Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University Architecture and Urban Planning
Dace Kalvāne, Jānis Krastiņš. Space of the Daugava within the Cityscape of Riga
2010
Volume 4
Fig. 2. Development vision for the waterfront in Ķengarags by architects office Valeinis & Stepe, 2006.
Technical University, a modern shopping centre and a planned high-rise office area. The workshop participants for the urban development in Ķīpsala proposed: • to retain and develop the authentic urban landscape of Ķīpsala – the green territory of the island with wooden houses; • to improve the waterfront along the Daugava providing access to the water, building a marina and piers, developing a recreational area and opening sight lines towards the port and Old Riga; • to re-organise the traffic flow and to provide a new Zunda canal crossing possibility in addition to the exclusive access road in the southern part of the island; • to respect the Old Riga skyline and create a visual link with the old town, while constructing the administrative centre and high-rises in the southern part of Ķīpsala. The winning entry at the competition “The prospective construction concept and visions in the area bordering on Mūkusalas Street, Buru Street un Kīleveina Ditch” by the architect Uģis Šēnbergs and Belgium architect office 51N4E proposed concepts [3] envisaging formation of a multifunctional public space – an open square towards the Daugava, in a form of a slanting plane. The square, which ends at Mūkusalas iela, optically and functionally continues the public open space also in the waterfront area. The suggestion of the architects [4] is one of the possible variants how to reduce traffic intensity by simple means, such as light signals, as well as by remodelling traffic lanes, thus reducing the transport intensity and allowing pedestrians to cross a busy street and get to the riverside (Figure 1). The international workshop “Development Visions for the Daugava Waterfront and Environmental Design in Ķengarags” [5] focused mainly on the public open space problems. Despite the fact that the embankment fortifications have become morally and physically obsolete and that the riverbank has been damaged by erosion and is partially overgrown, for inhabitants of Ķengarags the waterfront promenade is practically the only place near the water of this type and scale. The workshop participants recommended launching a pilot project that could be also used for improvement of other waterfronts in Riga, recommending:
“Development Prospects for the Daugava Waterfront” (in 2003), “Future Development Visions for the Area in Moscow suburb” (in 2004), ”Development Visions for the Daugava Waterfront and Environmental Design in Ķengarags” (in 2006), ”Future Development Visions for Warehouse (Spīķeri) Area (in 2006) and “Future Development Visions for Mangaļsala” (in 2007); • International competitions “The prospective construction concept and visions in the area bordering on Mūkusalas Street, Buru Street un Kīleveina Ditch” (in 2006-2007) and “Establishment and Improvement of the Spatial Structure of Strēlnieku Laukums (Riflemen Square)” (in 2007); • International Seminar for Architects and Urban Planners “Improvement of the Daugava Waterfront in the Stretch from Railway Bridge to Salu Bridge” (in 2008). In the International Competition for Young Architects Europan 7 in Ķīpsala [2] the main attention was focused on creation of an urbanised environment in the northern part of the island. Swedish architects from the office Urban Phases of Dynamics proposed to retain the scale of the built-up area characteristic of Ķīpsala and its green areas, and also try to give back to Ķīpsala its historical fishing function that has been lost in the course of time, while creating a structure of a new residential district. The architects suggested to develop the street network on the island, to build a new bridge across Zunda Channel connecting the Northern part of Ķīpsala with Daugavgrīvas iela. It was proposed to adjust Ķīpsala waterfront for the recreational function with piers, jetties, riverside promenades, cyclist roads and to provide relaxation at the water. The international workshop for architects and urban planners “Future Development Visions for Ķīpsala” highlighted the prospective development of the left riverbank of the Daugava and Ķīpsala. Ķīpsala has a specific context which differs from the Old Riga context. Two centuries ago Ķīpsala consisted of several islands which merged forming the present identity of the island. The identity of the island is defined by its infrastructure and functional zoning. There are located small wooden houses, as well as the complex of Riga
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