NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering ,Architecture, & Technology

Architecture Department

“The Riverfront Development’’

Juan Luna Street, Laoag City

An Architectural Research presented to

Ar. Analiza A. Arcangel ,UAP,M.Ar.U.D.

In partial fulfillment of the course requirements in

RES100: Methods of Research

For the degree of

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Submitted by:

Tim Bryan T. Last Name

Leader

Czabrina Chanel R. Almarez

Shaen Marie L. Ancheta
Rosalinda G. Tan
Angelica M. Valdez
Members

On
January 27,2023
 “THE RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT’’
JUAN LUNA STREET, LAOAG CITY

1. INTRODUCTION

Riverfront spaces are essential to a city’s development because of their many

benefits. First is the environment advantage and human health. Riverfront

green spaces can provide clean recreational places for people, especially for

efficient use in urban downtown area. Second is their promotion of urban

economic development. As the geographic center of a city, urban riverfronts

are often nearest to all residents. They are among the best places to gather

people together, and prepare for the city’s commercial development.

The city is a vibrant and dynamic growth center in the north, a truly unique

destination offering surprises, panoramic sand dunes, lush vegetation, scenic

beaches, high land lures, historical and heritage sites. (Laoag City (china-

consulate.gov.cn)

The Padsan River is the largest river in Ilocos Norte with a length of 73.10

kilometers and a drainage basin of 1,320 square kilometers. The dredging

project does not only provide opportunities for the communities through sand

extraction, but ultimately reduce siltation which reduces the flood-carrying

capacity of the said river. (PIA - Ilocos Norte commences large-scale dredging

project in Padsan River)

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Today, cities are also rediscovering the value of their rivers and lakes. Urban

waterfronts represent environmental, aesthetic and economic opportunities as

well as a record of the industrial and maritime culture and history. Lack of

interesting design can make these spaces monotonous; which can make them

socially dysfunctional and culturally blank. This may lead to a strained

interaction between the people and these valuable areas. Moreover, in many

metropolitan areas, inhabitants are isolated from these spaces of the city. This

often generates unhealthy and unstable environments within the existing

socio-economic systems. In this research project, our goal is to recommend

exciting urban regeneration of a city which is seeking for urban revitalization.

By recognizing the importance of the natural water resource as an attraction;

we would like to propose an urban infill on the riverfront, where all groups of

people, from workers to shoppers to tourists, students and residents can create

a continuous hub of activity. The motivation for this project is to generate

socio-economic development in the form of an urban village which will be

designed with mixed use facilities and sustainable urban development.

Additionally, the urban village will provide a sense of place and community

commitment to achieve a more humane scale with an intimate and a vibrant

street life. (Reconnecting The City With The Riverfront, To Revitalize The

Socio-Economic Conditions Of Springfield, Ma. (umass.edu)

2. OVERVIEW (OR BACKGROUND)

The environment has the capacity to give several benefits at use to us which

will be there to set for future developments that are linked to land and water

which are necessary for the life support system. The gap of this research from

other research is that this one addresses the extent of solution, development

and gain more social interaction with benefits for the environment specifically
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in Laoag City, Juan Luna Street. We believe that this study would help gain

and widen the knowledge as to the field of Urban development Planning

which in the future may be used as social gathering and tourist attraction.

3. RESEARCH FOCUS

This to proposed a project that will offer a unique cultural platform with

recreational and entertainment facilities serving the city, its people and tourists

with new dimension, meaning and scale of development. The riverfront

development shall be envisaged as a city’s identity on its waterfront.

3.1 RESEARCH PROBLEM

Getting all the perception of the residents or other concern citizen concerning

their opinion with regards the development in the site and to come up with an

efficient and sustainable solution to the existing land use and the water feature

as threat to the environment geographical feature.

3.2 RESEARCH QUESTION

“What will be the finest way to use of the land and water feature in Juan Luna

Street, Laoag City?”

3.3 RESEARCH AIM

The research aim is to create a project that develops a riverfront site from

underutilized and troubled land to much healthy and productive urban land in

the city. It will eventually help to promote the urban economic development,

as well as bringing environment advantage to people’s life. The goal of this

creative project is to create an easeful and fully functional living space for

both residents and visitors. This project analyzes the problems and conditions

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of current site environment. It also reviews the literature and case studies to

establish a reasonable design program for further development.

4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Data Collection

The data collection for this thesis project is divided into five major parts

including: site analysis and assessment, relevant comparative case studies, past

recommendations and best practices, discussions with professionals in related

fields, and detailed literature review. Gathering data, organizing significant

information, analyzing and synthesizing finding and then using them

appropriately to develop my design recommendation will be the process of my

research. To accomplish this task, I will carry out the following steps.

Site Analysis and Assessment

Site assessment will involve a detailed study of the region and its relation with

the study area for the project. Project will require an advanced understanding

of historical significance of the city and region, social and economic factors,

relation of the city with its riverfront. In addition, site assessment will contain

existing land use pattern, parcel study, circulation and existing linkages with

the study area. It will help to understand need of the city, expectations from its

natural assets, potential connections and scope for the development. However,

this study will also indicate about limitations of short-term and long-term

developmental goals. Site analysis includes, taking an inventory of site

elements and analyzing these factors relative to the goal and objectives of the

thesis project. It involves gathering relevant information about existing

conditions such as vegetation, water table, topography (slopes, elevations,

gradients), and climatic changes (solar intensity and its direction, wind
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direction, temperature changes). Site analysis will include physical site visits

to achieve an actual feel of the site to record perceptual factors about activities

on site and nearby areas, circulation of auto, bike and pedestrian traffic. In

addition, it will contain special analysis such as views of the site and views

from the site, potential for new areas, and its sequential relationship. For

physical design, it is necessary to analyze existing or vernacular architectural

style, upcoming trends, location of the skyline of the city. Next step will carry

out collection and organization of available data according to the priority of

the focus of the project. To achieve a successful design, site analysis is a must

and should be done very carefully.

Case Studies

Case studies are widely used in most professions, including planning and

architecture. Case studies can be used to test their theories; and to develop

design concept and ideas. It can be utilized to bring out several kinds of

information. While some of this information may be unique to the given

project and its context. Hence, selection criteria are very important factor in

choosing case studies for research.

My first criteria for selecting case studies will be riverfront development

which has been settled near to the heart of the city. It will be interesting to

study the innovative ways of connecting the cities with their waterfront; and

revitalizing city by using the waterfront. Special focus will be given for

similar conditions where highway or railroads are becoming a major barrier in

the desirable connection between city and waterfront.

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These riverfronts should be safe, attractive, with full of life, and having lots of

amenities which will engage all age group of people. To achieve this urban

sustainability in my design it is necessary to study a development of an urban

village on a waterfront. This criterion also involves urban design aspects such

as infrastructure, waterfront amenities, potential connections from city and its

regional connections. While talking about urban village and amenities,

maintaining public private relationship is a very important characteristic of

urban sustainability. My criteria of selecting case-studies for my project will

also involve a successful public-private relationship in an urban settlement.

After selection of all the case-studies, next step will include synthesizing and

analyzing the data, project goals, key findings and success of the design of

those case studies. Comparable analysis and evaluation will include the project

significance and impact on my research, background and history, design

development, program elements, maintenance and management. In addition, it

will also be compared by using reviews and criticism, user analysis,

uniqueness of the project, limitations, futures issues and its solutions.

Past Design Recommendations and Best Practices

Study of design recommendations in the past few years, for similar sites or

projects in comparable urban settlements are very supportive. We can consider

them as a different example, which may suggest helpful thoughts for our

project.

Discussion with Professionals in related fields.

I will meet with the officials and staffs of the City Government of Laoag and

planners to conduct discussion to gather information about the city, its

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waterfront, upcoming projects, and future development recommendations near

downtown area, developmental trends. It will help identify about issues faced

by city while improving the existing scenario, and can get a further idea of the

scope and limitations of my project.

I will try to be in contact with some other professionals; who have worked on

similar kinds of project or can give me helpful guidance in design

development. After analyzing the data from these conversations, it may guide

me towards practical solutions to resolve certain issues.

Literature Review

Conduct a detailed literature review regarding urban development issues,

design development of urban village, mix land use development, urban

sustainability, waterfront revitalization, and their interaction with inhabitants.

It will help to get the detailed knowledge about these terms and their relation

with urban design solution. I will integrate all the information and then

analyze the methodology applied in it.

Data organization

Organizing the collected data is one of the most important steps in the research

methods. For my thesis, I would like to start organizing the data from regional

context, then about the city and finally about the site. The first step of

organization will be regional information which will help me understand more

about the surrounding area of the city of Laoag. Regional context will also

contain some data about historical development of that area. The next step will

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be organizing the data about the city of Laoag, its assets and historical

background for few decades.

As my main focus of the thesis is to connect downtown with the waterfront; it

is important to document data about detailed existing scenario of the

downtown of the city, which will help me to understand the potential of

downtown area. In addition, I will have to organize the information about the

infrastructural barriers such as highway and railroad. The information will

include about their locations, future developmental plans from the city or state.

Further, I will organize my detailed site analysis for my entire study area. This

analysis will contain existing conditions, utilization, parcel study, and

potential connection which can be made in the future with the city.

Data collected from comparative case study framework and summary of the

discussions with different professionals will be organized according to the

priority of its significance related to my focus of the topic.

4.2 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative Research have been chosen as our method of gathering our

research to get the numbers of insights or opinion with regards of the

Riverfront Development.

4.3 DATA COLLECTION

The instrument used to gather data are printed survey questionnaires. The

questionnaire consist a total of ten questions that are answerable by yes or no. 

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4. DATA ANALYSIS

The outcome of this research have provided insight into the different opinion

and assumption of the architects, engineers, students, employees and the locals

on the riverfront development in Juan Luna Street, Laoag City. The result

indicates that the majority of the respondents chose to agree in making the

propose project to change the existing land use and to support the project

considering its social and economical status and also in the part of tourism

industry.

5. MERIT OF THE RESEARCH AND PROPOSED

CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Riverfront spaces are essential to a city’s development because of the benefits

that are provided with its own land use and water features. First is the

environment advantage and human health and also the contribution of

architectural structures as help to improve the social status as interaction and

contribution to the development of the proposed project. In getting the

perception of some Laoageneous on the proposed riverfront development of

Laoag City, the different cultural platform of recreational and entertainment

facilities are included and take into consideration to provide diversified

opportunities for different functionalities in economic development, public

enjoyment and claiming the identity.

6. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND LAWS

Reuse of Underutilized Urban Riverfront

The urban riverfront is the dynamic area of cities where the city and river

meets. It has been among the richest areas of planning and development in our

communities for years. However, riverfronts have moved from prosperous and

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densely populated to economically depressed and sparsely populated,

particularly in Mid-western areas of United States. Industrial decline and the

closing of many factories had left behind contaminated lands and surrounding

sites that are unsafe for use.

Urban riverfront green spaces system development

-Return Underutilized Sites to Local Community Uses
Returning to local community use is one of the most basic and significant

considerations in reusing the underutilized urban river-edge sites for the

creative project. This part will review literature exploring three major

functions of riverfront sites for local community: 1) recreation opportunities,

2) accessibility, 3) enhancing local residents’ quality of life. Craig-Smith,

Stephen J. and Michael Fagence (1995) introduce the notable opportunities for

successful urban riverfront redevelopment and rehabilitation, and examine

recreation 13 opportunities for local residents as a catalyst for the riverfront

redevelopment. They also point the way toward principles and guidelines for

the accomplishment of functional and recreational harmony in urban

environments, which is important for connecting local community and

riverfronts. Finding new recreational development for water and riverfront

sites can help to enhance the city and preserve the riverfront, and also improve

the function of river-edge sites for local communities (Krieger, 2000).

Sustainable Site Design for Redeveloping Underutilized Urban River-

Edge Sites
Sustainable site design for underutilized urban river-edge sites redevelopment

could be classified into three categories: sustainability in ecology, society, and

economy. Many waterfront sites used to be industrial plants in North America,

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and the government has neglected cleaning and managing the waterfronts for a

long period of time. This extracts the significant problem – sustainability,

either in ecology, society or economy should be considered in further

underutilized urban river-edge redevelopment. Material recycling is one of the

vital elements in sustainability. Campo (2002) suggests an idea that uses

abandoned waterfront facilities and infrastructure to create the local residents’

own productive and social environments. These uses include simple

recreations such as fishing or bird watching, and some organized events like

art shows, concerts, and community gatherings. Using recycled materials

could reduce the waste materials in former industrial manufacturing facilities,

and reduce pollution to the environment.

Urban Spatial Design for Underutilized River-Edge Sites

Every modern city has an amazing amount of vacant, underutilized land in its

downtown core hundreds of acres in most major American cities, especially

along the river (Trancik, 1986). These vacant places could be redesigned for

local resident use either in recreation, 20 education, or sports. How do we

manage these different spaces and make them function well individually?

Spatial design for underused river-edge sites could help divide these different

spaces. Spatial design could be identified into three urban-design theories: 1)

figure-ground theory, 2) linkage theory, and 3) place theory (Trancik, 1986).

Cooperation with commercial development to facilitate the urban

economic development
Local community use is a major purpose for urban riverfront redevelopment.

Commercial 23 and economic development cannot be ignored in the urban

river-edge sites development process. It could bring many benefits to the local

community. Not only would it boost leisure and tourism, but riverfront

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economic development can also make important contributions to human

health, well-being, and quality of life for local residents (Hopkins, 2005)

Urban Waterfront Redevelopment

Water is a defining force that fundamentally shapes the character of each place

it touches. The role of water in transport, industry, sanitation and nourishment

made it the reason of human settlement. Waterfronts, the unique places where

land and water meet, are a finite resource embodying the special history and

character of each community. Urban waterfronts, like the cities they help

define, are dynamic places. Urban waterfront planning examines the different

ways of experiencing and using the edges of seas, lakes or rivers and

understanding their qualities for the community. The competition for

waterfront space and the need for public access to the shore and the

conservation of waterfront biodiversity as a natural resource have become an

increasingly topical issue in urban policy. In many cases it has been seen that

urban waterfront regeneration is driven by economic transition, concerns of

social community environment, physical obsolescence and new recreational

land and property requirements, environmental quality and sustainable

development.

Waterfronts are often strategic areas, (for example Boston, San Francisco,

Chicago etc.) because their usage has direct or indirect impacts on the image

of the place (coastal city, city beside the lake, riverside town) and on social

equity; many times waterfronts are areas of high-price housing and

gentrification. Property values near the water can escalate while benefits may

fail to spill over to neighborhoods. This effect would create a gap in real estate

prices between an expensive waterfront and more affordable sectors. "Urban

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Waterfront Manifesto." The Waterfront

Center.http://www.waterfrontcenter.org/about/manifesto.html (accessed

October 2010).

Sustainability in Urban Redevelopment

Sustainable Urban development has become a widely recognized and

acknowledged goal for human society ever since the deterioration of

environmental and social conditions in many urban areas of the world. This

indicates that the sustainability of the city may be at risk. Sustainability is not

absolute or independent of human conceptual frameworks. Rather it is always

set in the context of decisions about what type of system is to be sustained and

over what spatial-temporal scale.

The challenge of the sustainable development is largely an urban challenge.

These challenges include increase in social and economic opportunities,

reduction in energy content of the urban growth, and minimization of

production and recycling of the waste produced.

Economic and community development

The idea of shaping economic development and community development to

take advantage of each other is neither an ideal solution for social or economic

development nor is it simple to implement. However, when these two coincide

with each other, they can have a greater impact on the overall development of

the community.46 This indicates that, economic development can contribute

to community development in 21 inner city neighborhoods by expanding

employment, improving consumer service, creating business markets,

rehabilitating real estate, and promoting role models to community.

Conversely, community development can create economic opportunities in

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those neighborhoods by reducing their operating cost and expanding their

markets by providing visitors. This linkage can be exploited creatively and

selectively, to create more opportunities and generating greater payoffs than if

pursued independently.

7. RESEARCH PROTOCOL

November 28, 2022: Title. November 29,2022: Introduction. December 01,

2022: Objectives. December 05, 2022: Literature Review. December 10, 2022:

Research question and Hypothesis. December 15, 2022: Research

Methodology and Data Analysis and Discussion. January 09, 2023:

Conclusion and Recommendation.

8. REFERENCES

Mohammed G.,Radwa S. & Shaimaa E. (2022). Impact of the sustainable

waterfront proposed development of Bani-Suif corniche on the hydraulics of
the Nile River. Ain Shams Engineering Journal,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090447922001563

Alagarsamy R. (2019). Riverfront Development. Urban Development

Department.

https://www.academia.edu/10171888/Riverfront_Development?
fbclid=IwAR1osnOPavFejvbmI1DYmJ6GCKM9LvSjACspw_w7Sg4pEJ
auuRf9ThllLqM

Bismi S. (2017). River Front Development. River/water front development

and sabarmati riverfront development case study.
https://www.slideshare.net/2711798/river-front-development-75862095?
fbclid=IwAR2pOHlKxumrbEZ6RE7-LCBnbvh-ZPAL6fQj7142SbH-
npbvMyHH5-9TGmY

John L. (2006). The development of small town waterfronts. Department of

Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning Department of
Architecture. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5164263.pdf?

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fbclid=IwAR0eiV71pYs50goxaH7WcTWBnjLXhK1wyTmGYnDIO9wYr
WQI2I5SS8A0PHU

Little K. (2015). A Guide to Riverfront Development Connecting communities

to the water. River life pgh org.
https://riverlifepgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/A-Guide-to-
Riverfront-Development.pdf

Admin (2019). Riverfront Development Background, Use & Example.

Urbanisation. https://planningtank.com/urbanisation/riverfront-
development

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SWOT ANALYSIS

 STRENGTH

- Open and wide lot area

- Can accommodate a lot of crowd
- surrounded by commercial and institutional buildings
- Clear sun path
- City proper
- Can be easily seen or locate
- Road accessibility
-Strategic location and easy to reach
-Has a beautiful view or panorama

 WEAKNESSES
- Possible flood prone area
- Amihan

 OPPORTUNITIES
- Can provide food from the near bodies of water
- Increase of employment
-Space to expand
-Development in the ecotourism sector

 THREATS
- Typhoons
-Surrounded by various of competitors
-There are still people who do not care about environmental cleanliness
while still throwing garbage into the river.

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SURVEY DOCUMENTATION

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PRESENTATION OF DATA GATHERED

Q1. Can you visualize the annual amusement park to be replaced by the
riverfront as a future step for the development of the city?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 86% 43
NO 14% 7
TOTAL 50

Q2. Do you think it will be beneficial for you and the city to maintain the
usual set-up of the site location?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 88% 44
NO 12% 6
TOTAL 50

Q3. Do you think the riverfront will help improve the current state of the
social status of the city?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 94% 47
NO 6% 3
TOTAL 50

Q4. Do you think the riverfront will help improve the current state of the
economic status of the city?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 84% 42
NO 16% 8
TOTAL 50

Q5. Do you think the riverfront will help improve the current state of the
geographical features status of the city?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 86% 43
NO 14% 7
TOTAL 50

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Q6. Do you expect the riverfront to be successful in terms of tourist attraction?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 88% 44
NO 12% 6
TOTAL 50

Q7. Do you agree in making the proposed project possible to build?

PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 88% 44
NO 12% 6
TOTAL 50

Q8. Do you think the riverfront will give negative impact or will change the
life course of the existing land use?

PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 66% 33
NO 34% 17
TOTAL 50

Q9. Do you think the riverfront can improve the natural environment?

PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 66% 39
NO 34% 17
TOTAL 50

Q10. Do you think the riverfront will be built successfully and continuously
improve in the near future?
PERCENTAGE ANSWERS
YES 80% 40
NO 20% 10
TOTAL 50

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