Highlights from the First Interregional Thematic Seminar
On November 14-15, the Riga City Council hosted the first Interregional Thematic Seminar of IMPETUS. The partners, along with stakeholders from their regions that have been active during the semester, met in Riga for a fruitful discussion about temporary use regulation at the regional and urban levels.
Dagnis Samauks, Head of Project Management Department at the Riga City Council, opened the meeting, emphasizing the crucial role of temporary uses for the city. After, Stefano Baccelli, Councillor for Territorial Planning and Mobility in Tuscany (IT), introduced the Region's strategy for urban regeneration, highlighting its dedicated commitment. Next, Simone Gheri, Director of ANCI Toscana, followed by outlining the project's approaches and instruments, fostering a cooperative and shared vision.
Strengthening the approach for the morning session, Ilaria Esposito from LAMA introduced the methodological notes and exchange of experiences, leaving room for presentations of all the selected good practices aligned with the guiding theme of the 1st semester ‘Alternatives and approaches to regulation of temporary uses at regional and urban levels’. The discussion touched on different aspects of the topic and demonstrated the complexity and the multidisciplinary nature that temporary uses require.
‘We are motivated to take further action by the fact that projects from small centers are appreciated from the perspective of EU Community countries. It's important that everywhere the desire to improve the quality of life of residents was such an important determinant of action.’ says Paweł Marchela, Mayor of Węgrów (PL), who attended the ITS.‘The projects presented arouse the desire to adopt certain ideas and solutions in our Country. It is very inspiring and indicates ready models for implementation, of course properly integrated with our Region. I am convinced that many positive and beneficial solutions will be implemented for the residents of Węgrów and our guests. It's a great feeling to see how European our Węgrów is!’
The day continued with a study visit to Lastadija and Viskalu Street, led by representatives of ‘Free Riga’, an NGO that brings together creative and social initiatives to transform abandoned buildings and sites into experimental places for culture and social innovation working with the temporary use model.
The Lastadija Cultural Quarter since 2015 has been a platform for social and creative cultural initiatives in the city, offering space for activities, resources, volunteers and cooperation, where participants and guests work together to create an environment of self-fulfilment for themselves and others.
Viskaļi - Institute of Design for Quality of Life is the largest creative facility in Riga. It offers 15,000 square meters of space, including former classrooms, labs, a 500-seat cinema, warehouses and green outdoor space. Initially housing the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transport, and Aeronautics of Riga University, it now hosts 150+ creative, social, and active residents. Since 2020, it's open for temporary use, accommodating various activities.
‘The experience of IMPETUS partners is very inspiring for our future work, from developing socially meaningful temporary use projects for all citizens of Riga to experimenting with radically new temporary uses, promoting affordable living, practicing circular economy lifestyle, facilitating social inclusiveness, creativity, and collaboration.’ says Zane Ruģēna of Free Riga ‘Global crises like the pandemic, climate change, and war rise significance of temporary use. Free Riga believes that, together with the City of Riga, we should use this opportunity in a good way, unwrapping our relationships and responsibility towards our community, society, and nature.’
Day 2 was dedicated to assessing good practices, and to identifying each partner's main stakeholders and desired collaborators. The results will serve as a basis for continuing the work of the semester, which will focus on the transferability of good practices, an aspect that will be central to the Interregional Policy Brokerage to be held in Lille (FR).
'The IMPETUS Seminar in Riga provided a valuable opportunity for discussion and inspiration on an international scale in the field of urban regeneration.' tells Stefano Baccelli, Councillor for Territorial Planning and Mobility of the Tuscany Region 'I appreciate the choice to bring potential partners, clients, and beneficiaries of future projects to the table of public institutions: the synergy between public and private is indeed one of the determining requirements of any operation aimed at giving a new face to degraded urban areas and discouraging land consumption. I hope the Project grows over the years, becoming a reference for those who, like the Tuscany Region, share an approach to urban development primarily oriented towards the concrete improvement of the quality of life of their citizens.'