Q: Please, specify whether or not the existing building regulations, the existing detail plan and the maximum building heights and building parameters defined in them should be taken into account when developing the development proposal? Can high-rises exceeding 12 floors be suggested?
The Designing Programme refers to the developed, yet not approved (invalid) Spatial Plan (until 2030) and the building parameters: maximum number of 12 floors in the entire territory, maximum intensity – 320%, vacant territory – 10%. Should the construction be planned only according to this new regulation? Should the minimum vacant area on the building plots of residential buildings be 40% according to the parameters of the Mixed Centre Territory (JC3) specified for the particular territory?
A: As indicated in the Designing Programme of the competition – the goal of the developers of “Zunda Park” is to create a high-quality urban environment and not to achieve the maximum allowable quantitative parameters. The visual and spatial composition of the planned territory should be viewed in the context of the silhouette concept for the left riverbank of the Daugava, i.e. in order to determine the height of buildings (incl. urban accents). An urban analysis of the territory should be performed, not only assessing the specific terrain features of the streets adjoining the city block corridors but also the views opening towards Āgenskalns and the historic centre of Riga, creating a high-quality and aesthetically pleasing urban environment.
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Q: Is it allowed to relocate the built streets of Category D (Namejs Embankment) (partial relocation, rebuilding with adjustment of street lines) in order to link the project area (especially the territory intended for residential buildings) with the embankment along the Zunda Canal?
A: Rebuilding is not excluded considering that the embankment should be built. The existing streets and connections must be organised according to the planned concept. At the same time, it should be noted that the streets have been built quite recently and are in good technical condition.
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Q: Should the plan of the existing engineering networks (Folder 4_3) be taken into account when elaborating the development vision for the city block at Daugavgrīvas iela 31, “Zunda Park”?
It seems a bit illogical to integrate engineering networks designed on the basis of the old detail plan into a completely new structure of a city block.
A: All networks will be redesigned according to the proposed concept in the entire territory. This material was added only to show what networks have already been built in the surrounding streets.
Q: What are the plans for the existing substation No 137? Currently it is somewhat irresponsibly located at the beginning of the city block opposite the intersection of Daugavgrīvas and Durbes Streets, preventing creation of an open urban connection. Is it possible to relocate this substation?
A: The substation is the property of the power distribution company “Sadales tīkls” and it distributes power not only to the city block of Zunda Park but to a large part of Pārdaugava. Relocation, reconstruction or repair of the substation can take place only with the agreement of “Sadales tīkls”. Usually such works are always performed by “Sadales tīkls”.
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Q: Could the traffic along Namejs Embankment be blocked (allowing movement of emergency vehicles) by diverting it to the newly built street within the territory, away from the embankment? This question arose because the area of Namejs Embankment does not belong to the client, therefore it should be found out if it is possible to change there anything at all. For example, could another type of surfacing be used instead of asphalt on carriageways and pavements? Could the existing slopes of the embankment be altered?
A: Currently, Namejs Embankment is the infrastructure belonging to the city. The idea of closing the traffic along Namejs Embankment and diverting it to the newly created street in the city block of Zunda Park has not been considered so far and has not been discussed with the Traffic Department. If such an idea is well substantiated in the proposals submitted for the competition, it will certainly be taken into account and evaluated.
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Q: The Designing Programme states that the maximum height of buildings in the entire territory is 12 floors. However, according to the excerpt from the vision for the left riverbank of the Daugava, in the southern part of the territory the maximum number of floors for urban accents is 8, but in the northern part – 13. Which of these guidelines prevails in the competition and which is complementary?
A: The author of the proposal may offer well-planned and substantiated urban accents in the territory of Zunda Park if the urban analysis has been performed and the main opening views have been taken into account.
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Q: It is clear that the proposal should not have more than 150 apartment units per construction stage, however is there a minimum or maximum number of apartments units that the development as a whole should aim for?
A: The total number of apartments is not determined, it depends on the proposed concept for the entire competition area, while respecting the condition set out in the Designing Programme that no more than 35% of the territory should be provided for office and commercial areas, and maximum up to 65% for a residential function. The Designing Programme indicates the maximum number of apartments per construction stage and the average size of apartments.
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Q: Is there the minimum or maximum of a construction stage in which the whole development should be built?
A: The number of construction/development stages will be determined by the author of the proposed concept.
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Q: For the commercial spaces it is stated that the maximum built square meters per stage is between 15,000 and 17,000. Is this the total area including services, circulations, parking, etc.? Or is it only the area for rent/sale?
A: The indicated area is the gross area (the total (gross) area of a building is calculated according to the outer perimeter of the building, including all useful areas of the building, but excluding terraces and balconies).
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Q: It is stated that for the commercial areas/offices the maximum total capacity of the plot of land they can occupy is 35%. Do these 35% include the parking and services that the commercial areas/offices require?
A: These 35% also include the shopping centre (according to the Designing Programme – the total area of the supermarket). The number of required parking spaces is determined by the legal norms. One of the options is to build a multi-storey car park at the existing elevated road.
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Q: Design area summary
The area quantum suggested (“permitted intensity in the competition territory is 320%) appears to be approximately 233,000 m2 divided into two categories with 65% being residential use and 35% being commercial/office use. Is this a correct assessment? As Appendix 5_2_2 mentions “The planned functional division of the use of the territory. Business – 80%, residential – 20%.” Please, confirm.
A: The division indicated in the Designing Programme, i.e. no more than 35% for offices and commercial spaces, and up to 65% for the residential function, has been correctly estimated. It is not mandatory to achieve the maximum intensity. Appendix 5_2_2 (excerpt from the silhouette concept for the left riverbank of the Daugava) mainly refers to the silhouette of the competition area since Zunda Park is situated opposite the historic centre of Riga and in the area of the Daugava crossing.
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Q: Phasing The brief mentions provision in phase 1 of 150 flats and no more than 15 000 to 17 000 of commercial spaces. This seems to be a small proportion of flats in relation to commercial/office spaces. Is this relation intended only for phase 1? As theoretically the relation is 35% commercial to 65% residential. Is there a provisional number of phases that can be given as a guidance?
A: The Designing Programme indicates figures desirable to be achieved in Phase 1. A similar proportion must be kept in the other phases/ stages of project implementation, and the participants must offer a division into stages of the proposed development of the territory. There will be more construction stages for residential buildings than for offices and commercial spaces.
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Q: The number of panels A0? Is there a specific number of panels suggested?
A: The number of panels is not specified, but the participant must comply with the requirements of Clause 4.7 of the Competition Brief.
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Q: Are there any political obstacles for participants from Russia because of something?
A: No, certainly not! All participants are very welcome!
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Q: What does “Company registration number” mean in competition registration process? Individual taxpayer number or number of architectural licence?
A: Registration number of the company technically indicates either it is the taxpayer or not. Further requirements for the competition participants (as mentioned in the Competition brief paragraph No. 6.3. and 6.4.) indicate professional activities in the field of architecture and building constructions, in accordance with the local rules and regulations.
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Q: Point 4.5 of the Competition Brief specifies that “All submitted documents must be in Latvian OR English. IF the Sketch Design is submitted in Latvian, the explanatory note must note must be written in Latvian and English.” However, point 4.7.2.4) of the Brief states that the A3 bound document must include “an explanatory note (in Latvian AND in English)”. Can you please specify if the explanatory note must be translated to Latvian if the whole proposal is submitted in English?
A: Correct, competition documents should be either in Latvian or English. The explanatory note for Latvian competitors must be in Latvian and English (because of International Jury), for foreign competitors’ translation in Latvian is not obligatory if there is no local (Latvian) member in the team. Google translation version is not required!
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Q: Point 4.7.1. of the Competition Brief specifies that the A0 panels should include “visualizations and/or photomontages of the Zunda Park territory showing the suggested idea within the context of the existing urban environment from the main perspectives and vantage points according to Appendix 6_1_0”. We were wondering whether we are required to produce visualizations from ALL 10 viewpoints included in Appendix 6_1_0, or if we are allowed to choose a lesser number of visualizations that we want to produce out of the 10 suggested viewpoints. Is there a minimum or maximum number of visualizations to be developed?
A: Yes, you are required to create visualisations from all 10 suggested viewpoints, according to the requirements of the Riga city Development department (the Zunda parks competition site is located in a very well exposed/visible urban area).
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Q: Point 4.7.1 of the Competition Brief asks for “a 3D model of the territory with the proposed buildings” to be included in the A0 panels. How should this 3D model be shown on the panels? Does this refer to the visualizations required in the previous paragraph, or do we need to include an additional axonometric view or other methods of representation? Point 4.7.4 also asks for the 3D Model itself. Is this 3D model to be included in the USB memory stick? What format should the model have?
A: 3D model can be shown on A0 panels as visualisations from the indicated viewpoints. The 3D model itself should be included in the information on the USB memory stick.
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Q: We are having trouble downloading the Point Cloud, DAE and OBJ files. We have tried on several computers, and they always come as corrupted files. Do you think the files might be too large to be downloaded off the internet? Could you provide a lighter 3D model in any other formats?
A: Please try to download files one by one.
Point cloud: https://zundaparks.metukonkurss.lv/materiali0xcf/Nameja_krastmala.e57
Dae model – https://zundaparks.metukonkurss.lv/materiali0xcf/dae.zip
Obj model – https://zundaparks.metukonkurss.lv/materiali0xcf/obj.zip
Textures – https://zundaparks.metukonkurss.lv/materiali0xcf/Teksturas.zip
In the worst case zip files can be downloaded in separate parts, defining the size of one part.
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Q: In our country Urban Planning and Urban Design disciplines are part of architects’ competencies. Taking this into account, could the Urban Designer role required under point 6.7.4. of the Competition Brief be filled by an architect in this case?
A: Yes, this role can be filled by an architect, indicating reference object/-s in the field of urban planning.
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Q: Section 5 on Page 15 of the Designing Programme defines the functional groups of the territory of “Zunda Park”:
apartment buildings; supermarket 3000 m2 and a multi-storey car park;
commercial spaces occupying maximum 35% of the total capacity, including the total area of the supermarket. Is it correct that the functional division of the territory of “Zunda Park” is planned as follows: ~ 35% commercial spaces and ~ 65% apartments?
A: The distribution indicated in the Designing Programme for offices and commercial spaces no more than 35%, but for residential spaces up to 65% is correct.
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Q: The question refers to Clause 5.4 of the Designing Programme. It says: “It is recommended to plan car parks at -1.5 underground level, providing both underground and surface parking spaces.” Can you explain what exactly is meant by 1.5? Are these 1.5, -1.5 meters?
A: Parking spaces are planned only as one underground floor. At the same time, this underground floor may be partly located above ground, i.e. half underground and half above ground, it will always count as an underground floor for a car park.
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Q: Clause 6.5.1 of the Competition Brief states that the Participant of the Competition must have developed at least one Sketch Design or a spatial development plan of equal significance for the area of no less than 20,000 m², for which feedback can be received.
Will the Participant have met the requirements of Clause 6.5.1 of the Brief if Appendix 6 of Participant’s experience in performing of equivalent services includes the proposal prepared and submitted in the closed construction/designing competition “Designing and Construction of Residential and Office Buildings at Daugavgrīvas iela 31, in Riga” announced by SIA “DG31” in 2019,? And if so, should the feedback from SIA “DG31 about this object should be submitted?
A: Please, use only those competition entries that have been awarded and approved for implementation, or solutions of construction design or minimum construction design as proof of experience.
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Q: Should the details in scale 1: 200 be provided only for a residential building?
A: Characteristic floor plans, sections and facades in scale 1: 200 must be developed for the object(s) of Stage 1 of the competition.
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Q: Are underground car parks and storage rooms included in the spaces of residential and commercial buildings?
A: Underground car parks and storage rooms are included in the area of underground spaces.
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