Designs

Originality and creativity of the idea

The Dailes Theatre is a beloved cultural destination and a remarkable example of modernist architecture, whose renovation must balance creativity with the preservation and enhancement of existing values. In the process of modelling the building volumes of the theatre building, we tried to follow the thought process of architect Marta Stana and find a composition, proportions and materials of the site that would be related to the language and spirit of modernist forms. The character of the square is therefore defined by right angles, concrete surfaces, accents of dark brick contrasted by the softness of the greenery. However, the purity of the style must not become an obstacle to the modern use of the square, so the terracing of the pavement and the geometry of the planting groups have been sensitively adapted to facilitate pedestrian movement, creating a clearer visual and functional link with Charlotte Street, aiming to create a safer and more inclusive public space.

Definition of the problem and the relevance of the applied solutions

The Dailes Theatre Square has not been renovated since it was built in the 1970s. The concrete pavement was uneven, the retaining walls were crumbling in many places and the outdoor furniture was mostly gone. The part of the square near the entrance to the theatre was a demonstration of the city's autocentricity: originally designed as a gathering place for visitors and part of the building ensemble, it had been used as a parking lot for a long time, degrading high-quality architecture, making pedestrian movement difficult and gradually destroying the concrete slab pavement.
The redevelopment of the square has significantly changed the priorities of this public outdoor space, putting pedestrian comfort and well-being first by creating a surface without unnecessary obstacles and steps, making the square significantly greener, improving lighting at night, introducing sustainable storm water drainage and improving the visual communication of the theatre in the urban environment.

Co-creation, stakeholder involvement and cooperation during the realisation process

The idea for the renovation of the square was obtained in a design competition, in which we participated as an interdisciplinary team together with urban designer Evelīna Ozols and graphic designer Edgars Zvirgzdiņš. Arborists, landscape architects, lighting designers, structural engineers and other specialists were also involved at an early stage. As the project involved several plots of land and the theatre building, it had several clients: the Riga Municipality, the Latvian State and the Dailes Theatre. The project's solutions were also influenced by the coordinating institutions: the Department of Urban Development, the Department of Transport, and the National Heritage Board. The successful renovation of the square proves that a design competition is a suitable tool to find an outstanding solution for a public outdoor space in a creative competition and to give the opportunity to a team of highly qualified professionals to develop the project.

Functionality and technological solutions

A new strategy for pedestrian flows and seating areas has been created in the square, improving environmental accessibility and completely freeing the square of parking spaces. The square has been greened, both by adding to the existing tree and shrub planting and by creating new planting groups. Lighting has been created to match the scale of the environment, car routes have been demarcated with bollards and a new public toilet has been installed. Two types of furniture are used in the seating areas of the square: classic benches with backs and low circular seating surfaces. New litter bins, bicycle racks, drinking water tap have been installed, and space has been retained for the placement of sorting bins. The name of the theatre has been added to the facade of the building, a gallery for the repertoire and history of the theatre has been created, and the visual advertising of the theatre has been tidied up (screens, vertical banners, reduced number of banners on the facades).

Aesthetics and other experiential dimensions

A new planting strip on the side of Brīvības Street, which also serves to infiltrate rainwater, has been created to protect the square's gathering and seating areas from traffic noise and dust. The part of the square below the theatre lobby is designed as a symbolic "red carpet" to gather in a festive mood before the theatre performance, while the hill on the Charlotte Street side has a more informal character - a miniature park to have lunch or chat while watching the traffic on Brīvības Street. The greenery is designed to have flowering plants in every season, contrasting with the angular forms of modernism and making the environment more romantic. All the materials, surface treatments and colours used in the square are in keeping with the architecture of the theatre to form a coherent ensemble.

Economic significance, sustainability and circularity

The site uses sustainable stormwater management solutions - a rainfall infiltration zone that reduces the risk of urban flooding by relieving pressure on the stormwater drainage system. The greenery is also aesthetically pleasing, improves the microclimate of the public open space and promotes urban biodiversity.
Granite steps and kerbstones have been reused, concrete planter boxes have been restored, and the most extensive work has been done on the glazed bricks, which were once made in the Lode factory especially for the Dailes Theatre. These were carefully dismantled, cleaned and reintegrated into the decorative strips of the pavement, where they were supplemented with new clinker bricks. This experience has helped us to learn new techniques of circular construction and allows us to show the longevity of a historic material in the public space.

Social relevance, inclusion, availability and accessibility

Improving the accessibility of the square was one of the project's main motives - the previously step-laden surface has been transformed into an obstacle-free surface, suitable for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and senior citizens. Unexpectedly, but pleasingly, some parts of the square have become "spots" for BMX cyclists. The seating areas have been designed with the needs and perception of different groups in mind - several different types of seating surfaces are available in different spatial configurations and microclimates. Newly designed signage informs about the significance of the building and helps to better navigate the urban environment. The renovated square has become an important meeting and social interaction stage for the citizens and a bright herald of the revival of Riga's public outdoor space.

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