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Chapter 15
Promenade as Landscape Architecture Strategy for

Riverbanks of Small Danube Cities: Komárno and
Štúrovo
Katarína Kristiánová
Additional information is available at the end of the chapter
Additional information is available at the end of the chapter
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72921
Abstract
The concept of promenade has moved from the city public spaces, from the streets and
parks to shopping malls and to virtual public spaces. However, as many case studies of
the waterfront regenerations show, the waterfronts possess the potential to enliven the
concept of promenading in urban public spaces. Within the framework of the project
DANUrB, we have tested the use of the concept of promenade as a landscape archi-
tecture strategy for the riverbanks of small Danube cities. We have examined and ana-
lyzed the potential of riverbanks in the selected pilot cities Komárno and Štúrovo, and
using the method of research through design, we have elaborated proposals for their
riverbanks, relecting the principles of an ecologically sound riverfront design. Results
obtained from the research and the design proposals have shown the potential of the
riverfronts of small Danube cities Komárno and Štúrovo for the development of the
promenades as viable urban places and as greenways, ofering recreation possibilities
in a balance between nature and social life.
Keywords: promenade, riverfronts, greenways, riverbank design, waterfront

regeneration
1. Introduction
Promenade as a verb means to walk or ride leisurely for pleasure or for display and parade.
As a noun it means a place, a road or path for such strolling, walking or riding—usually the
main avenue of the city, at the park, or at the seashore or riverbank. The promenading phe-
nomenon possesses a special signiicance for urban society. Promenades as mentioned by
Borsay [1] host “kaleidoscopic crowd of dog-owners, courting couples, sun-bathers, juvenile
delinquents, voyeurs, joggers, and just plain strollers”.
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distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
290 Landscape Architecture - The Sense of Places, Models and Applications
The origins of the promenade in Paris, as both an idea and an activity, from the reign of Louis
XIV spread throughout the cities of Europe. The ‘promenade de civilité’, the walk as a polite and
civil activity, an extension of the elaborate social etiquete that had developed in the salons and
the royal court, was peculiarly suited to strolling in a garden and inluenced the development of
the French garden. As the activity of strolling became democratized, it spilled beyond the bounds
of gardens into the streets and boulevards. Bordered by footpaths and rows of trees to provide
shade, boulevards integrated elements of the French garden into the urban landscape [2–4].
Today the ‘promeneurs’ and ‘lâneurs’ of city promenades have moved from the city public
spaces, from the streets and parks to shopping malls and to virtual public spaces. The tra-
ditional practice of collective promenade as a sign of ‘social visibility’ moved to the space of
internet social media, which supplies the needs of socializing and showing up. As said by
Goldgate [5] the ‘Cyberlâneur’ strolls through information space, taking in the virtual archi-
tecture and remaining anonymous. If the ‘Flâneur’ was a decipherer of urban and visual texts,
then the ‘Cyberlâneur’ is a decipherer of virtual reality and hypertexts [5].
However, the mythology of the great city is still a place where the ‘lâneur’ can exist, and as
noted by Young [6], today, instead of being limited to the metropolitan promenade, ‘lanerie’
has been displaced even to other locations. Though atractions are needed to enliven the con-
cepts of the promenade and usually, the programs of urban renewals are those, which possess
the potential to create the new sites of contemporary ‘lâneur’, as for example in the case of High
Line in New York, or in the concepts of waterfront regenerations in many cities.
Waterfronts, seashores or riverbanks have the traditions of promenading—in pre-industrial

cities, waterfront areas were intensely used and thriving with people and activities. The close
relationship between the waterfronts and the cities was interrupted with the industrial era
and by the use of waterfronts as huge ports, for transportation uses, for commercial uses,
industry, and warehouses [7, 8]. The economic changes, changes in transportation and trade,
led to the abandonment of industrial plants and harbors, and with the increasing environ-
mental awareness waterfronts were rediscovered for the city, and the phenomenon of water-
front regeneration emerged. Urban waterfront regeneration projects have become an efective
tool for urban planning and politics in international dimension since 1980s [8].
Successful redevelopments of urban waterfront areas transformed the degraded harbor zones
to new urban leisure centers of vital importance. Many examples and case studies show, that
by creating public access, walkways and open spaces, by atractive urban design, landscaping
and various land uses, the waterfronts become lively urban promenades. Many examples also
show that aims to improve, protect and restore the natural features and functions of rivers
and watercourses in urban areas, their hydrological, geological and biological characteristics,
and the aims to restore riparian and in-stream habitats, create opportunities to use the water
corridors as greenways—as green promenades for walking, cycling, with recreational, and
sport functions, atractive for inhabitants and for tourists.
Within the framework of the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme project DANUrB,
we have examined the possibilities to use and apply the concept of promenade as landscape
architecture strategy for the riverbanks of the two selected pilot cities in Slovakia connected
to the river Danube—Komárno and Štúrovo.
Promenade as Landscape Architecture Strategy for Riverbanks of Small Danube Cities: Komárno… 291
The DANUrB Project aims to enhance tourism, and create a sustainable cultural and tourism
strategy for small Danube towns, proving social and economic beneits for local inhabitants
[9]. Within the project DANUrB we have studied various aspects and strategies—for example,
we have examined the green infrastructure of the city Štúrovo for the selection and inclusion
into the thematic location-based audio tours ofered by the mobile application [10]. One of
the aims of the project DANUrB is also to strengthen the Danube regional cultural identity
by creating a comprehensive spatio-cultural network—a ‘Danube Сultural Promenade‘, as a
common ‘Danube Urban Brand,‘ a brand that can increase the number of visitors and tour-
ists in the small Danube towns [9]. Strategic place branding is often used as a methodology
for tourist atraction [11]. For the strategic place branding of Danube cities, the most impor-
tant spaces are the riverfronts. Very important in this process is that international knowledge
and practice is implemented in local conditions, the creation of common strategy is based on
individual approach and is site-speciic. We have studied the riverfronts of the selected pilot
cities, and tested the possibilities to improve the quality of their river landscapes.
2. Material
Komárno and Štúrovo are the only setlements on the Slovak side of Danube, except Bratislava,
the capital of the Slovak Republic, having the statute of a city. They have been selected as pilot
cities for testing the concept of promenade as landscape architecture strategy for riverbanks
of small Danube cities.
2.1. The characteristics of the pilot city Štúrovo
Štúrovo is situated on the left bank of the Danube at the Slovak-Hungarian border. Its twin
city on the Hungarian bank of Danube is Esztergom and the two cities are connected by the
bridge of Maria Valeria.
The city has a rich history. Its surrounding area was irst setled in the Stone Age. During the
Roman period it was the site of the ‘Anavum‘, the military garrison of the Limes Romanus,
through the middle ages it was the site of the setlement ‘Kakath.‘ Situated on the natural
border created by the Danube, it was fortiied as a strategic place during the Tatar invasions
and later during the Otoman Empire, when it was called ‘Ciğerdelen.‘ Later it was called
‘Párkány.‘ In 1724 it was granted town status and the rights to hold markets. In 1850, it became
a station on the railway track from Bratislava to Budapest. In 1895, the bridge to Esztergom
was opened. After World War I, the town became a border town of Czechoslovakia. In 1938,
as a result of the First Vienna Arbitration, it was returned to Hungary. After World War II, by
the annulment of the Vienna Awards, the town became a part of Czechoslovakia again. It was
renamed to Štúrovo in 1948 [12].
Today Štúrovo has a population of 10,666 inhabitants, according to the census in 2013. Its
location in the southern—hotest part of Slovakia, in the Danubian lowland, together with
natural resources of thermal water in the thermal spa Vadas create opportunities for summer
recreation. The city is famous for its tolerance—throughout the centuries, people of diferent
nationalities and religions have lived here together, what gives the city a special atmosphere
and lavor. Its main economic sectors are pulp and paper industry, agriculture, and tourism.
The main employer is the Kappa Štúrovo paper plant.
2.2. The characteristics of the pilot city Komárno
Komárno is situated in the southern part of Slovakia at the conluence of the Danube and the
Váh rivers, on the left bank of Danube. Its former suburb Újszőny, today Komárom, is situ-
ated on the right bank of Danube, in Hungary. Komárno and Komárom are connected by the
Elisabeth Bridge, which used to be a border crossing between Slovakia and Hungary.
Komárno is an old setlement. First indings stem from the Neolithic, Eneolithic period,
and the Bronze Age. Many archeological remains indicate that the area was setled by the
Celts toward the end of the irst century BC. During the irst century AD, the Roman Empire
extended its frontiers over the region forming the province of Pannonia. The Romans estab-
lished the military camp and the setlement Brigetio on the southern shore of the Danube, and
a chain of fortiications built along the Danube shores protected the camp and the town. On
the northern shore the fortiied bridgehead of Celemantia, was built at the beginning of the
second century. Gothic, Slavic and Avar indings have been excavated here from the seventh
and eight century AD [13].
In the early tenth century the territory came under the rule of the Magyar tribes. According to
the medieval chronicle Gesta Hungarorum, one of the Magyar tribal chieftains, Ketel estab-
lished his domain near the mouth of the Váh river, and his son Alaptolma later built a castle
there. Since 1075, it was known as Camarum.
King Béla IV, in 1265, granted the setlement town status and privileges. In the sixteenth cen-
tury, Komárno became one of the centers of defense for the Habsburg Empire against the
expansion of the Otoman Empire. However, it was occupied by Otomans between the years
1594–1599. In the eighteenth century, as one of the biggest towns in the country, it began
to lourish. Maria Theresa granted the city the status and privilege of a free royal town in
1745. During the eighteenth century, Komárno experienced many natural disasters includ-
ing loods, ires, earthquakes, and epidemics as cholera and plague. The two earthquakes, in
1763 and in 1783, completely destroyed the town. Komárno played a signiicant role in the
Hungarian Revolution in 1848. It remained the last bastion of the Hungarian resistance against
the Austrians until 1849, when the fortress and the town were inally surrendered. During the
years of Austrian absolutism, it became a strategic military base. Komárno is famous for its
historical fortiication system, which is a unique system of forts, bastions, and fortiications in
and around the towns of Komárno and Komárom on the banks of both the Danube and Váh
rivers. It was started to build in 1546 on the place of the former castle and the whole fortiica-
tion system was completed in 1871–1877 when the last Igmand fort was built [13].
After World War I With by the Treaty of Trianon, the territory to the north of the Danube was
ceded to Czechoslovakia with the territory to the south of the Danube remaining in Hungary.
Komárno found itself in Czechoslovakia, separated from its southern part in Hungary. In 1938,
under the First Vienna Award, Komárno was returned to Hungary. After the World War II, the
territory on the north bank of the Danube and Komárno became part of Czechoslovakia again [13].
Komárno today is Slovakia’s principal port on the Danube, the town’s largest industrial facil-
ity is the Slovak Shipyard Komárno, which was completed in 1950 and greatly promoted the
economic development of the town. New factories were constructed on the west side of town
near the shipyard and create a new industrial district. It has a population of 34,561 inhabit-
ants, according to the census in 2013.
3. Methods
We have analyzed the riverbanks of the pilot cities and developed landscape architectural
proposals for the riverbank promenades using the method of “education by research” and the
method of “research by design”—we have involved students from Faculty of Architecture,
the Slovak University of Technology in the analytical and also in the design stage of the
research [14].
To understand the historical development of the cities and their riverbanks and to understand
the development of the relationship between the urban and natural phenomena we have
studied historical literary, visual and map sources. To understand the current state and future
development trends we have conducted on-site surveys, using various landscape and urban
planning analytical methods to analyze the riverbank sites—their current functions, their use,
their accessibility, the conditions and features of their riparian and in-stream habitats and the
requirements of nature protection, we have studied the available urban planning documents,
development intentions and requirements in collaboration with the local municipalities. The
estimations of problems and potentials of the riverbanks as results of SWOT analyses were
the starting point of the design stage.
As noted by Schönwandt and Voigt [15, 16], the focus of planning processes is on the system-
atic and methodological identiication and solution of spatial problems or the prevention of
their emergence. Planning problems are tasks as yet unsolved. The point of departure may be
a state of afairs perceived as negative that is to be improved, or a situation which is viewed
positively but assumed to require planning and action in order to persist. The clear deinition
of a problem is a prerequisite for improved problem-solving. Planning usually responds to a
need or unsolved issue and is based on a distinct underlying approach.
According to Schönwandt and Voigt [15, 16], planning approaches consist of four compo-
nents: a set of problems (problem views), a set of aims, a set of methods and deined back-
ground knowledge. These four components always interlock and depend on each other. There
are many diferent planning approaches and they act like lenses through which we look at a
situation and it is always possible to choose among a variety of approaches.
As mentioned by Zimmerman et al. [17], design thinking is the term often used to describe
what designers bring to problem-solving. By design thinking Zimmerman et al. [17] mean
the application of a design process that involves grounding—investigation to gain mul-
tiple perspectives on a problem; ideation—generation of many possible diferent solutions;
iteration—cyclical process of reining concept with increasing idelity; and relection.
The research through design approach allowed to get various diferent design solutions for
the riverbank promenades in Komárno and Štúrovo developed of the on the basis of the site
analyses, identiication of problems and potentials.
4. Results
From the irst analytical part of the research, we have obtained results identifying the main
spatial planning characteristics, problems and potentials of the riverbank sites in the exam-
ined cities Komárno and Štúrovo.
From the second design part of the research, we have achieved results in the form of design
proposals identifying landscape architectural strategies for the riverbank promenades of the
examined cities.
4.1. Results of the analytical part of the research
4.1.1. Results of the analysis, problems, and potentials of the riverbanks in Štúrovo
In the analytical part of the research in the city of Štúrovo we have gained results covering the
characteristics of the main problems and potentials of the Štúrovo riverbanks in the broad spatial
context, in the context of landscape and nature protection requirements, in the context of urban
functions and transport requirements, in the context of historical development and cultural
heritage, and in the context of socio-economic and socio-cultural development requirements.
The riverfront of Štúrovo consists of parts with a vegetation of alluvial-softwood loodplain
forests in the wetest areas which are regularly looded, with willows, poplars and alders, and
of urban part—where the main pedestrian street of the town is connected with the Danube.
The public urban spaces of the urban part of the riverfront and also the natural parts of the
riverbank lack basic tourist and recreational infrastructure typical for riverside location.
The waterfront ofers spectacular views of the basilica, cathedral, and castle across the river
in Esztergom, but it is underdeveloped, it does not ofer restaurants, cafes or bars, or exterior
rest places to enjoy the view, or places and facilities for other activities which are typical for
urban waterfronts. For example, the personal port in Štúrovo, consists only from ship pon-
toons. The ship cruises stop usually on the opposite side, in Esztergom.
EuroVelo 6—‘The Rivers Route‘ which passes through Štúrovo is a long-distance cycling
route along the courses of Europe's major rivers, and almost the entire length of Europe’s
second longest river, the Danube. The lood barrier in Štúrovo ofers the linear corridor for
this route, but is not equipped with cycling and walkway infrastructure, the natural parts are
not used for recreation or sports purposes.
The examples of the graphical presentation of the results of the analytical part of the research
are given in Figures 1 and 2. The example of the analysis of the pedestrian, cycling and public
transport connections of the riverbank in Štúrovo elaborated by students is given in Figure 1
and the example of the speciic “atmosphere” analysis of the Štúrovo riverbanks elaborated
by students is given in Figure 2.
4.1.2. Results of the analysis, problems, and potentials of the riverbanks in Komárno
In the analytical part of the research in the city of Komárno, similarly as in Štúrovo, we have
obtained important results identifying the characteristics of the main problems and potentials
of the Komárno riverbanks, crucial for the second-design part of the research.
In Komárno, the historical city center and the largest fortress of the famous fortiication sys-
tem are not connected with the riverfront because the riverfront is occupied by the industrial
area of the port and the shipyard. The port area and the shipyard at present partially lost their
former functions. The area is suitable to host new urban functions and waits for redevelop-
ment and revitalization. It ofers the opportunity to develop a promenade incorporating the
industrial heritage and the speciic genius loci of the former harbor area with cranes and rails.
The atractive conluence point of the rivers Váh and Danube, which is also the corner point
of the fortress, is not accessible, and its potential of the landscape architectural point of view
is not used.
The green spaces of the Váh riverbanks ofer the possibilities of recreational greenways, how-
ever, today, similarly as in the case of Štúrovo, they are not equipped with cycling and walk-
way infrastructure.
The Elizabeth Island, the green area with gardens and few family houses, with the histori-
cal plane tree allée, ofers possibilities to develop a promenade and to valorize the potential
which is not used today. The corner point of the island is not accessible, as former industrial
is not used and is suitable for the development of the personal port.
Figure 1. Analysis of the pedestrian, cycling and public transport connections of the riverbank in Štúrovo by students
Florence Tiberghien, Noa Schumacher, Camille Clap, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute
of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape Architecture.
Figure 2. Analysis of the atmosphere of the Štúrovo riverbanks by students Florence Tiberghien, Noa Schumacher,
Camille Clap, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre
for Landscape Architecture.
Figure 3. Analysis of the speciics, atractions and cultural heritage linked to the waterfront in Komárno by students
Katalin Maga and Krisztina Nagy, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design
and Planning, Centre for Landscape Architecture.
A substantial part of the research was devoted to the analysis of cultural heritage. From the
research of historical literary, visual and map sources we have learned that many values of the
historical urban and cultural landscapes of Komárno vanished. The results of the examination
of extinct values and vanished phenomena of historical landscapes of Komárno and its intan-
gible cultural heritage have been used in the second-design part of the research.
The main indings of the analytical part of the research, for example the analysis of the specif-
ics, atractions and cultural heritage linked to the Danube waterfront, analysis of the functions
and composition of the island riverfront, or the analysis of the landscape speciics of the Váh
riverbank have been graphically expressed in the student works, showing results of various
aspects of examination.
The examples of analyses of the riverfront in Komárno elaborated by students, are given in
the Figures 3–7.
4.2. Results of the design part of the research: promenade as landscape architecture
strategy for the riverbanks of small Danube cities
In the second-design part of the research we have tested the use of the concept of promenade
as a landscape architecture strategy for the riverbanks of Komárno and Štúrovo. The results of
the design part of the research are represented by several design solutions for the riverbanks
in Komárno and Štúrovo elaborated by students and showing various possible landscape
architectural approaches toward development of promenades.
Figure 4. Analysis of the functions of the island riverfront in Komárno by students Katalin Maga and Krisztina Nagy,
2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape
Architecture.
Figure 5. Composition analysis of the island riverfront in Komárno by students Katalin Maga and Krisztina Nagy, 2017,
supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape
Architecture.
Landscape architectural proposals for the promenades in Komárno and Štúrovo have been
developed on the basis of knowledge obtained in the irst analytical research step. They ofer
various urban atractions of riverfronts, apply the principles of an ecologically sound river-
front design, interpret cultural history and heritage, create recreation possibilities or enhance
greenway functions of the riverbanks.
4.2.1. Results: design proposals for the riverbank promenade in Štúrovo
Students have proposed landscape architectural solutions for all parts of the riverfront in
Štúrovo: for the main urban node of the promenade, where the main axis of the historical cen-
ter—its main street opens to the river and ofers views to the opposite bank—to Esztergom,
with its landmark—the basilica (Figures 8 and 9), and also for the natural parts of the river-
front, which ofer the closest contact with water.
Students understood that the uniqueness of local natural and cultural heritage in Štúrovo, are
the major assets for the development of the promenade, and they appropriately used these
assets in their proposals.
For the urban part of the promenade in Štúrovo students have proposed commercial services
and facilities which are typical for urban waterfronts—restaurants, cafes, exterior rest places,
and also spaces ofering place for various uses, and for various speciic exterior activities, for
example during festivals and markets, which are regularly organized in the city and take place
on the waterfront. Some student works proposed also a new terminal for the personal port.
Figure 6. Analysis of the sequences of the Váh riverbank in Komárno by students Marie Cushing and Federica Peti,
2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape
Architecture.
In the landscape architectural design of the promenade, in both its urban and also natural
greenway part, students have incorporated the cycling route EuroVelo 6, and equipped the
corridor of the cycling and walkway route with accompanying infrastructure, ofering points
of rest places and also points of atractions and activities.
For the natural parts of the promenade, they proposed recreational paths with places to rest,
play, or to the sport and also educational paths to learn about the natural biotopes and habi-
tats of Danube landscapes.
4.2.2. Results: design proposals for the riverbank promenade in Komárno
Students have proposed landscape architectural solutions for all the parts of the riverfront
in Komárno. They created the main urban promenade in the part where the historical city
center and the largest fortress connect the Danube bay, with atractive and vibrant facili-
ties (Figure 10) and the recreational greenway along the Váh and the fortiication system
(Figures 11 and 12).
They tried to valorize the potential of the atractive conluence point of the rivers Váh and Danube
and also the edge point of the island by the location of a landmark—or ‘brand mark‘ of the city.
Figure 7. Analysis of the interesting landscape structures of the Váh riverbank in Komárno advisable for protection and
for conservation by students Marie Cushing and Federica Peti, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive
of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape Architecture.
Figure 8. Proposal for the main urban square at the riverfront of Štúrovo with the congress center using the motive of
containers and with the view of the basilica at the Hungarian side of Danube, by students Nika Partaš, Loїc Favorini and
Louis Laheurte, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for
Landscape Architecture.
Figure 9. The proposal for the main urban part of the riverfront in Štúrovo, by students Florence Tiberghien, Camille
Clap, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for
Landscape Architecture.
On the Elizabeth Island, they proposed spaces for recreation, sports facilities and the prom-
enade on the lood protection barrier. They have incorporated the cycling route EuroVelo
6, in urban and greenway parts of the riverfronts. In the landscape architectural design of
the riverbanks, students took into account many aspects, for example, water luctuation and
looding, or ecological interests.
They adopted various design strategies and they created diferentiated embankments. They
created green riparian zones with riparian vegetation, and they created public spaces, beside
the river, with direct contact with the water at various levels. To develop atractive and pleasant
Figure 10. Conceptual proposal for the ‘Danube cultural promenade’ in Komárno, by students Lívia Pires and Tanja
Bozhinova, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre
for Landscape Architecture.
Figure 11. Landscape architectural proposal for the promenade and observation structures at the riverbank of Váh
in Komárno by students Marie Cushing and Federica Peti, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive of
Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape Architecture.
places close to the water they designed broad terraces to access the water, walkways at the water
edge, submergible board walks, or loating elements.
To preserve the genius loci of the industrial area and harbor, they incorporated the rails and
the cranes as visual highlights of the promenade.
Figure 12. Landscape architectural proposal for the promenade at the riverbank of Váh in Komárno—Natural habitats
close to the water, by students Marie Cushing and Federica Peti, 2017, supervisor Katarina Kristianova. Source: Archive
of Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Centre for Landscape Architecture.
5. Conclusion
As noticed by Prominski et al. [18], the design of urban river landscapes as atractive locations
and highly prized recreational environments must fulill a broad range of requirements—
lood control, open space design, and ecology are as a rule the three dominant themes. The
design must be lexible and take into account the changing water levels, shifting seasons, ero-
sion, and sedimentation, the river environment must be understood as a process.
As mentioned by Cengiz [19], with the well-planned restoration of urban rivers, multiple
ecosystem services that have been lost or deteriorated can be recovered to some extent, and
these restorations demonstrate the apparent beneits to human well-being such as health,
economic value, life quality and contribution to regional renewal. Planning river manage-
ment and urban development of waterfronts considering impacts on ecosystems can prevent
or minimize the adverse efects, and appropriate mitigation methods can be determined to
achieve the important and socially beneicial river functions [18].
Results obtained from the research and the design proposals made by students have shown the
potential of the waterfronts in Komárno and Štúrovo for the development of the promenades, as
viable, vibrant and popular urban places, and as greenways, ofering recreation possibilities in
the balance between nature and social life. The design process itself and its results, the various dif-
ferent design solutions for the riverbank promenades, became a way to acquire new knowledge
on the possibilities to apply landscape architecture strategies of promenade development in small
Danube cities. The results of research and the student proposals can serve the municipalities of
Komárno and Štúrovo to detect the values of riverbanks and to adopt new strategies to valorize
their potential. The application of the landscape architectural concept of a promenade, as an inter-
regional and interdisciplinary model for research, evaluation, and implementation, can be trans-
ferred also to other regions and small cities, respecting their site, natural and cultural speciics.
The multilateral aspects of the relationship between human setlements and water represent
speciic values for the urban structure related to water bodies [20, 21]. As the results of the
research in Komárno and Štúrovo suggest, the landscape architectural strategies and the
promenade concepts are able to rediscover the urban, socio-economic, recreational, ecologi-
cal, cultural, historical and esthetic potential of urban riverfronts.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme, Programme
co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI) within the project DANUrB-DANube
Urban Brand, a regional network building through tourism and education to strengthen the
Danube cultural identity and solidarity. We would like to thank all project partners—universities,
research and development centers, regional municipalities, cultural NGOs, tourism boards
and professional market-based agencies, who have contributed to the results.
Author details
Address all correspondence to: [email protected]
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Promenade as Landscape Architecture Strategy for

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Keywords: promenade, riverfronts, greenways, riverbank design, waterfront

Waterfronts, seashores or riverbanks have the traditions of promenading—in pre-industrial

2.1. The characteristics of the pilot city Štúrovo

2.2. The characteristics of the pilot city Komárno

4.1. Results of the analytical part of the research

4.2.1. Results: design proposals for the riverbank promenade in Štúrovo

4.2.2. Results: design proposals for the riverbank promenade in Komárno

Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovak Republic

[20] Kristiánová K, Gécová K, Putrová E. Watercourse as cultural heritage in contemporary

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