BUROPPOSSO

The north of the center of Riga was an brown field area in transition in 2010. The port and business functions had disappeared and project developers with large area developments and high-rise towers could not get their plans funded. My fascination was with the genius loci of Riga with its beautiful apartment buildings of 5 storeys high, sometimes with wooden houses in between. An alternative comprehensive development of Riga North could by adding new typical functions and buildings do more justice to Skanste, which was once an old common meadow, Andrejsala, which was once an island, and the former fishing village of Petersala.

With a Slow Urbanism approach inspired by the typical developments and typologies of Riga, a slow development could be deployed to a new part of town with the help of private and collective commissioning of housing and other functions. For this an allotment and standard building rules functions as the breeding ground. On strategic places this development approach is supplemented by commercial project developments. An emerald necklace of parks ensures the ecological quality and quality of life for the developing area as for the entire center of Riga. For the main streets between Old Riga in direction to Mezaparks new streetprofiles are designed to give pedestrians, cyclists and public transport more space, trees and green and comfort by reducing the car infrastructure.

Based on the vision, an elaboration was made for the first part from the center, via the boulevard to Andrejsala and Viestura park. This park, once founded for Peter the Great, plays an important role in guiding pedestrians and cyclists from the boulevard to the chain of parks through the new Northern Center.