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RIVER AND COASTAL CITIES

The way settlement meets the water creates the character of the city. A great number of towns were originally located on only one bank of a river. In ancient Egypt, settlements were built on the east bank of the Nile, as required by the religion. In Chinese cosmology, facing south was important. Common-sense issues like the patterns of water flow, the productivity of the basin land, consideration of defence and the convenience of river transport were also taken into account when choosing the location for city development.

In Medieval Europe, cities located on one bank of the river evolved into bridge cities. With the original settlement on one bank, a walled smaller district formed a suburb on the other bank. The bridge between the two settlements was sometimes fortified, and often lined with houses and shops.

The river below was used mainly as a water-way, source of drinking water and source of power for operating grain mills; though its aesthetic dimensions were not appreciated until the 14^th century when the middle part of the bridge in Florence was left open to allow passers-by to enjoy the view along the river.

The urban form of the cities at coasts developed as a response to their closeness to the water. Antique Alexandria in Ostia with its church towers, high domes, temples and the Colossus of Rhodes (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) were scaled to the infinity of the sea and were supposed to be admired from a distance.

In Europe, up until the 18^th century, the link to the sea was vital for economic and industrial growth. Maritime ports with shipyards and warehouses formed disorderly clusters of structures. The 17^th century marked the emergence of rational city planning, first seen in France, Sweden and Netherlands. The waterfront had to be planned around arsenals, armouries and warehouses, rather than representational buildings. In the next century, this way of building developed to include planning for architectural values. In the late 18^th century, the first seaside resorts were built, Brighton, England being a pioneer.

As the city grew, the pattern of its composition developed. Port cities have evolved away from shipping, industry and railway yards. The changing technologies have made much of their constructions obsolete and instead we see new residential and recreational uses for them. The popular “London Docks” residential area illustrates this.

Ex. 16. Answer the questions:

1. What creates the character of a waterfront city? 2. What dimensions were usually taken into account when building the city? 3. What was a bridge city in Medieval Europe? 4. Were aesthetic or pragmatic aspects mainly appreciated by the builders in the Middle Ages? 5. How was the urban form of a sea city developed? 6. When and where was the importance of rational city planning first understood? 7. What new uses of waterfront constructions can we see now?

Ex. 17. Explain why:

1. a great number of towns were originally located on only one bank of the river;

2. such cities in Medieval Europe developed into bridge cities;

3. churches, towers, temples and monuments of waterfront cities were built to be seen well from the sea;

4. since the 18^th century the waterfront had to be planned around arsenals, warehouses and so on, rather than representational buildings;

5. port cities have evolved away from shipping, industry and railway yards.

Ex. 18. Complete the sentences translating the missing parts into English:

1. In ancient Egypt, settlements were built on the east bank of the Nile, по религиозным требованиям. 2. The bridge between the two settlements иногда был укреплен и часто застроен рядами домов и лавок. 3.Средняя часть моста во Флоренции was left open to allow passers-by to enjoy the view along the river. 4. Тhe Colossus of Rhodes – одно из семи Чудес Света. 5. Тhe link to the sea was vital для экономического и промышленного роста. 6. Maritime ports with shipyards and warehouses formed беспорядочные скопления строений. 7. In the late 18^th century, the first seaside resorts were built, первым был Брайтон в Англии. 8. Популярный жилой район Лондонских доков illustrates this.

Ex. 19. Speak on the topic: “Water in Human Life”.