UBC Planning Cities Commission meeting took place in Riga on 30 September – 3 October 2025.
About 40 participants from 11 UBC member cities met in the Historic Centre of Riga, UNESCO World Heritage site, to elaborate how to develop social and economic potentials of Riga Central Market, as well as synergies and mutual influences on the development of the surrounding areas.
Paulina Szewczyk, event moderator, reported the Commission’s activities. The participants were introduced to city’s planning actualities and challenges by representatives of City Development Department. The participants had also a unique opportunity to learn about Vienna’s heritage preservation and management experience.
Before visiting the workshop areas, the introduction to the workshop areas and tasks were given by city urban planners as well as by managers of Riga Central Market.
The second day of the Seminar started with the presentation basing on Riga’s best practices. The lectures covered different aspects of placemaking, touching the liveability, mobility, engaging youth into a planning process through visioning in Minecraft, and responding to climate change.
The objective of engaging in a collaborative urban design and problem-solving session has been successfully achieved. Four working groups explored the interaction between the Central Market and specific adjacent areas. The results of the workshops were presented on the last day in the Riga Town Hall. Most groups emphasized the importance of enhancing pedestrian spaces at ground level, increasing the greenery, improving access to canals.
Katarzyna Wiśniewska, Deputy Mayor of Elbląg, invited everyone to the next UBC Planning Cities Seminar to be held in Elbląg in the Autumn 2026.
During the meeting of the Commission, Paulina Szewczyk (Gdynia) was re-elected as Chairperson of the Commission for 2025-2027. Frida Brunner (Visby) will continue as the vice-chairperson. There will be also no changes in the Commission’s Steering Committee.
More information: p.szewczyk@bpp.gdynia.pl