Krasta City
Krasta City
Location: Krasta iela 1A, Rīga
Client:
Size: 43 123 m2
Year: 2020
Status: Invited competition
Partners: LANDSHAPE, IE.LA INŽENIERI
Team: Pēteris Bajārs, Denis Zeile, Jānis Aufmanis, Vadims Lando, Ivars Kalvāns, Linda Tiltiņa, Laura Liene Cūberga, Ģirts Runis, Viesturs Laurs
If the river is forced to withdraw from the city, then the city must come closer to the river. That is why our offer creates a new waterfront, a new development, taking into account the values of history. Like a Phoenix from ashes, a new city would be born for people. Where boats are landed on a beach next to a pedestrian promenade, and a string of houses behind it is similar to those who had once stayed on the old waterfront.
The direct proximity of the Daugava makes it necessary to expand the functions of recreation and public outdoor space also in the water space. The structure of the outsourced outdoor area is divided into several functional areas representing the coding of the Krasta City site - alive and unique new urban environment with a large proportion of natural values that make this site special and extremely diverse in all seasons. This place is built on the principle of integrating the building into the environment, rather than vice versa.
The perspective of the main street views is concluded by both the new construction, the newly created park, and the existing local landmarks such as the television tower. The new volumes focus on the sky orientation and provide sunlight throughout the day, creating perfect places for both morning coffee and late dinner in the sun-lit restaurant terrace. The closing structure of the near-view perspective protects the streets from the dominant winds, but the narrow street facades, the broken down and distributed volumes, the diversity of materials and textures make the place binding and the urban environment dynamic and vibrant.
A new, dense waterfront like one from a historic city is a precondition for the revitalization of the rest of the area. Perhaps one day, both waterfronts, the new and old one, will be merged into a single city with lively blocks between them.
