Sketch Competition on the Reconstruction of the Song Festival Open-air Stage
On 23 August 2007 the Sketch Competition “Reconstruction of the Song Festival Open-air Stage at Mežaparks” was announced. The term for submitting the competition offers is 17 October 2007.
“The Song Festival Open-air Stage is one of the most important cultural magnets of our city, and I invite all professionals to actively participate in elaborating the project of the Song Festival Open-air Stage reconstruction, daring to make your contribution into the history of Riga and the entire Latvia,” says the Director of the Riga City Architectural Bureau Jānis Dripe.
Aim of the competition is to obtain the best possible conception of the architectonic and acoustic reconstruction of the open-air stage, which can be used as a basis for developing the technical project, and facilitating rational usage of funds in the designing and construction process.
The Jury Commission will be headed by Chairman of the Riga City Council Jānis Birks. The Commission members will be Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council Andris Ārgalis, Director of the Riga City Architectural Bureau Jānis Dripe, Director of the City Development Department of the Riga City Council Pēteris Strancis and other competent State and municipal representatives. Specialists from other states will also participate in the Jury Commission: Architect Klaus Kada from Austria, Prof. Mati Rautiola from Finland, as well as presidents of the Welsh, Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian Unions of Architects.
The Jury Commission will evaluate the submitted sketches in accordance with the following criteria: Architectonic image of the Song Festival Open-air Stage and its correspondence to the acoustic requirements, constructive solution of the Song Festival Open-air Stage and application of innovative technologies, as well as functionality of the Song Festival Open-air Stage territory zoning.
The total fund of the competition awards is EUR 63,000, anticipating EUR 21,000 for the first place, EUR 15,000 for the second place and EUR 7,000 for the third place. These amounts are indicated after taxes.
Main function of the Song Festival Open-air Stage is to secure retaining of the Song Festival traditions included into the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. By 2010 the partially or fully covered chorus tribune and a convenient amphitheatre for spectators is planned to be built for the general Song Festival.
Riga City Council
City Development Department
Public Relations Division
marija.abeltina@riga.lv
dace.kirke@riga.lv
