Viesturs Garden Park Playground in Riga by SIA FIXMAN

Children’s Playground in Riga City Park “Viesturdārzs”: A Celebration of Song, Nature, and Play

The newly created children’s playground in Viesturs Garden park, Riga, is a vivid tribute to Latvia’s cultural identity and heritage, located in the nation’s oldest public park. Known as the “Song Festival Park,” Viesturs Garden park as the site of the first Latvian Song Festival in 1873. This symbolic setting became the foundation for the playground’s concept “Song and Dance,” which unites four thematic elements: “Tautumeita” (Maiden), “Tautudēls” (Young Lad), “Lakstīgala” (Nightingale), and “Dziesma” (Song) – each inspired by traditional folk songs. These themes are expressed through sculptural and play elements that celebrate movement, rhythm, and unity, encouraging children to embody Latvia’s legacy as a singing and dancing nation.

The 1838.5 m² site includes dedicated areas for different age groups – 240 m² for children aged 1-4 and 417.5 m² for ages 4-9 – alongside relaxation zones for adults and movement corridors (487.5 m²). The playground is accessible, inclusive, and designed to spark creative and physical engagement for all users.

Every element of the playground is custom-designed and handcrafted. All wooden components are made from untreated, sustainably sourced robinia – the hardest and most durable wood in Europe – ensuring both longevity and ecological responsibility. No chemical treatments or artificial finishes were used, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainability.

Innovation plays a central role. One of the standout features is the kinetic “Song Ball,” a music sculpture that plays Latvian folk songs using energy generated by the user’s movement. This interactive device not only promotes physical activity but also provides engaging and energy-efficient experience. In addition, precisely tuned musical instruments throughout the playground offer opportunities for free play and creative expression.

A central aspect of the project was to integrate the playground harmoniously within the historical green space. The layout carefully preserves existing trees and their root systems, using lightweight surfacing and planting zones beneath canopies to minimize anthropogenic pressure. Plantings totaling 466.5 m² bring lightness and natural contrast to the darker design elements, enhancing both aesthetics and biodiversity.

The entire site is sensitively lit with 12 new lighting fixtures, ensuring safety while maintaining an atmospheric nighttime experience. Benches, bicycle racks, and refined landscaping complete the setting, offering comfort and functionality for the entire community.

Viesturs garden Playground demonstrates how public space can be transformed through thoughtful storytelling, inclusive design, and a strong connection to local identity. It offers not only a place to play but also a place to remember, to celebrate, and to grow.

• Project typology:

Playground, urban historical park, heritage-based recreational space

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape: SIA “Fixman”

• Other credits:

Lead Landscape Architect: Ilze Janpavle
Landscape Architects: Dana Lūse, Monta Jirgensone
Recreation Area Safety Inspector: Miks Lukstiņš, Anna Šteinerte
Architectural project manager: Jānis Atelbauers
Lighting Design: Matīss Soms
Road engineering: SIA “IE.LA inženieri”
Construction Company: SIA “Fixman”
Construction Project Manager: Miks Kārkliņš
Lighting Installation Contractor: SIA “Uniteko”
Client: Riga City Municipality, Housing and Environment Department
Main equipment producer: Sik Holz
Site supervision on behalf of the client: Aleksejs Ivanovs, SIA “IV 2”

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