The Uses of Public Open Space in Riga Historical Centre - the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What is it about?

Expansion of cities and their impact areas also extend the semantic boundaries of urban centers, while public open space in the centres of European cities maintain attractivity, especially within the medieval cores. Consequently, both national and local periodic public activities as well as those based on daily use of the urban space take place mostly there. The diverse functional processes that satisfy the needs of all users of urban space in general, on the one hand carry function of circulation or communication, and on the other – relaxation or recreation. Elements of spatial organization and environment planning essential for the realization of each function differ, and depending on which of the functional processes prevails in the particular place, public open space acquires whether priority of communication or of recreation. Research shows that the priorities of the use of public spaces in urban centers overlap creating multifunctional environment.

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Why is it important?

The paper focuses on the interests and needs of main groups of users of the historical city center – Riga Old Town, states availability of adequate space, as well as sets the criteria of high-quality public open space.