CREATING PUBLIC SPACES ON RIVERS FOR CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

CREATING PUBLIC SPACES ON R IVE RS FOR CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

PREAMBLE When we talk about rivers, we are not only talking about water flowing from the mountains to the sea, we also talk about the riverbed and the banks, the groundwater and all other elements of a watershed, like meadows, forests, marshes and all different types of surface waters on the floodplain, which can all be seen as part of a river – and the river as part of them. Animals and humans are all part of this ecosystem and they all depend on it as well.

Since ancient times people have made their settlements in the presence of water. Apart from a few exceptions, all major cities are founded upon a river, a lake, or the sea.

Water is necessary for people not just for their mere survival, but as a media that carries matter energy and information through its never ending cycle on earth.

2

The relationship between water and mankind has an infinitely long history, but the attitude towards natural waters has turned around many times in the last centuries. In the 19th century it was still common across Europe for townspeople to use rivers as public places for everyday purposes like bathing, washing, fishing, commuting, and even for drinking.

It was only in the twentieth century that we realised the extensive adverse effects that human activities can have on water bodies, and on our living environment in general.

Water regulations like flood protection, canalization, and damming, together with pollution caused by communal and industrial wastewaters and chemicals used in agriculture transformed rivers into large segments of sewer lines with big ships cruising on it.

„I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete.

It’s so... heroic.”

George Carlin (comedian)

Rivers became an unwelcoming environment for citizens. The attention of the wider public was only directed towards rivers in case of severe floods or other catastrophic events like large scale pollution. People in urban areas became alienated and seemingly independent from the rivers that affected their daily life for so long.

3

WHY ARE RIVERS SPECIAL?

FINDING OUR WAY BACK TO RIVERS The gap between townsmen and rivers was probably the greatest in the mid twentieth century, before the environmental movement started to induce changes in people’s mind-sets. Since that time more and more initiatives are implemented to restore the good quality of rivers.

The EU-s Water Framework Directive sets out the goal to achieve good ecological and chemical status in all European water bodies.

Thanks to the measures taken by the states, the water quality of rivers, streams, lakes and groundwater bodies is getting better throughout Europe, which also allows diverse public activities to find their space on rivers and riverbanks and in the area of different surface waters.

The vast area thus taken from the rivers in the heart of great cities is already built in with all sorts of infrastructure, and can not be reasonably expected to be returned to its original state. Therefore the flood protection and river bank protection facilities must be maintained, while new ideas and solutions are needed to grant an easier access to the riverbanks, to make it a more hospitable environment for citizens, and to create opportunities for people to actually get in touch with the water itself as they once did.

It might not be obvious in every case, but cities that have a river flowing through them have a great possibility, to turn these areas into an ecological refugee, where humans can also retreat from the loud and hectic city life. No matter how lifeless a river with concrete riverbanks can seem, as long as there is water flowing in it, the promise of sprawling vegetation and wildlife is there.

Riverbanks therefore have a special role in a city; they are

doors to nature that can separate and/or connect at the same time. It depends mostly on the quality of the built environment which of these aspects dominate. This is exactly why it is such a positive development, that contemporary architects, landscape designers, and urbanists have growing interest in creating lively and sustainable riverbanks with rich vegetation, eco-friendly modes of transportation, and room for public activities.

Getting people out of the four walls and giving them a chance to socialize is a big challenge of the XXI. Century and innovative, green and blue infrastructures can be an important tool in the formation of popular public spaces.

The water quality however is not the only issue that needs to be overcome, in order to revitalize rivers and riverbanks and make them available for public use. The structural elements of urban development, which narrowed the room for rivers often consists of riprap made of large stones, steep slopes and retaining walls made of masonry rock or concrete, that usually support highways for urban traffic.

4

5

WORKSHOP Darija Gabrić and Barbara Mrkonjić (HR-Osijek) Members of Udruga PLANTaža a civil association with several urban projects, cultural and infrastructural initiatives, and organising art festivals in Osijek. They even created a gastronomic brand, the Osijek Dumpling.

Milan Vracar (SRB-Novi Sad) Head of Kulturanova an „umbrella” association of various non-formal independent art groups and individual young artists from Novi Sad. The organization’s focus is on the development of culture and cultural entrepreneurship and raising awareness on relevant social issues in Novi Sad and its region.

Marton Méhes (A – Vienna) Head of Danube Cultural Cluster, representing the interests of contemporary cultural and creative projects in the Danube Region (EUSDR), and working towards enhancing the “Danube” as a quality cultural brand.

NOVI SAD

OSIJEK

BUDAPEST

Gerald Harringer (AT-Linz): Artistic leader and cultural manager of Die Fabrikanten and participant and founder of the Rowing for Europe program, that had him row with his Turkish friend from Linz to the Black Sea, all along the Danube river.

Máté Chappon (HU - Győr): A hydraulic engineer in Terasz Csoport an association consisting mostly of architects.

Members of Terasz are committed to improve the public spaces of the city of Győr with small scale projects, such as the floating beach in the oxbow lake of the Danube.

Dávid Kornai-Varga and Gergő Kukucska (HU-Budapest): Architects from VALYÓ – City and the River association with several civil initiatives, most of which focus on the Danube river in Budapest, including the Szabihíd project, he closing of the bridge in the middle of Budapest for programmes ranging from taichi practice and sport events, through classical and rock concerts, to painting lessons, theatre performances and circus shows.

GYOR

MÜNCHEN

6

VIENNA

The participants of the workshop came from 5 different countries of the Danube basin, namely Germany, Austria, HungaryCroatia, and Serbia, and they all had previous experience in carrying out cultural and/or civic initiatives that aimed to improve, or reflect on the relationship between men and rivers.

The group consisted of: Barna Petrányi (HU-Budapest) Managing director of Pro Progressione an independent organisation, working towards the creation and support of an open and diverse culture. Barna was also the leader of the Danube related projects in Győr’s application for European Capital of Culture 2023.

Benjamin David (GER-Munich): Leader of Die Urbanauten and Isar Lust with the aim of creating the Isarflussbad, a river pool in Munich’s river. Benjamin is also well known for promoting urban swimming in Europe and the US.

LINZ

An experts’ workshop was organized in Győr, between 18th-20th January 2019, as part of „The Bridge - Preparatory action to foster cooperation among Danube linked art and culture initiatives” project, sponsored by Danube Strategic Project Fund (DSPF), in order to find out more about the topic of how to bring people back on the rivers and riverbanks and how to turn these often untended areas into popular public spaces that can host all sorts of artistic and cultural activities.

More specifically, the workshop was focusing on how can the role of the Danube River - as a connecting phenomenon between Central European countries - be strengthened by implementing cultural and artistic initiatives on the Danube River and on other connecting water surfaces.

7

THE WORKSHOP was held at Rómer Flóris Museum of Arts and History (Széchenyi tér 4. Győr, Hungary), and started with an all around introduction, since this was the first time that this group came together in this line-up. Participants presented their past, present and future projects, which already gave inspiration and food for thought for the others.

Most notable are the various plans of the “Isarflussbad” presented by Benjamin David, the “Stég” and “PETényi” projects from VALYÓ, the “Floating Beach” of Terasz Group, the “Live art” performances of die Fabrikanten, and the “RIVE - Rivers of Europe project”, a large scale co-production of artistic performances visiting cities along River Danube on a ship.

The main goal of the workshop started to outline: the questions of designing, building and operating a floating platform on standing or running water, need to be answered in order to create a place for public activities ranging from cultural events to recreational use.

A brainstorming on possible structural elements and cultural programs of a future floating platform resulted in diverse ideas that needed to be condensed into feasible concepts.

8

Adapting to the participants’ fields of expertise, two groups were formed in order to solve two different yet interconnecting issues.

1

”...you know, we are also trying to make something float on our river with culture on it and swimming...”

The technical aspects of allowing people to get closer to the rivers, and issues of making a safe, aesthetic and accessible public space on the water by creating a floating platform.

2

The socio-cultural aspects of how to link citizens with rivers, and how to link different cities with each other through artistic and cultural events organized on rivers and riverbanks.

A list of these different aspects and suggestions can be found in

Annex 1. and Annex 2.

These are extensive collections of structural solutions and program concepts that can be used to get inspiration when designing, fabricating and operating one’s own floating platform.

9

PROJECT IDEA By the end of the workshop a project idea was born based on the exchange of views described above.

The location of the project is the Danube basin - the most international of river-basins.

There are about 80 million people, from 19 different countries living next to River Danube or one of its several hundred tributaries.

The vision of the project is a vivid and turbulent, yet sustainable public use of these rivers, streams, lakes and other bodies of water, with diverse programmes that draw in people from all ages and raise awareness of the connectedness of mankind and rivers.

The goal is to connect the different groups of local communities and to create links between the people in different regions and countries.

The instrument that will make this possible is a modular platform, with unique design, that will appear throughout the Danube basin, connecting distant cities with its distinguishable form and the travelling or simultaneously organized programmes that these platforms will host.

The size and shape of the platforms determined by the number and arrangement

10

of connected modules - will vary in each location, depending on the environment they inhibit. The upper structure of the platforms can be customized as well in order to suit the desired functionality and specific needs of the users, but the basic modular structure will always remain the same, ensuring interconnectability.

The building material of the platform modules is preferably timber, which is an easily workable and cheap material that fits waterfront environments the most. In addition to engineering and aesthetic arguments, there is another important aspect for using timber, namely that it is environmentally friendly. If regular wood oil treatment is applied, and durable joint fasteners are used, then a reasonably long lifespan is achievable, and even after deconstruction, the generated waste is biodegradable or re-usable.

Timber is also the right material choice, in order to make these modules easily moveable, which grants the possibility for cities to donate, trade or temporarily connect their modules with each other, thus creating a fluctuating motion of platform-modules in between participating cities, similar to the way particles of water come together and drift apart during turbulent flow.

The triangular shaped modular design of Terasz Csoport’s floating beach was agreed on as the basic architectural element of the project. This form fits the goal of the project in many levels. Firstly, triangles are forms that can be found anywhere in nature, from mountains, through dunes, to pebbles and leafs.

Secondly, it is considered as a psychological fact, that the sight of simple symmetric geometric shapes create a sense of balance, tranquility, and peace in humans. Last but not least, in terms of architectural forms, the triangle reflects stability, proportionality, durability, and represents a balance of fundamental forces, while at the same time modularity ensures the possibility of expandability and creative playfulness.

The cultural content and aim of the project is twofold.

On a local scale, a floating platform can fit organically into the cultural scene of its home town, adapting to the requirements and needs of the people using it. The platform can host lectures or performances of local speakers and artists, and it can also serve as a recreational area for inhabitants and tourists alike with games, workshops and exhibitions.

With careful preparation, the building of the platform itself can be turned into a public event, where local citizens can participate and become part of the platform-community right from the start.

On a trans-regional scale, the platforms can become cultural connectors between host cities and open the door for cultural exchange on many levels. Performers will get a chance to go on a platform-tour with their act, while cultural managers will be able to broaden their network of associates. International exhibition tours can be organised with the platforms as venues. There is a possibility of a large scale platform festival, where modular elements from different cities can be joined together temporarily to form an even bigger

platform.

The cooperation between the operational teams of platforms and other participating actors can lead to a formation of a think tank for urban river issues.

The project will need a joint online interface, where all the ongoing projects and programmes can be followed, and also granting the opportunity for other cities to get involved. The aim is to create an expansive network of floating platforms that are functioning as ambassadors of culture.

The project name

TRY.ANGLES was agreed upon by the participants of the workshop, referring not only to the form of the modules, but also the notion of having an open mind to try out new experiences, to be eager to look at things from different perspectives, and to be willing to connect with others.

11

NEXT STEPS The following tasks need to be carried out in order to facilitate the realization of the TRY.ANGLES project: Improving and experimenting with the triangle shaped modular design, to find a structural solution that is applicable in a wide range of aquatic environments.

Putting together an operational plan for the “try.angles project”, with proposed locations, detailed programme concepts, and a financial plan.

Looking for open applications, sponsors and other means of raising funds that can provide the financial support to start the project.

12

POSSIBLE LOCATIONS Munich (D) - Isarkanal Munich (D) - Hinterbrühler See Munich (D) - Kleinhesseloher See - Englischen Garten Linz (A) - Winterhafen Linz (A) - Solar city Wien (A) - Brigittenauer Bucht Wien (A) - Kaiserwasser Győr (HU) - Mosoni-Duna (above Rába confluence) Győr (HU) - Püspökerdei-holtág Budapest (HU) - Hajógyári sziget (northern tip) Budapest (HU) - Népsziget under the railroad bridge Budapest (HU) - Soroksári-duna Osijek (HR) - “Copacabana beach” Osijek (HR) - Bajer Jug 2 Novi Sad (SRB) - Bećarac Novi Sad (SRB) - Šodroš

GOOD EXAMPLES / IDEALS Chicago River Corridor Development Plan, Chicago (IL, USA) https://www.chiriverlab.com/ideas Berges du Rhône, Lyon (FR) http://www.in-situ.fr/#/projets/tous/berges-du-rhone Ljubljanica riverbanks, Ljubljana (SLO) https://www.publicspace.org/works/-/ project/g072-preureditve-nabrezij-in-mostovi-na-ljubljanici Jardins flottants, Zurich (CH) http://www.in-situ.fr/#/projets/berges-rives/jardins-flottant Badeschiff, Berlin (D) http://www.archtalent.com/projects/ floating-pool-in-the-river-spree-in-berlinbadeschiff Plus Pool, New York (NY, USA) https://pluspool.org/pool/ Urban Beach Barge, Budapest (HU) https://inhabitat.com/floating-urban-beach-barge-sets-sail-on-the-danube/

LITERATURE https://www.internationalrivers. org/a-short-history-of-rivers-0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_ engineering https://www.tankonyvtar.hu/hu/tartalom/tamop412A/2011-0052_38_ sokretu_terkepeszet_-_vizrajz_es_ reszei/lecke3_lap1.scorml http://www.wahoodocks.com/ dock-design-anchoring/ TECHNICAL_STANDARD_ TS_35_31_26_60_-_FLOATING_ TYPE_PRIVATE_JETTIES_ON_WATER_ WAY_BANKS http://www.seaflex.net/products/ videos/ https://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/__ data/assets/pdf_file/0005/17699/InlandWaterSafetyOUTLINE_web.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_ engineering

Saale-onsen, Halle (D) http://raumlabor.net/saale-onsen/ Allmänna badet / Bathing culture, Göteborg (S) http://raumlabor.net/bathing-culture/ Havnebad, Faaborg (DK) http://publicspace.org/en/works/176-faaborg-havnebad

13

ANNEX 1 Function and capacity The main purpose of the planned floating platform is to allow people to get close to the water and enjoy all sorts of activities in this newly formed public space. The function will determine the desired capacity of people and the weight of necessary equipment. It can be estimated that the live load on the platform will normally be between 150-300 kg/m2.

Location One of the most important aspects in relation to structural solutions is the location of the platform. The location determines how the following aspects influence the design. Note, that many of these aspects change over a shorter or longer period of time.

Water currents (velocity) Maximum expected velocity in the operational period: • standing water: < 0,1 m/s (below 10 cm-s per second) • moderately flowing water: 0,1 ÷ 0,5 m/s (average person can swim upstream) • fast flowing water: > 0,5 m/s (water is moving too fast to swim upstream)

14

Structural aspects of creating a floating platform

Water depth Regular beaches have buoys at a depth of 1,20 m, to warn bathers of deep water.

Velocity and depth together and on their own relate closely to safety issues.

Water regime Difference of possible maximum and minimum water levels during the operational period: • low: < 0,5 m • moderate: 0,5 ÷ 2,0 m • high: > 2,0 m Water regime affects anchoring mode, gangway connection, maintenance, and creates a possible need for appointing a responsible person to take necessary action in case of flooding.

Water quality issues In case a river pool is planned to be part of the platform, the available water quality data need to be checked, or water quality sampling needs to be carried out.

Environmental Agencies will decide, based on local regulations, if the water quality is suitable for bathing. In case of poor water quality, technical solutions can be considered in order to filter or clean the amount of natural water passing through the river-pool.

River bank slope The slope of the river bank affects the accessibility of the platform. Slope angle (vertical measure: horizontal measure) • < 1:5 - comfortable for walking • between 1:5 and 1:3 suitable for walking • between 1:3 and 1:1 steps needed on the slope, and a gangway to access the platform • > 1:1 some form of ladder is needed on the slope and a gangway attached to the top of the slope is needed to access the platform River bed conditions Ranging from rocks through coarse to fine grain river beds - affect anchoring mode.

Preliminary structural design

• dynamic forces: water current, waves, wind, debris impact and berthing by ships; • dynamic counter forces: cable-anchorage, stiff-arms, poles or piles.

Additional forces from changing water levels Water levels: normal operating level, max water level, min water level.

The necessary actions need to be determined in case of high and low waters: e.g. refastening wires, removing platform. A responsible person needs to be appointed for these actions.

Stability

The function, capacity and the location of the platform give enough parameters to create a preliminary structural design. This structure needs to be sized to withstand the impacting forces, and to preserve its stability at the same time.

When stability is inspected, it is not just about the sufficient quantity of buoys, but also the placement of them. The following criteria need to be met:

Impacting forces affecting the platform

• minimum freeboard from the top surface (under 300 kg/m2 live load): 5% of the pontoon height, but minimum 5 cm-s • pontoon-chine shall not emerge • maximum tilt of pontoon 15°

Based on the established function and capacity, and the location of the platform, the following forces can be calculated or estimated: • static forces: weight of platform, weight of people, weight of equipment; • static counterforces: buoyancy

Anchoring Dock to shore or bed cable anchoring is used most widely to anchor floating docks in areas where water level changes frequently.

It can be used to tie the dock to the shore,

15

ANNEX 1 or anchor to weights positioned underwater.

Gangways or stiff-arms can be used to keep the dock away from the shoreline.

Pole and Sleeve anchoring is used in areas with excessive waves and wind, however it has limitations in terms of changing water levels, and coarse river beds.

Pile anchoring: Similar to pole anchoring, but for heavier loads. Piles need to be driven into the lake or riverbed. Large scale fluctuations in water level can not be allowed.

Flexible mooring system: used mostly in coastlines, these elastic cables are tying the platforms to anchors mounted to the seabed.

This solution can deal with extreme forces, and large scale changes in water levels.

Accessibility A gangway is usually used to connect the platform and the bank. The gangway can be equipped with rollers, fixed axles, or hinges to connect to the dock and the bank, in order to deal with movements caused by changing water levels or waves.

A gangway is normally not to be used to keep the platform away from the bank, since bending momentum can damage the axle connections. One or more stiff arms, or anchoring blocks are needed for this purpose.

16

Structural aspects of creating a floating platform

Safety features The structure, equipment and operation of a floating platform must comply with local regulations!

The most important safety features are: • Railings • Bathing ladder or egress points • Safety and rescue equipment

Materials Material choice is always a result of structural design, aesthetics and environmental considerations. The following materials are typically used for floating platforms.

Basic structure • steel • timber • plastic • concrete Deck • wood • composite • plastic Buoys • steel or plastic drums • reused PET bottles • closed cell foams

Movability It is important to consider during the design of a floating platform the mobility of the platform. The plans have to take into account the human and mechanical power needed during: • Construction, • Transportation, • Assembling, and • Disassembling of the platform.

Opportunity to immerse in the water The proximity of water naturally motivates people to take a dip. This opportunity can be arranged in the following ways: • Dip into the open water: if water currents are moderate, and safety conditions are provided for.

Keep in mind: feet first!

• Dip into a river-pool: River water flowing through a cage that is enframed in the structure of the floating platform with barred sidewalls and a solid bottom at a known and indicated depth.

the function. Furthermore, if the platform can be built with the participation of the people who will use it, then the building the platform is building the community as well at the same time.

In locations, with extreme forces, buying a steel barge and building a platform with unique design on top of it is a possibility.

Further issues structure

of

a

modular

• Solution for connecting modules (easy assembling, and disassembling) • Loading capacity, stability (for 1 module; for several connected modules) • Creating the possibility of attaching additional equipment to the structure • Furniture • Changing booth • Showering facility • Slide and other bathing • Energy and water supply

Recognizable, distinguishable design There are many solutions available from manufacturers around the globe, if one wants a floating platform, so why bother with creating a unique design? Our aim is not simply to raise enough money to buy a floating platform from a manufacturer, and put it on water. It is an important aspect that the form of the platform is harmonizing with

17

ANNEX 2 education games sports

learning through

/ installations / QR codes

lectures

Programme concepts and operational guidelines for public spaces located on floating platforms

ACTIVITES - PROGRAMMES

art programmes

music

secret of river men: people living or working on the

boat

/ raft building

river tell their stories

learning about natural

liberland: each platform works

ecosystems and their mechanisms

like an independent country

learning about the river via

concerts

workshops

live-art performances

jam sessions

childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshops

self playing water instruments

competition: on creative plat-

installed

form features

live stream from other cities

platform community gardens

art events platforms as venues learning about the link between society and rivers mobile gaming: stories of the river triathlon, kayak-canoe, rowing

18

for exhibitions platforms as theatre stages, the audience in boats, or swimming,

relaxation and yoga

from scene to scene

projections on the water water

/ in the

/ on the fog

19

PREPARATION

POSITIONING - TARGET GROUPS

civil sector

private sector

public institutions

involving local players

raising funds

competition on

locals already connected to

community involvement

tourist industry

schoolchildren

structural concepts

gastronomy

open calls

sports

donations

art/culture

patrons of art

and on programmes

rivers

collecting influencers

local economy

sport teams

reusable materials

local

media

organisations

representatives

civil groups, associations

journalists

communitystudents

building of the platform

politicians

virtual

bottle-messaging

tourism

industrial sponsors

crowdfunding with prizes, gifts

20

21

CREDITS

OPERATION

The workshop was organized within the framework of The Bridge Project by Pro Progressione Ltd. and Terasz Csoport Association.

The lead partner of the project is: Kultúrkombinát Ltd.

organised local events

spontaneous events

platform building

renting out the

the opportunity to exchange

including the

platform as an

ideas and modules

local community

event space

international events

festival of platforms

- with

environmental

linking platforms with

travelling events, shows,

opening party

exhibitions

challenge: trash sculpture exhibition

dj live-stream, shared

- flash mobs,

simultaneous

spontathlon

markets

silent hours,

(triathlon, without preparation)

“Meditation Monday” common online interface other activities

of all the platforms with programmes,

projects, with the

DISCLAIMER

The contents of this brochure are for general information purposes only and do not constitute advice.

CONTACTS:

live link with each other: performances

The Project is part financed by the European Union and the City of Vienna through the Danube Strategic Project Fund (DSPF), implemented by Euro Vienna affiliated entity to the City of Vienna.

dating nights

http://teraszcsoport.hu/ http://www.kulturkombinat.hu/ https://pro-cult.com/ http://www.die-urbanauten.de/wordpress/ https://www.isarlust.org/ www.fabrikanten.at https://rowingforeurope.wordpress.com/ http://valyo.hu/ https://www.facebook.com/udrugaplantaza/ http://www.kulturanova.org/index.php/en/ https://www.danubeculturalcluster.eu/

This document was created by

described in first table

option to join in 2019.

22

23