This research focuses on “Waterside Social Experiments”, exceptional measures for the practical use of rivers. Through the bibliographic/field/hearing surveys of 19 cities across the country, the state of use for river areas was grasped. Each instance was comparatively reviewed from the vantage points of business schemes and spatial structures. Through this, an overall picture of the Waterside Social Experiments was grasped, and an investigation into measures targeting river area space utilization and the building of a community cooperation structure was attempted. That result is as below.
1. The Waterside Social Experiments were carried out on rivers in general, from urban to suburban areas, and 24 instances were presents.
2. The implementation period for the Waterside Social Experiments was classified into the “Trial Period” and the “Development Period”. While the Trial Period had initiatives largely held in urban area rivers, the Development Period had its initiatives developed in the immense rivers of suburban areas.
3. River area space utilization for commerce in the types of stores was classified into a “Sight Frontage Usage Type” and an “Independent Store Type” based on the relationship between public and private land. Particularly in Sight Frontage Usage Types, space utilization was attained through integral usage of buildings along the river, as many types of operations are adopted in urban area rivers where the operational scope is very narrow.
4. Business schemes were frequently formed through managers － councils － businesses, and were classified into “Direct Types” and “Intermediate Types” through the relationship between occupants and businesses.
5. For commerce utilization initiatives in urban area rivers, where it can be assumed that various unspecified businesses will enter, application through the Intermediate Type business scheme can be frequently seen. The construction of an implementation structure geared towards fairness in business entry and harmonious business operation was attained.
6. Interaction with councils that occurred in the implementation structure differed in each case and the councils were tasked with the selection of occupants and businesses. Through this, the simplification of business schemes and harmonious business operations was attained. Moreover, councils formed by tenants shouldered occupancy and carried out architectural and legal guidance in the facilities. Through this, the construction of an “Area Leadership Type” implementation structure, where the councils became coordinators for their areas, was attained.
As mentioned above, through initiatives in the Waterside Social Experiments, the sense of values was reevaluated for each area's waterside. Particularly in urban area rivers, where business space is limited, it became clear that the creation of a lively space was being attained with the expansion of a waterside dining spaces through the establishment of open cafes and streambeds and the like. Various relationships between managers － councils － businesses were formed through those initiatives. So, it also became clear that the construction of a harmonious collaborative system was being attained through the formation of an “Interim Organization” that coordinated between each organization/group.
