Cliff Garden

Two sides of the cliff

The concept of our proposal is inspired by the iconic cliff Staburags, which once used to greet the sailors of the river Daugava, before it was submersed forever by the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. Nevertheless, still today Staburags holds a particular place in the Latvian culture and history.

Every cliff has two sides – one is steep and faces water that has carved it out of the rocks, and the other is almost flat and easily approachable marking the transition from land to water.

All the buildings of this project together can be seen as such a cliff. However, we wanted it to be approachable and welcoming from the waterfront, simply because the other side is not occupied by nature, but by a busy road infrastructure. So we turned the cliff the other way around – with the steep, rocky side facing the traffic flow instead of the water flow.

Driving along this area by car we will see the majestic cliff – a relatively massive façade with a rich surface finish and “cracks” of light passing through. Looking from the waterfront the building is light, permeable and inviting, making the transition from the public outer space to the semi-private inner space as seamless as possible.

Four senses

The landscape enters the city and mediates the ecosystem with the urban fabric. The project draws inspiration in the Latvian landscape, which can take very contrasting forms. During winter time the white landscape creates sharp silhouettes in a bright light, while the soft sandy coastline contrasts with the trees fallen from the cliffs. The wind transforms dunes marking waves of sand that continue in the water. The inland forest with its rooms made of tree trunks puncture green micro relief with scattered wild bushes, and the meadows contain an incredible biodiversity.

The landscape is conceived as a sequence of four senses. Each sense has its garden with its typical water landscape.

The forest: Pine trees are a very common species in the Latvian landscape along the shoreline. This environment is embedded in the forest zone of the project, which consists of a dense wood that houses all sorts of leisure time activities. The forest protects the first development area from the noise of the highway junction. The greenery continues on the terraces of the office and hotel tower, dragging the green shield inside of the building.

The edible garden: The part of the landscape that is the most urban is situated in-between the offices of the project. A productive garden with edible vegetation (e.g. fruit trees, berry bushes etc.) remind of the rich foraging tradition of the country. While having a small break outside the office room, one can eat an apple from the garden, and even mushrooms could be picked during the season. This garden is not only aesthetic but also productive – a natural space that feeds the city.

The waterfront garden:  A network of tiny paths meander along the river and offer the inhabitant of the area or the passerby a perfect place to experience nature. This zone of seemingly untamed grassland forms a natural barrier that protects the building blocks from intruders. There is no need for fences, as the buildings are surrounded by the impassable vegetation which is so common along the riverbanks of the Daugava.

The moorland garden: The moorland garden forms a border with the future neighbours. Moorland that once was one of the most inaccessible forms of nature for humans, now forms an exciting environment with paths and small pockets for rest or meditation. The daycare centre, that is situated in this part of the project area, has its own island secluded from the rest of the territory, thus offering a maximum security.