THIS is a future vision of the River Itchen in Southampton dreamt up by a team of architects to show the potential of the waterfront.

It brings together ideas from around the world to show how the river could become a cultural attraction at the heart of the city.

The poster imagines a man-made sandy beach, like the one created along the river Seine in Paris, and shows how the river could become a focus of activity with Henley-on-Thames-style rowing races or a leg of the Red Bull Air Race that presently tours cities such as Porto, San Diego and Abu Dhabi. Sydney Opera House on the riverfront represents the kind of iconic building that could be built. Architects from Snug Projects in Winchester hope that the poster will spark debate and help to raise aspirations.