Dzintari Forest Park
Adaptation of nature base territory for rapidly growing urban surrounding, finding the balance between preservation of natural values and placing recreation/sport functions into the park.
A 200-year-old pine-tree growth and bilberry bush (protected biotops) are the greatest treasures of Dzintari forest park which has a total area of 13 hectars. Architecture objects are located throughout the park and are connected with wooden board foot-path raised above the ground. The most important active recreation element is the inline skating track in the middle of the park. The park also accomodates skate-board and street-ball grounds, a children playground, cafes, sports inventory rental, toilets and other buildings. Nature elements served as prototypes of architecture objects.
PREVIOUS STATE
Dzintari forest park is unique due to its location. Its 13 ha territory of nature base is located in the very centre of Jurmala city. A 200-year-old pine-tree growth and the protected biotops of bilberry bush are the greatest treasures of Dzintari forest park that, despite their location, have remained untouched over decades.
AIM OF THE INTERVENTION
Due to intensive development of public and residential objects around this nature base territory, the number of people visiting the territory significantly increased that, in the absence of proper infrastructure, could harm the nature valuables in the park. People began to tread new walking paths. Therefore, it became important to rearrange this place to correspond to the new situation and to include it into the overall system of the citys infrastructure objects.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERVENTION
The infrastructure objects are located evenly throughout the park and are connected with wooden board foot-path raised above the ground. The existing walking paths were reconstructed with cobble-stones. The most important active recreation element is the inline skating track in the middle of the park. Pedestrian bridge separates skater and pedestrian paths. The park also accommodates skate-board and street-ball grounds, children playground, cafes, sports inventory rental, lavatories and other buildings.
Modules system was selected as the most suitable principle for form-creation of the parks building objects. Modules ramify like tree branches or roots, go around protected nature base elements and develop into foot-path structure that was created based on similar principles. Facades of building objects comprise separate planes inclined in different angles that significantly reduce the overall bulkiness of objects. Composite panels with polished aluminium surface are used for facade finishing. Vertical division of glass facades reflect the natural appearance of surrounding environment and dispel the parks newly created building objects.
The newly created Dzintari forest park is a significant investment of Jurmala municipality in rearranging the citys environment and promoting active life style. The reconstruction has resulted in a peculiar compromise between the functions of city infrastructure and the existing nature base valuables. The reconstructed park is very popular among Jurmala city inhabitants and guests.