CORK - VICTORIA QUAY
Urban Design Strategy
Since gaining independence from Russia the Latvian capital has been in a process of intense structural transformation. In 2005 Gehl Architects started to advise the city to develop a strategic framework to preserve and improve the streets and squares in the historic city centre - a UNESCO world heritage site.The masterplan developed proposes the transformation of a former Soviet Army installation of 36 hectares into a major new city district. A sophisticated public realm structure inspired by the hanseatic heritage of the city provides a framework for medium and high density development.>> Behnisch ArchitectsOn the site of the historic docks, our challenge was to incorporate a considerable amount of new development while respecting the scale and grain of the existing village. The idea was to weave the new into the old, recreating the missing side of the main street, while preserving and opening up views to the water, and including a mix of uses to ensure a vibrant urban quarter. Most significant for the local community is the opening up of the waterfront to the public with a sequence of people-scale places making the most of the dramatic location.
