The authors address the problem of development of urban waterfront territories. Therefore the focus is on the basic principles of the organization of public recreational areas. The relevance of the interest is generally stipulated by the following reasons. Firstly, due to the analysis of the domestic and overseas waterfront design experience it seems reasonable to point out that the quality of urban living depends directly on the viability of open public spaces. The waterfront area proves to be a major element of urban tissue that can be related as the city image. Secondly, it can be reasonable to outline a range of issues that are extremely important for many cities in Russia such as the lack of land improvement, comfortable living environment and architectural-aesthetic identity in terms of the image of waterfront areas. The article aims to reveal basic principles of spatial organization of urban waterfront areas. The study is carried out on the material of the domestic and overseas experience in design solu-tions and existing public recreational areas. This implies the analysis and comparison of the following cases: waterfront revival in great cities and suburban towns within Russia as well as overseas experi-ence on regeneration of abandoned waterfront areas. Furthermore, there is the description of the main methods, principles, prospective directions in design management and architectural-aesthetic features of each considering design solution. The methodological basis of the research incorporates architectur-al, art, historical and cultural approaches. In terms of key results of the research we consider highlighting such principles of the organiza-tion of urban waterfronts as multilayer communication structure which are the priority for pedestrian circulation and multilevel waterfront environment; the ability to access water bodies, the addition of focal points, viable and barrier-free environment. Moreover, one of the most important factors is the concentration of urban recreational areas with diverse multifunctional zones that can be used both in summer and winter seasons. The preservation of ecological framework and maintenance of biodiversi-ty, the reliance on water protection zones as well as the appliance of eco-materials are also considered to be a range of inalienable measures in urban waterfront design. Waterfronts cannot be designed sepa-rately from adjacent urban bodies that, for example, can represent historical value. Architectural-aesthetic image of urban waterfronts should meet the modern tendencies in architecture, urban plan-ning and design or emphasize historical identity of urban development. The overall statements are supported by the analysis of the following design solutions: the embankment of Zaryadye Park in Moscow; the design of the waterfront regeneration in Divnogorsk in Krasnoyarsk region; the design of Riga waterfront in Latvia, the design of Seine quayside reinvention in Paris; the East River waterfront in New York; the waterfront arear HafenCity in Hamburg. Overall, due to the results of our research the organization of urban waterfronts incorporates a variety of crucial factors (in terms of architecture, urban planning and design, imageability, ecology, economy etc) which add the complexity to the designing process. Nevertheless, the implementation of the basic principles of design provides waterfronts with the high level of diversity and comfort for cities’ inhabitants.
The Malay Women and Terrace Housing in Malaysia
