Renegotiating Riga's Urban Commons: A network of morphing public spaces at Tallinas Kvartals
This project explores how Riga’s urban fabric, long shaped by car-oriented planning and suburban sprawl, can be reimagined through the reclamation and reconnection of public space. Since the Soviet era, wide roads and freeways displaced pedestrian infrastructure, causing businesses to close, residents to move to the suburbs, and the city center to lose its vibrancy. Increased car ownership further deepened this cycle, driving congestion, sprawl, and the erosion of community life. The project positions the simple yet transformative act of reclaiming public space as a countermeasure—reviving Riga’s vitality by creating a connected network of public spaces and pathways that mirror the logic of road infrastructure while privileging pedestrians and cyclists.
The proposed network consists of two key elements: (1) diverse public spaces, or “nodes,” designed for social, cultural, and ecological functions, and (2) activated pathways that stitch these spaces together into a continuous urban system. Four primary typologies—The Enclosure, The Square, The Plaza, and The Park—were identified through analysis of Riga’s Old Town, each serving different needs. Inspired by the dynamic character of Dome Square, the project argues for flexibility: spaces must morph, adapt, and respond to evolving community demands, ensuring their long-term vibrancy and resilience.
Building on this conceptual framework, the project focuses on Tallinas KvartÄls, a thriving artist-led district where historic façades, industrial remnants, and cultural life converge. Here, the proposed masterplan introduces adaptable nodes and pathways to foster walkability, creative exchange, and ecological urbanism. Massive parking lots are replaced with permeable surfaces and greenery, reinforcing sustainability while enhancing community interaction.
Drawing on Riga’s Old Town and Gordon Cullen’s “Serial Vision,” the design aspires to create pedestrian journeys of discovery—where each step reveals something new. In doing so, the project seeks to counter car-dominated planning and cultivate a healthier, more inclusive, and dynamic urban environment at the heart of Riga.
