Riga Port City

1:1 Landskab, together with our partners Hosoya Schaefer Architects from Zurich and the local Latvian practice ĒTER, has designed a new masterplan for the former harbour areas in Riga. Gehl Architects is in charge of mobility.



Access to the water

The city of Riga is transforming its old industrial port district into a vibrant urban area with housing, businesses and retail. In total, the area covers 60,000 m2 and holds great historical significance for the city. 

The Andrejsala site holds a wealth of impressive industrial buildings such as silos, power stations, warehouses and cranes. The masterplan will preserve the most interesting industrial buildings and plot a course for the development of the district over the next 50 years.

Pragmatic urban development

Lying at the heart of this transformation is a 4.5 kilometre waterfront promenade with housing, shops and restaurants. In addition, the site’s location in the middle of a riverside landscape will be taken full advantage of by integrating informal meeting places where people can bathe and take in the late afternoon sun. The development of the port district is scheduled to take place in phases, with phase 1 focusing on transforming the island’s northern area over the next decade.

A strong team

The development of the project is a collaborative effort between practices and across national borders overseen by the Swiss firm Hosoya Schaefer Architects. Hosoya Schaefer Architects is a large architectural firm with a proud history of planning projects such as the transformation of Hamburg’s Hafencity. ĒTER is a young and incredibly talented architectural practice with considerable local knowledge, which has been a core value in the masterplanning work. Gehl’s contribution comes in the form of their expertise in mobility and scale. 1:1 Landskab is known for urban spaces characterised by sustainability, democratic ideals and a somewhat quirky appearance. When combined, the result is the perfect mix for creating a modern district in an exciting and growing capital city. The masterplan was delivered in November 2021.