An integrated framework for waterfront development to recognize nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban areas: evaluating the condition of two projects in Bangladesh

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) often suggest improving the degraded urban environment through the implementation of projects for revitalizing water bodies and adjacent areas. Among various concepts of developing waterfront urban spaces, ‘water sensitive urban design (WSUD)’ asks for integrated design and management of urban water resources and water cycle, following a holistic approach. This research proposes a framework that assimilates the components of WSUD with the concept of ‘integrated urban water management (IUWM)’ that mainly focuses on governance, management, and stakeholders’ engagement. This integrated approach emphasizes the need for developing a holistic framework for the management of planning and design of waterfront development projects. The framework includes detailed criteria for water sensitive approach and acts as a holistic checklist for evaluating or designing waterfront development projects. Such comprehensive guidelines that includes planning, governance, and design challenges are rare in the current body of literature. To test the framework, the research conducts a comparative study among two waterfront projects in Bangladesh and through a scored evaluation based on the proposed framework, reveals the lack of water sensitive planning, design and management processes of the projects, which has narrowed down the scope and the opportunities of practicing NBS through reviving lost urban waterbodies.