The CIVITAS Replication and Deployment programme went to Riga

The CIVITAS Replication and Deployment Programme conducted a study visit to the beautiful city of Riga, known for its stunning architecture and vibrant cultural heritage. As one of the UNCHAIN project’s Follower Cities, Riga provided a picturesque setting for this gathering of urban mobility experts, and local stakeholders, to learn from the Champion Cities of Utrecht (NL) and Warsaw (PL), and all united to tackle the city’s placemaking challenges.

The visit aimed to leverage the experiences of the Champion cities, using co-creation and tactical urbanism methods to explore solutions for enhancing Riga’s residential areas. Over the three days, participants focused on exploring tactical urbanism opportunities through temporary interventions, primarily on municipal land during the initial stages. They also mapped internal and external stakeholders and addressed legal barriers currently preventing such activities. This collaborative effort led to the creation of a “shopping list” or roadmap of actions to set up and implement these interventions.

A key goal of the visit was to stimulate a broader dialogue among citizens and experts about the role of public spaces in Riga’s high-density housing neighborhoods. Through discussions, workshops, and site visits, participants examined the historical context, challenges, and potential improvements for the city’s urban spaces. While the detailed solutions are still in development, this visit marked a crucial step toward activating the processes needed for sustainable urban transformations in Riga.