Kształtowanie krajobrazu dolin rzecznych miast europejskich

Public water spaces are very important elements in the townscape of every city. A river with riverbanks, riverside areas, escarpments and bridges has often been an element, which determined the spatial - functional structure of the city. In the majority of European cities the river is one of the most important values, with harmoniously shaped landscape. The role of the river in a town is emphasized by location of the most important historical buildings and urban complexes in the close vicinity of the river. In recent years the landscapes of contemporary cities have become similar and uniform. Hence the increasing need for shaping the city's identity, including one of the most important elements of a city landscape, i.e. public water spaces with surrounding areas. The article presents the newest examplesof shapingthe landscapeof European cities with the help of creation of large scale urban complexes. Detailed analysis relates to public spaces. The presented complexes are shaped by planning instruments such as urban design and urban composition. They are outstanding examples of harmonious supplementation of cultural landscape of European cities by new realizations.