VENTSPILS’S DEVELOPMENT RECOGNISED BOTH IN LATVIA AND INTERNATIONALLY
In recent years, the city of Ventspils has received a wide range of awards at both Latvian and international level in the fields of education, construction, economic development, ICT development and others. Ventspils-based companies and the city’s environment as a whole have also received favourable recognition – Ventspils has won such nominations as “Family-Friendly Municipality”, “Youth Capital” and “Municipality with the Most Family-Friendly Infrastructure”. These distinctions confirm that the city focuses not only on infrastructure development, but also on accessibility and suitability of the environment for all age groups.
The city’s development has also been noticed by the editorial board of the newspaper “Latvijas būvniecība”, which, in its 20 November issue of this year, told a wider Latvian readership about the changes Ventspils has undergone: “The quality of Ventspils’s architectural culture has emerged from the opposite direction – by taking the environment degraded during the Soviet era as its starting point and transforming it into a forward-looking, timeless and people-friendly aesthetic.”
“It is alive, but not everyday. It is representative, but not shocking. It respects the old without becoming old-fashioned. It embraces the new, but does not chase every novelty. Different eras merge here, yet there is plenty of room for ideas to flourish. Ideas run especially well during a walk along the Harbour Promenade – all the elements are present here, and there is not a single detail that would treacherously spoil the landscape. Its quality is recognised by Dr Arch. Juris Dambis, Head of the National Heritage Board.” These words from the journalists also invite us, the people of Ventspils, to look around and appreciate the city’s development. The municipality has made a major contribution to promoting this development and improved order, both through its existing tax policy and support for entrepreneurs and through the municipality’s own investment in restoring buildings, thereby helping to renovate derelict buildings in the city and revive the Old Town.
The youngest residents of Ventspils have grown accustomed to the well-maintained environment – restored buildings, safe and modern playgrounds in the courtyards of apartment buildings, smooth pavements and roadways, and the list could go on and on. They are unable to appreciate the existing environment because they cannot even imagine how different present-day Ventspils is from the Ventspils of 30 years ago. Only residents who already lived in Ventspils in the 1990s can remember that at that time Ventspils was the city in Latvia that evoked the most negative emotions because of Soviet industry, air pollution, military influence and total environmental disorder. Chaos prevailed in Ventspils then; historic buildings were run-down and partly empty, windows were broken in many places, and the entire urban space, including the waterfront, was littered and shabby.
When Latvia regained independence, very high standards for improving and developing the urban environment were set in Ventspils, and this marked the beginning of the journey towards the Ventspils of today.
At the 1999 international competition for project ideas, “The Games of Ventspils’s Linear Centre”, the public was presented with the idea of reclaiming the waterfront, which had long been inaccessible. The reclamation of such areas continues today. Most recently, Ventspils can be proud of reclaiming 12 K. Valdemāra Street. The opportunity to acquire it arose only in 2015, and just five years later – in 2020 – the final section of Ostas Street was opened to the people of Ventspils. This section also includes part of a harbour exhibition: 14 buoys and navigation signs have been placed along the banks of the Venta and given a second life – telling visitors about seafaring. A spacious landscaped area has also been created, with the pilot boat “Rota” put on display. This section of Ostas Street is also home to the buildings of Ventspils Harbour’s workshops, constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, which were freed from additions dating from the Soviet era.
Although much has already been accomplished in the city, it is not resting on its laurels; work is under way on ever-new projects. As one journalist writes: “Yes, even if you think you know the city, every return after as little as six months reveals something previously unseen. It is revealed rather than surprising or ‘sticking out’. Each new element seems to have grown organically rather than having been artificially inserted.” Recognising the value of these buildings, the municipality plans in the future to dedicate Ventspils Harbour’s old workshop, together with its highly authentic equipment, to tourism and cultural purposes.
“Perhaps the secret lies in the diversity of the historic environment and the ability to highlight what was once shabby? Perhaps the city is viewed both from a bird’s-eye perspective – as a whole – and from a human viewpoint – at arm’s length? Perhaps the wind and the rhythmic movement of ships put thoughts in order? Perhaps the houses of worship of all denominations ring their bells at just the right time? Whatever the irrational reason, the result is visible to everyone – Ventspils’s ambitions are subject to reason, and the city administration allows professionals to do their work.” – the journalist from “Latvijas būvniecība” writes at the end of the article.
Alongside the assessments and praise from professionals, the development of the city of Ventspils is viewed favourably by both visitors from nearby and those from farther afield. Vsevolods expressed his appreciation of the order and tidiness prevailing in the city in the Russian-language newspaper “Million”. He shares his experience of visiting Ventspils with readers: “. I was recently in Ventspils and understood why Lembergs always wins elections, even though he is accused of every sin. I walked along every street, including on the outskirts of the city, deliberately looking for at least one broken paving slab underfoot. Imagine this – I did not find a single one! Very durable concrete paving slabs have been laid throughout the city, and there is absolutely nothing to complain about – everything is perfect. There are no potholes in the roads either. There are no buildings with crumbling walls; everything has been renovated. Incredible cleanliness.”
Photo: City Marketing Department
