Renaissance on the waterfront

The show, a joint project run by New London Architecture and British Waterways London, features almost 50 new projects transforming the rivers and canals of the capital.

It will be launched by writer and historian Peter Ackroyd.

The schemes featured include a major new park in the Lea Valley, a children's canoe club on the Thames and a string of projects linked to the 2012 Olympics.

However, the exhibition also sounds a warning that development must not be allowed to continue without strict rules.

Peter Murray, exhibitions director at New London Architecture, said: "Waterfront development in London holds the same level of added responsibility as tall buildings.

"Tall buildings invade the sky, waterfront buildings impose themselves on the public open space of the river and frequently occupy significant vistas.

"Developers require more guidance that puts constraints on how buildings address the river and their hinterland."

British Waterways London hopes to highlight the potential for environmentally friendly travel on waterways.

It has signed a contract for gravel barges to travel on the Grand Union Canal, potentially allowing up to three million tonnes a year to be transported.

Meanwhile, a new lock - Prescott Lock - at the Olympic Park could take 170,000 lorry journeys off roads by allowing 1.75 million tonnes of materials to travel to the Games site by barge.

Waterfront London: Rediscovering The Rivers And Canals Of The Capital is at the Building Centre, Store Street, WC1, until 23 February.

NEW AND FUTURE WATERFRONT PROJECTS

* White Post Lane, Union Canal, Hackney: Modern exhibition spaces and café built alongside artists' studios in Victorian warehouses. Loading hoist and delivery bays will allow goods to be delivered by barge. Planning permission granted.

* London Promenade, South Bank: Would extend existing promenade at the South Bank Centre eastwards from Gabriel's Wharf to connect with the existing jetty at Butler's Wharf. Proposed.

* City Road Basin, Regent's Canal, Islington: High-density residential development incorporating towers, a civic square, park, footpath and boat club. Crystal Wharf and Diespeker Wharves complete. City Wharf completion due this year.

* Thames River of Light, central London: Both sides of the Thames from Tower Bridge to Vauxhall to be decorated with a string of lighting projects incorporating wind turbines and coloured LEDs. Proposed.

* Victoria Embankment: The pavement would be widened and the road occasionally shut for public events to encourage more Londoners to enjoy this riverside walk. Proposed.

* Watermark Place, Cannon Street: Office and retail development, plus one of the largest riverside public spaces in central London. Completion due summer.

* Seal House, London Bridge: Office redevelopment, the final chapter of the Thames-side redevelopment between Fishmongers' Hall and Cannon Street Railway Bridge. Proposed.

* Wandsworth Riverside Quarter: Final phase of residential development at the confluence of the Thames and Wandle, involving ecological terraces and a piazza. Completion due 2011.

* Battersea Reach, Wandsworth Bridge: Mixed development on what was once London's biggest brownfield site. A 300-metre path will allow public access to the river for the first time since the 18th century and create new river-edge habitats for wildlife. Completion due 2014.

* Lots Road, on the Fulham/Chelsea border: £500 million development on the site of London Underground's old power station, which has caused controversy. Completion due 2012.

* Cremorne Riverside Centre, Chelsea: Canoeing facility designed to replace existing club operating out of two shipping containers. Completed.

* Hermitage Community Moorings, Tower Hamlets: Co-operative set up to build and operate a mooring for historic boats on the Thames. Completion due this spring.

* Peninsula Square, Greenwich: Entrance to the O2 including performance wall, 45-metre steel spire, three interactive geysers and riverwalk to the refurbished QEII pier on the Thames. Completed.

Other rivers

Uxbridge Business Park, near Denham: Old textile factory redeveloped into office space on the banks of the Sands river. Completion due spring 2009.

* Hale Wharf Commercial Barges, Tottenham Hale: Modern floating office space on the River Lee Navigation targeted at small businesses. Completed.

* Creekside Village, Deptford: Shops, bars, offices, houses and artists' studios to create local employment. Plus new facilities for the Laban dance centre. Proposed.

* Canals West Southall: Plan to create an intensive mixed-use neighbourhood on contaminated land beside the Grand Union Canal. Proposed.

* Alperton Village, near Hanger Lane: Six residential blocks plus shops on a disused industrial estate overlooking the Grand Union Canal. Planning permission granted.

* Paddington Basin, behind Paddington station: Shops, offices and restaurants around a public square beside the Grand Union Canal. Towpaths re-established. Completed.

* King's Cross, Camden: Three new bridges over the Regent's Canal, a refurbished towpath and moorings. Completion due after 2019.

* Water House Café, Shoreditch: Water from Regent's Canal will be cycled through a heat exchanger to heat or cool café.

* Olympic Gateway: Environmental and access improvements to the waterways in the Olympic Park and creation of a new inner-city wetland habitat. Completion due 2012 and 2014.

Docks

* Grosvenor Waterside, Chelsea Bridge: Flats built at Grosvenor Dock. Completed.

* Tower Bridge House, Tower of London: Eight-storey building on a prominent site beside St Katharine's dock. Completed.

* Venture Xtreme, Silvertown Quays: UK's first outdoor surf centre, with London's largest permanent beach. Proposed.