The silhouette of a city can be described as its image or as its face, which tends to change over time, and it is very important to incorporate it into urban planning to build a recognisable image of the city. The purpose of the study is... more
The silhouette of a city can be described as its image or as its face, which tends to change over time, and it is very important to incorporate it into urban planning to build a recognisable image of the city. The purpose of the study is to create development proposals and recommendations for building the silhouette of a city, while preserving and highlighting the valuable elements already present. In order to achieve this, the study examines the factors forming the silhouette of a city and their role in the human perception of urban spaces. A methodology was developed for analysing silhouettes, and was used in the towns of Tukums, Talsi, Kuldīga, and Saldus. The spatial and architectural structure of the towns, their history, factors forming their silhouette were studied, with general recommendations for the development of the silhouette from a specific kind of viewing location in the towns – their gates.
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The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of urban forests for human well-being at a time of tight constraints, when large forests close to urban areas were in high demand. Increased use affects the management of... more
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of urban forests for human well-being at a time of tight constraints, when large forests close to urban areas were in high demand. Increased use affects the management of territories. Urban forests play an important role in providing ecosystem services. Urban forests show a close link between ecosystem services and forest functions. A literature review was carried out, exploring the ecosystem services and specific urban forest services provided by such territories. This article examines the experience of the Ogres Zilie kalni during the Covid-19 pandemic, taking into account the peculiar functions of urban forests. Different types of recreation that take place in the Ogres Zilie kalni, and their impact on park management are discussed. The aim of the article is to analyse and present the challenges of urban forest governance and management under the influence of Covid-19, looking through the functions of urban forests. ...
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We see, use and interact with different type of landscape every day. One of the important types is the road landscape we encounter during travel, whether a business trip, vacation or just on the way to and from home. Such landscapes can... more
We see, use and interact with different type of landscape every day. One of the important types is the road landscape we encounter during travel, whether a business trip, vacation or just on the way to and from home. Such landscapes can often help to introduce us to new regions or invite us to explore the surrounding areas because we partly experience the world around us from the road. Road landscapes combine important aspects of road and transport infrastructure as well as the quality of life of local people, traffic safety and tourism development. Road landscape development concerns both landowners and road users, each of whom might have different interests and understanding about possible landscape development and its consequences. Therefore, it is important to plan, discuss, present, and evaluate the future developments of any road landscape. The subject of road landscape has been little studied in Latvia. There are no recommendations on road landscape evaluation. Here we presen...
An increasing problem in cities is the growth of the number of motorised vehicles making the urban environment unsafe and unattractive and reducing residents’ willingness to walk. The study explores the problems associated with the... more
An increasing problem in cities is the growth of the number of motorised vehicles making the urban environment unsafe and unattractive and reducing residents’ willingness to walk. The study explores the problems associated with the development of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in the city. The importance of pedestrian movement in the urban environment was studied and several pedestrian streets in Latvia were analyzed. The method for evaluation of the quality of a pedestrian street was developed based on the summarizing and analysis of the information from the available literature sources. The method includes criteria that make a pedestrian street high-quality and easy-to-use public space that is suitable not only for walking but also as a multifunctional place for various activities. The authors have worked out recommendations for creating a spatial structure and landscape design in urban environment focusing on the necessity to install good quality and sustainable outdoor desig...
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Latvian rural landscapes have changed rapidly through different historical periods. Nowadays, when globalization and the strong impact of technologies take place, the existing values of rural landscapes become even more threatened. Also... more
Latvian rural landscapes have changed rapidly through different historical periods. Nowadays, when globalization and the strong impact of technologies take place, the existing values of rural landscapes become even more threatened. Also the lack of a clear planning system has raised several problematic issues related to rural landscapes: loss of valuable agricultural lands (transformation into forest and building areas); losing landscape and heritage values; a non perceivable image and identity of Latvia. Thus for establishing the base for a new landscape planning system it is important to determine the main factors influencing the changes of Latvian rural landscape in different historical periods. The paper focuses on rural landscape aesthetics as one of the most important resources of Latvian countryside. The survey is based on scientific literature and historical materials as well as on the authors’ research on present changes in rural landscape. The results highlighted that in t...
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With the increase in the number of the global population, that is likely to grow also in the nearest decades, the expansion of cities continues at the expense of forests and farmlands, and in these new areas, a more significant role is... more
With the increase in the number of the global population, that is likely to grow also in the nearest decades, the expansion of cities continues at the expense of forests and farmlands, and in these new areas, a more significant role is granted to the interaction between cities and countryside, revealing diverse interests of stakeholders. It is necessary to preserve, and it is even desirable, to expand the green spaces of the urbanized territories. Vienna, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Riga were selected for the study. The authors looked at the experience of the urban and green area planning through the literature review of city planning documents. Analyses of results show that planning takes place at the city, suburban or regional level and in the case of Riga, its development is similar to the development of other large European cities. The share of the urban forests in the territory of Riga city and its suburbs is comparatively large. In the European cities, which are rich in forests,...
Roads play an important role in our daily surroundings and provide access to landscape. Views from the road create the first impression about the country. It is important to pay attention to the landscapes along the roads used by... more
Roads play an important role in our daily surroundings and provide access to landscape. Views from the road create the first impression about the country. It is important to pay attention to the landscapes along the roads used by tourists. The purpose of this study was to obtain general overview of the current state, identify existing and disappearing features of the road landscape in Latvia. Research on road landscape perception and design is well developed in the USA and some countries in Europe. The assessment of the current state and proposals for the road landscape development in Latvia are fields which are little discussed and need more attention. The research was carried out in several sections of the main roads and some sections of regional and local roads in July and August, 2011 and August, 2012. Photography method was used. Analysis of the results shows that the main reasons of aesthetic quality loss in road landscapes is lack of planning and management, indicating the ne...
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With the increasing use of roads for transport in recent decades, people frequently experience road landscapes and they have become a part of the everyday life of many people. The road landscape has developed in close connection with... more
With the increasing use of roads for transport in recent decades, people frequently experience road landscapes and they have become a part of the everyday life of many people. The road landscape has developed in close connection with roads and their management. Historical events, life style and the priorities of society are reflected in it. Road landscape design theory was developed in Latvia during the Soviet era, but there are few recent studies on road landscapes and this field needs more attention. The road landscape is influenced by changes in state policy, economics, changes in land ownership and land use. Aesthetically valuable landscapes and landscapes with high heritage value can be lost as a result of these changes. It is necessary to develop a system of road landscape evaluation, to assess the current state of existing road plantings and road landscapes at a wider scale, to define the most valuable and endangered road landscapes and to develop action plans for road landsc...
The rapid growth and development of the world have lead to significant changes in the expansion of urban sprawl, land distribution, and the general functioning model of modern cities. The problems connected to ecology, economy, human... more
The rapid growth and development of the world have lead to significant changes in the expansion of urban sprawl, land distribution, and the general functioning model of modern cities. The problems connected to ecology, economy, human physical and mental well-being become more urgent with every day under the influence of arising deficiency of open green spaces, nutritional security, and sustainable financial models for small-scale businesses within the cities; and not only affect regular citizens but also general tendencies of urban and landscape planning that are supposed to deal with those issues. One of the tools aimed at combating them for the past decades has been an increasingly popular urban agriculture, particularly chosen as a studying object of interest for this publication. The following paper represents complex research conducted in an integrated manner by reviewing the overall phenomenon of urban agriculture and its pioneering practices; determining the key components of...
We see, use and interact with different type of landscape every day. One of the important types is the road landscape we encounter during travel, whether a business trip, vacation or just on the way to and from home. Such landscapes can... more
We see, use and interact with different type of landscape every day. One of the important types is the road landscape we encounter during travel, whether a business trip, vacation or just on the way to and from home. Such landscapes can often help to introduce us to new regions or invite us to explore the surrounding areas because we partly experience the world around us from the road. Road landscapes combine important aspects of road and transport infrastructure as well as the quality of life of local people, traffic safety and tourism development. Road landscape development concerns both landowners and road users, each of whom might have different interests and understanding about possible landscape development and its consequences. Therefore, it is important to plan, discuss, present, and evaluate the future developments of any road landscape. The subject of road landscape has been little studied in Latvia. There are no recommendations on road landscape evaluation. Here we presen...
Under the Soviet regime and as part of the development of the economy, the Latvian road infrastructure and its associated landscape went through major changes. Through modernisation old roads were straightened, historically established... more
Under the Soviet regime and as part of the development of the economy, the Latvian road infrastructure and its associated landscape went through major changes. Through modernisation old roads were straightened, historically established road routes and their surroundings changed, new roads planned and constructed, some elements of the road landscape disappeared and new ones emerged. Snow and wind protection hedges were planted along open stretches. With the increase of public transport many unique bus stop pavilions rest areas for drivers and tourists were constructed. A lot of attention was paid to roadside views and aesthetics through the use of tree plantings. The aim of this study was to explore the heritage of road planning and landscape development in Latvia during the Soviet era from 1945 to 1991. The study used literature review and analyses of maps and archival materials from the Latvian road museum supported by fieldwork. Elements which are disappearing as the road network ...