The port-city interface

Abstract

Assuming that waterfront have always been special places “where land and water meet” [1] nowadays they are mostly places for urban renewal, where conflicts and debates, about what their role should be within the urban context, emerge. The “port-city interface” aims at explaining the spatial, institutional and socio-economic relations occurring between cities and ports; evaluating new approaches to take into consideration urban regeneration initiatives where different functions compete causing often urban decay. Particularly, factors of success will be highlighted to address urban regeneration initiatives, toward sustainable approaches, in those sensitive, complex urban areas, for development. The “interface” [2], where port and city communicate, is often a ground characterized by competition, but it could also be a possibility for both city and port to grow. The comparison among selected case studies highlights the dynamics involved into those places, from the spatial, institutional and socio-economic points of view, in order to provide a useful framework for the decision-making process performing between port and city related areas. The possible interaction could enhance the innovation and sustainability attempts of regeneration initiatives in those peculiar places, providing added value for the whole urban system [3].