On September 14, 2013, Survival Kit 5, in collaboration with the Sarkandaugava Development Association, held a varied programme inviting to ‘occupy’ Sarkandaugava in order to turn it from an underrated outskirts of Riga into the epicentre of events at least for one day.
‘Occupy Sarkandaugava’ encouraged the exploration of this historic neighbourhood of Riga that, at the beginning of the 18th century, Tsar Peter I had intended to develop as the new centre of Riga. Today Sarkandaugava is a distinct transit area between the centre and the more distant suburbs of the city. While driving through, one’s attention is drawn to the petrol station ‘Statoil’, the concrete fence of Riga Mental Hospital and rail crossing. However, departing from the usual route, one can discover not only an ambitious industrial architectural heritage, but also the presence of different cultural communities.
What is the area that under different circumstances could have become the new city centre like? What would the city be like if in order to get to the centre one would have to go to Sarkandaugava and not the other way around?
Participants: Jonas Buechel (DE/LV), BCC (Maija Rudovska), Ramona Buša-Virtmane, Vladislavs Saveļjevs, Alija Turlaja (Sarkandaugava Development Association) u.c.
The Sarkandaugava Development Association was founded in the spring of 2012 in order to draw attention to this neighbourhood in the context of the development of the city, highlight cultural and historical values of the neighbourhood and collaborate with local authorities and other local partners on the improvement of local public spaces and environment. The aim of the association is to organize small-scale cultural interventions that would brighten everyday life, as well as develop a responsible local community.