#liepaja2027 — Public Fediverse posts

[3/3] #Liepāja cont. The fifth and final theme of “Creative Foresight” is centred on active urban transformation. In the Juliannas Courtyard within the Old Town former industrial buildings have been converted into lofts and trendy venues in acts of urban sustainability: “Reuse, Repurpose” (📷1). To the north, the district of Karosta was a closed military zone—being the site of a former Russian then Soviet naval base. Here St. Nicholas Orthodox Naval Cathedral stands as a symbol of resilience, having endured being stripped during WWI and conversion into a cinema and sports hall during the Soviet era (📷2). Its rebirth via restoration to a spiritual purpose trumpets “Reclaim”.

Admittedly, there’s a deficit in our cultural interpretations given limited direct interactions with local people. Travelling by van can sometimes result in too much independence. Despite this, we’ve a boat to catch but nevertheless leave the Baltic States enriched by the experience of our five-week tour.

🔴 #Liepaja2027 #unrest

🇱🇻 #europe #baltics #latvia #latvija 🚀 #travel 🚐 #camperVan #nomad #roadTrip #vanLife

[2/3] #Liepāja cont. The “Port Paradox” theme speaks to the city’s dual identity, which is manifest in both time and space. The 3km-long Trade Canal, excavated between 1697 and 1703 to create a modern city port, is seen here filtered by the glass of the Great Amber Concert Hall; it separates Old Liepāja from New Liepāja (📷1). Old Liepāja is further bounded on one side by the wild Baltic Sea—into which the sun sets, and on the other by the more sedate Lake Liepāja—where the sun rises and birdwatchers can endulge from the shelter of an observation tower (📷2). Artful reinterpretations of the world around us can help people see contemporary problems (like migration and sustainability) with “New Eyes”. Street art sometimes provides social commentary, but may also be seen as vandalism—symptomatic of social issues. The “Wind, Sea & Freedom" mural appears to be sanctioned, depicting the sea as Neptune, the city as a siren and the ever-present wind (📷3). Security in all its forms is another issue of our time; if we don’t keep sharp eyes on new threats and guard against the loss of what we hold dear, there are those who will take it from us without compunction (📷4).

🔴 #Liepaja2027 #unrest

🇱🇻 #europe #baltics #latvia #latvija 🚀 #travel 🚐 #camperVan #nomad #roadTrip #vanLife

[1/3] Liepāja successfully bid to be European Capital of Culture 2027—although the marketing speak about the “story of (un)rest” didn’t readily translate for us.

“(un)rest is the healthy energy that moves us forwards, that pushes us to reach our goals. (un)rest is the process where what is in rest is shaken up and what is in unrest becomes more peaceful and accessible.” 🤔

This concept of duality unites a five-theme cultural programme highlighting challenges facing both #Liepāja and Europe. With 1.5 days up our sleeve before the ferry home, making this tangible and learning something of the city became our challenge!

Through the lens of “European Dream” (shared values, identity and mutual learning) we latched on to this building: why follow one path, when you can celebrate your heritage in both local timber architecture and European Art Nouveau simultaneously (📷1)? However, preserving such heritage requires ongoing investment to avoid crumbling—just as many dreams are wont to do. There’s a concentration of Art Nouveau buildings around Graudu iela (📷2), in varying states of (de)composition.

Speaking of compositions, “Deliberate Modesty” (longstanding cultural traditions and heritage), Liepāja is referred to as Latvia’s music capital. The Holy Trinity Cathedral (consecrated 1758) boasts the largest unreconstructed mechanical organ in the world (📷3). From one instrument to many, the aptly-named Great Amber Concert Hall (📷4) symbolises the city's cultural renaissance—and we finally found amber! The Hall hosts the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the oldest orchestra in the Baltic States (founded 1881).

🔴 #Liepaja2027 #unrest

🇱🇻 #europe #baltics #latvia #latvija 🚀 #travel 🚐 #camperVan #nomad #roadTrip #vanLife