Special Issue on Water, Urban Form, and Sustainability

Introduction:

Most major cities are located on rivers or estuaries, taking strategic advantage for navigation, water supply, water power, and waste disposal.  The identity of many cities is closely linked to their rivers.  Despite its importance, the role of water in shaping cities has been often overlooked. Yet rivers and other urban waters become increasingly important for the sustainability of cities as they adapt to population growth and environmental change.  This special issue explores a range of case studies and synthesis of the role of water in urban form and sustainability.  We welcome article submissions from all disciplinary fields that explore interactions among rivers, urban form, and sustainability.

Topics covered:

• application of the water-systems approach
• how cities have been shaped by their hydrologic environment
• how cities have implemented technologies to adapt to their hydrologic environments
• how rivers have shaped urban identity and urban form
• the social connectivity of urban rivers over time
• spiritual significance of rivers in diverse cultures (e.g., Scandinavia, Africa)
• riverfront revitalization in cities

Important deadlines:

Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online, please select  [Water, Urban Form, and Sustainability] on submission.

Guest editors:

• G Mathias Kondolf, University of California Berkeley, USA. Email: kondolf@berkeley.edu
• Terje Østigård, Linneas University Kalmar, Sweden. Email: terje.ostigard@arkeologi.uu.se
• Terje Tvedt, University of Bergen and University of Oslo, Norway. Email: Terje.Tvedt@uib.no