Revitalisation of Spikeri Square and Daugava Waterfront Promenade

Revitalisation of Spikeri Square and Daugava waterfront promenade Riga, Latvia Headline Revitalisation of the Spikeri square and the Daugava waterfront promenade has created a new and modern open public space, offering citizens new recreation possibilities, accessibility to the water, new quays for the river boats and ships, prolonging bicycle lane from the city center towards outskirts and offering children playground and skate park. The whole Spikeri area and the waterfront promenade is free accessible. Brief description The Project contains the revitalization of the former warehouse area Spikeri and its adjacent waterfront promenade. Historically, Spikeri was a warehouse district with 58 warehouses, built in the late 19th century, to store cargo from ships and train freights. Nowadays only 13 warehouses have been preserved, yet it is enough to feel the historic atmosphere. The Spikeri area is housing creative industries, restaurants and offices, as well as the Geto museum. In the Project was reconstructed the former Tunnel, connecting Spikeri area with the Daugava waterfront, allowing Access also for handicapped people. The revitalized Daugava waterfront promenade covers 1,6 km along the river and the Krasta street, offering new bicycle lane, recreation area, quays, skate park. Project description Spikeri square is a public space, constantly exposed to the changes of the urban development and society evolution process, though the historical environment is authentic and multi-layered, reflecting the citizen attitude towards cultural and historical values, accumulated there over the centuries. Revitalisation of the Spikeri area considers the geographical closeness to the Old city, organically improving the urban infrastructure for creative industries, services and facilities, located in this area. The revitalisation project deals with the Spikeri square for a wide range of public events, offering also a playground for children and an acoustic object. To avoid the intense traffic noise, green islands were created along the Krasta street (instead of former warehouses) with a green slope towards the street and seats for the visitors towards the Spikeri square. Spikeri area is well known with their contemporary music concerts, cinema arrangements, cultural festivals (White nights, Staro Riga, etc.), art galleries, offices, cozy restaurants and cafes.

The main Street in the Spikeri area, connecting the Central market and the Daugava waterfront, offers a new recreation area with decorative flowerbeds, benches and lighting. New ramps and stairs are leading from the Spikeri area towards the reconstructed Tunnel, connecting the Daugava waterfront promenade with the city and providing access also for handicapped people. The revitalisation of the Daugava waterfront, stretching 1,6km along the Krasta street and the river, offers new recreation areas with activities at and on the water, quays for the river boats and ships, new bicycle lane connecting Riga centre with its outskirts, sunbathing benches and a skate park. The waterfront along the Spikeri area extends the promenade in front of the Old city, offering a wide range of public activities in the open cityscape, as well as offering exclusive view of Riga's bridges, Olds town and the new National Library. Revitalisation of the waterfront includes completely new infrastructure of the embankment, as well as trees and decorative flowerbeds.

Sustainable aspects In the revitalisation of the Spikeri square and Daugava waterfront promenade there are used the local materials and techniques. The new waterfront infrastructure provides rainwater drainage and lighting. New quays for water transport are created. Waterfront promenade offers new greenery & decorative flowerbeds and trees. The whole area is accessible for handicapped people. Size of the site: waterfront length 1 600.00m; project area 57 582.00m2.