RISEBA Students Receive Recognition in Urban Development Competition in Liepāja
RISEBA students have received special international recognition for their urban development project, the “Liepāja Future Districts Challenge”, in which aspiring architects, urban planners and landscape architecture specialists from four Latvian higher education institutions developed future-oriented concepts for four areas of Liepāja.
The Special Recognition of the Nordic Ambassadors was awarded to the RE project, developed by an interdisciplinary team comprising RISEBA students Santa Paula Vērzemniece, Emīlija Anete Ozoliņa, Elīna Paula and Armands Briģis, together with Valdis Pauls Zariņš, a student at Riga Technical University. The team worked under the guidance of academic staff members Rudolfs Dainis Šmits, Efe Duyan, PhD, Helēna Gūtmane and Jonas Büchel.
RE:FLOW: A New Vision for the Pērkone Canal Area
The team’s concept focuses on the interaction between nature, community and culture in the area surrounding the Pērkone Canal, proposing ways to make this historic and natural environment more accessible, diverse and people-friendly.
The project proposes floating planting systems to help purify the water and increase greenery in the area, as well as recreational platforms and walkways that would allow residents to make greater use of the waterfront. The concept also includes community gardens and greenhouses, a community centre, meeting places and spaces for workshops, exhibitions and other public activities.
One element of the proposal involves adapting the Southern Forts for new uses by transforming them into a gallery and a venue for public activities, connecting historical heritage with contemporary urban life.
The Special Recognition of the Nordic Ambassadors was awarded in appreciation of the project’s approach, which reflects values such as environmental responsibility, community engagement and the creation of high-quality, publicly accessible urban spaces. As part of the award, the team received €1,250, which can be used to fund a study visit to one of the Nordic countries.
Collaboration That Turns Ideas into Real Solutions
The “Liepāja Future Districts Challenge” brought together 57 emerging professionals, who worked in 15 teams under the guidance of experienced experts to develop practical and sustainable proposals for urban development.
The project’s closing event took place on 3 November at the Great Amber Concert Hall (Lielais dzintars), where the teams presented their ideas to a jury, landowners, municipal representatives and industry professionals.
RISEBA students’ participation and recognition demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together knowledge from different academic fields and creative approaches to address contemporary urban development challenges.
