, Conquest and Return. Water-responsible urbanisation is based on the awareness of eco-hydrological consequences of spatial planning decisions, adaptation and resilience to climate change as well as coexistence with floods.

The history of urbanization was inseparably connected with the exploitation of the environment and the subjugation of rivers. Today we experience the effects of this expansion in the form of escalating water problems. The book outlines the processes of transformation of anthropogenic, natural and waterborne structures in urban environment, which were presented in three historical phases: the period of Respect, Conquest and Return. River-friendly cities require integrated water management in entire catchments from the source to the recipient. The key to the success of the Return strategy is the recovery of space for greenery and water, responsible spatial planning, circular economy and rainwater management as well as continuous raising of awareness of the whole society.

Autorentext

Anna Januchta-Szostak is a researcher at the Faculty of Architecture, Poznä University of Technology, and expert in the development of riparian areas and water sensitive urban design. She was a member of the Committee for Research on Water-Related Hazards at the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the author of over 100 scientific publications.

Inhalt

Historical changes in relations between cities and urban rivers The periods of Respect, Conquest and Return Transformations of urban waterbodies and catchment areas Water-responsible urbanisation Adaptation and resilience to climate change Integrated urban water management Coexistence with floods