Many of the world\u2019s greatest cities can trace their historical growths back to one simple and often overlooked geographical aspect: proximity to water. Whether it is the open ocean or a wide meandering river, countless early cities came to be due to accessibility by ship and the subsequent economic influx that allowed them to flourish into regional or even global powerhouses of trade, commerce and industry.<\/p>\n
In the wake of globalization and post-industrialization, many once-buzzing urban ports and waterfronts have fallen into disuse and disrepair. As cities around the world become increasingly environmentally conscious, and shift their planning to be more people-focused, designers are honing in on waterfronts more than ever, with facelifts in the form of parks, plazas or even commercial development.<\/p>\n