People will prefer to live in houses that are located close to the water bodies due to the beautiful view they offer, the quiet nature of the area and the way of life provided by the waterfront properties. As more of these properties are required, there has been a greater focus on how these sites located on the palaeochannels used for transportation, trade, and water source, today cater for residential and commercial purposes. The inclusion of these rivers in the modern landscape that is today’s urban landscape can offer both the cultural value, and the futuristic value.

The Historical Importance of River Routes

 Rivers for years was the source of life and sustenance to the early communities that came into being around them. Some of the biggest cities in the world including Cairo, Paris and London were established at the riverside such as Nile, Seine, and Thames respectively. Such water channels were useful for transportation, agricultural productive land, and secure water sources. They were relied on for business interactions, food supplies and transportation of distant areas. At some point, however, avenues and air ways took priority and these routes lost their importance. But, they are gone today leaving behind a well-developed system of natural water sources ready for easy adaptation to modern use.

Resurgence of Riverfront Development

After some decline, the concept of living in residences located near waterfronts has grown in popularity in the recent past; this is because waterfront living is not just viewed as a beautiful Residence, but also part of the successful push for the greener designing of urban living environment. Urban areas are beginning to see their water fronts as premier development sites and some prehistoric canoe paths are being put to contemporary use reclaiming dormant areas.

Developments of these areas in the modern society comprise of houses, recreational centers, and business addresses. Yet, the importance of preserving the natural attributes of these rivers are now held in equal importance along the development objectives. The purpose of the adaptive re–use of river routes prevents disruptions to the environment, supports the balance of the ecosystem and prevents flood formation.

Sustainable Urban Planning

One obvious criterion arose in relation to ancient river routes is sustainability. It is worth mentioning that currently architects and urban planners pay more attention to environmentally friendly designs using layout of rivers. Floodplain management, wetland restoration and proper handling of stormwater management for new developments around flood plains and other riverine areas should be put into consideration to avoid a discord within the system.

Today, where planners are incorporating the wetlands and the green belts in the planning framework, the goal is to retain natural systems and processes of the rivers as well as protect them from floods and guarantee the presence of bio-diversity.

 For instance, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are renewing their age-old water channels where expanding flood-proof dwelling and people’s amenities like parks. These projects meet the difficulty of more frequent and disastrous sea levels as well as climate change not only but also offer beautiful, usable spaces for contemporary life.

 Enhancing Connectivity

 The waterways played an essential role as means of transit and as contemporary builders are learning, it is possible to renew this approach towards boosting connectivity. Water taxis, ferries and pedestrian bridges can offer as an opportunity to avoid traffic jams and to have a beautiful way to get to work in cities. Real estates at waterfronts arising at long established routes for water means such as rivers could benefit from better access to city centers and consequently increase in demand.

 However, the chances of doing so in the present world of technology are not impossible and that the utilization of the river means of transport in the present society can be made more environmentally friendly. Electric and solar-powered ferries and boats are environment-friendly ways of travelling and they can reduce carbon footprint in an effort to improve the global environment.

Economic and Cultural Impact

 Translating the great rivers of antiquity into luxury properties, only appears to be a mere property shared strategy, but at the deeper end, it proclaims strategic entrepreneurship and economic as well as cultural impact. Similar to the revitalisation of other areas, there are social, economic and community benefits such as employment opportunities for citizens, boosting of the tourism sector and improved standards of living by the people. This is because cities which have invested in river frontage stand to gain economically because such areas turn into commercial centres.

 In terms of culture, it is also important to note that flow history of ancient river routes infused the contemporary projects with more perspective. Heritage walks, museums and education centers developed along such water bodies/river can make people from all the section of the society including the local people or tourists aware of the history of the river and provide sense of pride and belonging. This combination of new living together with conservation of the old buildings makes river front developments a special part of the city.

Conclusion

A natural application of the existing rivers for forming modern waterfronts can be seen in many ways as a rather sustainable and historically significant approach to urban planning. What is remarkable that through the improvements of modern facility and the consideration of ecological issues, cities can construct their riverfront and significantly provide the opportunities for citizens to enjoy both the aesthetic and recreational value of the river. Some of these ancient waterways can remain as sources of life and prosperity for many centuries, combining the historic and the modern in a sense.