Cite this article
Mestrinho, L.C.M. (2026) ‘Public aquatic facilities as enablers of human-marine active interactions: An affordance-based conceptual approach’, Architecture Papers of the Faculty of Architecture and Design STU, 31(2), pp. 4-12. https://www.doi.org/10.2478/alfa-2026-0007
SUMMARY
A key feature of urban regeneration projects along waterfronts is the focus on reconnecting with the wider urban environment. However, the relationship with the aquatic environment is less explored, as are attempts to promote a deeper and more varied connection between urban dwellers and urban blue spaces. This study highlights the potential of public aquatic facilities to facilitate this reconnection, fostering closer and more active relationships with the marine environment and promoting embodied connections with nature. The study reviews a specific aspect of the ecological dimension of using this infrastructure: the conservation of experience between humans and biodiversity, given that existing literature acknowledges the critical importance of the human experience of biodiversity in the conservation agenda. Human–nature interactions are recognised as a critical factor in providing social support for the environmental conservation agenda, and this study first reviews how active engagement with water differs qualitatively from passive enjoyment, triggering distinct responses in individuals and promoting changes in their relationship with the environment at various levels. Despite the recognition that water receives as a fundamental aspect of placemaking, the study points out that the idea of connecting the city (and its inhabitants) with water is still dominated by a ‘horizontal logic’. This logic prioritises enjoyment of water only at a superficial level, such as observing the seascape. However, connections that can be established on the vertical axis, including with what is above and below the waterline, already exist but are much less explored. It is noted that visual, passive engagement is an effective method of capturing cultural ecosystem services provided by blue spaces. Nonetheless, it is also recalled that this form of interaction can be limited when it comes to understanding the environmental quality of the medium, its constituent elements, and the natural processes that occur in the underwater habitat, such as hydrodynamics (currents), temperature, salinity, depth, turbidity, and species variability. Perception of these factors depends on active engagement with the environment, thereby highlighting its importance. The dual nature of the seascape is also discussed as it can be both therapeutic and treacherous and the study sheds light on a research gap concerning the lesser-discussed issue of how to promote beneficial exposure to nature in challenging environments, such as aquatic ones. The stigma associated with waterscapes as dangerous places is highlighted, which could partially explain why most projects do not encourage active engagement with water, instead relegating people to the role of passive spectators. Theoretically based on the concept of affordances, an interactionist view of perception and action, the study suggests that public aquatic facilities could be understood in terms of their capacity to create positive affordances in order to mitigate the negative affordances, whether perceived or actual, brought about by the marine ecosystem for the different users. This would result in public aquatic facilities being conceived as spatial mechanisms capable of actively shaping the relationship between users and their environment, rather than being interpreted merely as recreational or aesthetic facilities, as is more common. In this sense, the design of a public aquatic facility could be interpreted as the design of affordances, as has been proposed in previous literature, with the aim of increasing the likelihood of active interaction with the marine environment. Examples of facilities of this typology, such as harbour baths, sea pools, and swimming lanes, are given to illustrate how these facilities are capable to manage affordances related to the physical aspects of the marine environment, the dynamics of the environmental conditions in place, and the personal characteristics of users. The study suggests that public aquatic facilities are likely to provide positive affordances, such as legibility, accessibility, playability, safety, and swimmability, which could impact how different users perceive and relate to the marine environment. This could enable human–marine interaction under a different set of conditions, where the designed environment could offer benefits associated with contact with the marine environment while mitigating some constraints. Recognising that not all aquatic facilities built at the interface between land and sea are the same, the study recommends further research to identify environmental features that could inform the design of such public spaces. This would help them better serve as surrogates for wilderness experiences. At the same time, readers are advised to note that, despite following the same rationale as studies validating the role of designed green spaces in people’s experience of nature, evidence of this is rarely produced for designed blue spaces. This indicates that empirical research on designed aquatic environments is still in its infancy and requires further longitudinal and comparative investigation.