War Port Microtecture

The winning proposal was chosen for its simplicity and effectiveness. Colourful, ready-to-assemble blocks of concrete are amassed to satisfy the demands of the common bench, playground, bust stop and signage post. The repeating concrete unit promises a dynamic range of colour patterns and formal arrangements that embody the characteristics of local handicraft and architecture. The submission was considered by the jury to be most successful for its flexibility, for its potential to connect various community amenities and transform Karosta’s shared spaces into playgrounds for the young and old.

Peekaboo: Framing 100 new views in Karosta

Chosen for its link to context and for its large-scale vision, this design entry intelligently re-uses the existing Soviet-era housing blocks to form new and smaller community spaces. The Brutalist residential structures, many of which are vacant and perhaps beyond repair, are dismantled and dispersed throughout Karosta as inhabitable sculptures. As with Bernard Tschumi’s well-known Parc de la Villette in Paris, these structures form new frames for cultural interaction and serve as reference points, although this version is more clearly tied to historical relationships.

A New Identity for Karosta

The jury was pleased by the submission’s clear concept. Various micro structures are built using repeated elements arranged to dematerialise, thereby combining the strength of steel with transparency and lightness – a nod to the lasting strength of a community despite change. This concept of resilience is further expressed by the material choice of Corten steel, a building element known to weather over time. As with the other winners, the proposal offers a consistent formal and material language which serves to connect the many shared spaces of Karosta.