Most apartment buildings in various neighborhoods of Riga - Mežciems, Imanta, Kengarags, Purvciems, and others - were built during the Soviet occupation, and this development of neighborhoods is characterized by a common trend: since there were no issues regarding land ownership at that time, the financial aspect did not influence the formation of residential complexes.
In other words, during the development and implementation stages of projects, there was no need to account for the cost of the land plot in the expenses. This, in turn, became one of the reasons that buildings were often constructed at relatively large distances from each other, while sufficiently spacious internal courtyards were created, primarily intended for the residents' leisure. These courtyards featured playgrounds, typical drying areas for laundry of that time, benches, and a large number of green plantings.
Of course, today these once green and leisure-oriented courtyards have, in many cases, lost their former appearance. Additionally, a significant portion of the courtyards is now filled with residents' cars. In recent years, some landscaping projects have been implemented, allowing certain courtyards in these areas to regain their former attractiveness; however, such examples are still relatively few. At the same time, specialists in urban planning, territorial development, and construction remind us that now, as the need for large-scale renovation of old apartment buildings in Riga is being increasingly discussed due to both their external condition and the sometimes critical technical state of the building structures, this issue should be viewed more broadly - it is necessary to update not only the buildings themselves but also the adjacent courtyards.
According to specialists, simultaneous renovation of the building and the surrounding green area will significantly increase the attractiveness of such properties in the eyes of potential owners, as well as enhance the competitiveness of "old" projects compared to new residential complexes that lack such extensive green areas. The project manager of the territorial planning company "Grupa 93," anthropologist Anita Beikule, also agrees that within the framework of renovating old projects, it is important to tidy up the internal courtyards to create a comfortable and safe environment in all respects.
