Innovative ways for more protection of historic waterfronts

Climate crises should put in evidence more awareness especially in sensitive contexts such as historic waterfronts. To this end, sustainable design for waterfront protection seems appropriate to face these treats. However, historic waterfronts today facing environmental degradation and their regeneration needs to be focused on integrated approaches for urban change and resilience. Transformation can produce new spatial configuration including new uses and physical dynamism. Specifically, sustainable planning and design in waterfront transformation seems necessary for a permanent protection of a historic environment as well as for social and economic benefits. Nevertheless, when it comes to flood risks, sustainable waterfront design requires a longer-term view over the impacts of climate change. Adaptation demands with waterfront urban green spaces and natural infrastructures as well as innovative and smart solutions. For instance, adopting floating structures for more active flood protection should be encouraged to support both buildings vulnerability and everyday urban life.The aim of this paper is to show planning matters and proposed urban and smart design solutions along the River Arno within the historic city centre of Florence. Precisely, the creation of well-designed permeable historic riverfront sites can minimise the negative impacts of urban transformation as well as of climate change concerns, especially at a local level of waterfront management.