XXII Generative Art Conference - GA2019 Generative Transformation of Latvian Urban Space: “Blue” and “Green” Structures in the Planning and Landscapes of Cities’ Historical Centres Silvija Ozola, Assist. Prof. of Architectural Designing, dipl. ing. arch. Riga Technical University, Latvia e-mail: [email protected] __________________________________________________ except for those cases when only the Introduction aesthetic qualities of a place are being highlighted by the word “landscape”, or it Structures built in the natural environment is being used in the sence of the by people and the network of ancient background surrounding some individual streets created over many generations object. A slightly different view of urban and centuries determine the urban space landscape is developing in the heritage and artistic expression of historical context. Landscape is revealed in two centres in Latvian cities, whose functional dimensions. One – as the result of a long- and economic potential has changed in term creation process, namely, today’s the course of time. These are landscapes landscape as a territorial representation. that characterized by people’s preceptions The second is the time dimension, which today, as well as landscapes which have is more difficult to perceive, it is not based already disappeared. However, there are on particular year dates, but on the course landscapes of the imagination, memory of history and events, which, in one way landscapes. These are, also every or another, influenced the process of the person’s individual feelings, notions, town development, leaving behind its thoughts, memories, and knowledge. The signs. Therefore, visible and also invisible landscape has three cultural dimensions: landscape reflects time, the lives of the landscape’s character determines how people over many generations [13]. A the particular territory is preserved by an completely different social environment individual or the community, the and artistic values have been created, and landscape provides evidence of former historic centers of cities are being and existing relationships between reconstructed. In the urban transformation individuals and their environment, and the process, in order to preserve old urban landscape helps to create local culture, structures created in the natural options, habits, beliefs and traditions. The environment, new natural and decorative cultural landscape is not just the condition elements are included in space of cities’ of some landscape of buildings and its historical centers. A creative and look, but rather the interweaving of generative approach allows the various relationships realized ower time preservation of the identity of the historical with human input. The mutual connection environment, even complemented by between the concepts used, “landscape” “blue” and “green” structures. and “cultural landscape”, is quite strong, page 1 XXII Generative Art Conference - GA2019 1. The first urban structures and men- Bergflecken) and the settlement on road’s made greenery in Latvian natural (now Kalna Street) both sides. Under the environment Castle–hamlet jurisdiction, there was also the castle-front or the “town behind the In Europe of the 12th century, hill” (German: Stadt up dem Berge) from German merchants started to monitor which the road (now Jelgava Street) along traffic on important waterways in rivers the left bank of the Venta took to Mitau. and seas and earth highways. The The inhabited place with the custom- Germans expanded the impact in the house, the marketplace and Baltic Sea region to spread Christianity St. Catherine’s Church had an irregular under the leadership of the Pope of Rome layout and was surrounded by a circular and the Holy Roman Emperor. Around street (now Baznīcas Street) [5]. 1200, merchants arrived at the local Settlement obtained the city law statutes. people Liivs-inhabited Baltic Sea coast to In 1361, the New Town of Goldingen was monitor the highway of the Daugava mentioned in the records. River. On hills covered by water barriers, The Livonian War (1558–1582) conquerors began to build stone castles to destroyed the confederation of Livonian subordinate the Balts and their inhabited States, and on 5 March 1562, the Duchy lands. In economically active places, of Courland and Semigallia (Latin: where earth roads crossed important Ducatus Curlandiae et Semigalliae) waterways, crossings were established (Fig. 1), subjugated to Poland, was and economic activity on rivers’ banks founded. The last Master of Livonia promoted the establishment of Godthartt Kettler (1517–1587) became the marketplaces and the functional use of first duke of the new state. Lutheranism in waterfronts. In the vicinity of fortresses, the newly founded state was announced merchants and craftsmen established as legal religion, and on 28 February settlements which later gained city 1567, the Courland Landtag made a privileges. Around the marketplace decision about churches, schools, created a city center building and street hospitals and “other useful things”. network. In the 14th century, on the Implementing this decision, in Courland territory of Latvia the first towns were and Semigallia several sacral buildings, a founded by the Knights of the Teutonic few residences, numerous public and Order, and the urban space won residential houses and warehouses were landscape characterized the interaction of built. people and nature at places and in time. In Courland, where the Cours’ settlement on the left bank of the Venta River existed at least fifty years before the German wooden fortress construction, in the late 13th century, a stone four-unit Goldingen (Latvian: Kuldīga) Castle of regular planning replaced former wooden fortifications, and Goldingen Commandry’s Centre was formed. A new territory in 1355 allocated for the Cours’ settlement promoted the development of the medieval agglomeration in Goldingen that consisted of the Castle–hamlet (Latvian: Pilsmiests), the Hill-hamlet (Latvian: Kalnamiests, German: page 2 XXII Generative Art Conference - GA2019 Fig. 1 Map of the western part of the valley, and root crops and fruits, Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. 1747 especially apples and cherries there were [State Archives of Latvia, Fund 6828, cultivated for the needs of the Duke's Description 2, Case 9, File 2] court. A road that leads from the garden gates through an alleé of lime-trees was During the late 16th century–the an innovation in the Dutchy. A gazebo first half of the 17th century, acquisition of (Loewe) was set up in the garden, and all the new, constructive ideas of the military paths – five of them longways (Lange and civil building and adoption of the gaenge) and six sideways (Quer gaenge) architectonic and decorative forms was – were for strolls. Plantings were arranged going on. New ideas came in with the in boskets. Angular (Eckigte) fields for German, Swedish, Dutch and Polish kitchen produce were located all around building and art samples. In Courland, the the garden. A small leisure garden with simplicity and reticence of the external five ponds was on the other side of the building forms of small Lutheran churches amusement garden. One bosket was was compensated by luxurious interiors planted with gooseberry bushes, and the and ceiling, made by the stellar-network rest with currant bushes [8]. vault covering and the rich plastic woodcarving adornments of inside equipment objects (altars, pulpits, gentlemen’s pews). Many fortresses were destroyed during the Livonian War. Knights became landlords and started to build dwellings on their land. The building of manor centres began to develop in the late 16th century. New landlords needed gardens to grow vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants. Such gardens surrounded by a ditch and Fig. 2 Walfried Fromhold-Treu (1886– a hedge of thorny shrubs were also 1964). An attempted reconstruction of the desirable to have a hedge maze, pens for Goldingen Castle and the surrounding different animals, bird cages and a fish gardens in 1680. 1934. [5] pond. Garden buildings, recreation areas and sundials were surrounded by vineyards and rose bushes. The central path that led to a grove or woods was decorated with glamorous greenery. The Goldingen Castle inventory descriptions of 1699 mention that a fruit and amusement garden (German: Baum und Lustgarten) was located "at the castle". In German "Lustgarten" was used to design not only a garden with entertainment or amusement facilities but also a place with some shrubs, trees and a flower bed for a meditative relaxation (Fig. 2). On the steep slope, the Castle Garden (Fig. 3) Fig. 3 The planning of the oldest part of grew from the Venta coast to the Goldingen with the castle-site and the Piepevalka (formerly called the stream Castle Garden in 1680. 1844 [Brieling A. between the first houses on Dīķu Street) Plan von der Kreisstadt Goldingen. Mitau: page 3 XXII Generative Art Conference - GA2019 1844] [21]. Merchants and craftsmen’s settlement Jelgab, whose name could be Hunting gardens containing pens explained as the “city on water”, in the with cages and sheds for animals and a 15th century started to emerge on the left shooting area were common in Medieval bank of the Driksa, opposite the castle [4]. Europe. Sevaral duke manors in Courland In 1522, a small wooden church and Semigallia had deer parks. Nearby (destroyed in 1627) located nearby the the Goldingen Castle a ferry raft and Birds marketplace. In Jelgab, a new building of manor located, and the Deer Park (Fig. 4) the Latin School founded in 1567 was built created by Duke (1682–1698) Friedrich near a Market Square adjoined the II Kasimir Kettler (1650–1698) was the intersection of roads and the waterway. pride of Courland. The Duchess of Construction of the Holy Trinity Church Courland (1711–1730) Anna (Russian: (around 1573–1615) for the German Анна Иоанновна Романова; 1693– Lutheran parish was started next to the 1740), later empress of Russia, in 1720 old wooden church. In 1573, settlement ordered to transfer deers to St. Petersburg obtained the city statutes, municipality and and transformed the garden into a public the coat of arms and became the duchy’s recreation space [8].