{"id":127613,"date":"2026-07-11T12:19:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T12:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/127613\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T12:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T12:19:17","slug":"open-days-urban-projects-in-vilnius-haifa-and-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/127613\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Days: Urban Projects in Vilnius, Haifa and Tokyo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Connecting with the landscape
Vilnius Plaza, Lithuania<\/p>\n

Many cities in former Soviet states have developed rapidly over the past 30 years \u2013 and Vilnius is one of them. Here, neighbourhoods are regularly reimagined and revitalised. And at the heart of one such development \u2013 a mixed use site in the centre of Lithuania\u2019s capital \u2013 is a plaza by Martha Schwartz Partners. Tasked with breathing life into the burgeoning development, the landscape architects have created a public space that takes visual cues from the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n

\"IlluminatedLights allow for the space to be used at night<\/p>\n

\"CurvedWater features add movement and sound<\/p>\n

\"VilniusCurves and vertical structures echo the city\u2019s iconic hill<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were inspired by the shape of [the city\u2019s] castle on a hill \u2013 Gediminas\u2019 Tower,\u201d says project landscape architect Ceylan Belek Ombregt. \u201cThe iconic tower and hill represent the progression, culture and history of Vilnius.\u201d<\/p>\n

The result is a square with undulating planters that mirror the nearby hill. These design choices are complemented by water features that introduce sound and movement. It also entices people to walk through it thanks to connections with new buildings and the warren of residential streets that surround it. It is a combination that ensures the new plaza has been lively from the outset while still grounded in the existing fabric and vernacular of Vilnius.<\/p>\n

Landscape architect: Martha Schwartz Partners
Completed: 2020
Cost: \u20ac1.3m
What it achieved: A new civic space in a forgotten part of the city, connecting its historic heart to dense residential areas.<\/p>\n

The elevated approach
Haifa Bridge, Israel<\/p>\n

Communities in Haifa are often cut off from one another by roads with fast-moving traffic. This, coupled with the hilly terrain in the northern Israeli port, means that walking between lively neighbourhoods and major civic institutions, such as famed university Technion, can be unpleasant. Enter Rolka Studio and Schwartz Besnosoff Architects, which won a competition to design a new entrance gate for the institution by designing a grand pedestrian bridge instead.<\/p>\n

\"PeopleLink between neighbourhoods<\/p>\n

\"CurvedCurves work with the surrounding terrain<\/p>\n

Bringing together two existing yet disconnected pathways \u2013 one linking to the city centre, the other to the university\u2019s historic heart \u2013 the architects worked with the terrain to create a gentle promenade that feels like a natural part of the landscape rather than an infrastructural afterthought kowtowing to the car. It also entices passersby to stop and enjoy views over the bay.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The result is] a dynamic platform that has become a new focal point for the campus,\u201d says project architect Omri Schwartz. \u201cIt enables people to host events and explore the potential of a new connection with the city.\u201d In short, it\u2019s not just a bridge but a public space that doubles as a much-needed connector of Haifa\u2019s urban fabric.<\/p>\n

\"PedestrianSeating allows users to relax and take in the view<\/p>\n

Architect: Rolka Studio & Schwartz Besnosoff
Cost: \u20ac4.5m
Completed: 2020
What it achieved: More than just a new entry to the university, it is a physical gateway linking the city to the famed institution.<\/p>\n

The meeting point
Kitaya Park, Tokyo<\/p>\n

A couple of years ago, Kitaya Park in Shibuya was a sorry sight. What was once a charming pocket of backstreet greenery had become a storage facility for bikes. Now the park has been given a makeover and brought back to life with fresh plants, plenty of seating and a Blue Bottle Coffee shop with an outdoor terrace and space for a food truck.<\/p>\n

\"KitayaWelcome sign<\/p>\n

\"TwoPopular place to sit and chat<\/p>\n

\"KitayaEarthy tones pepper the space<\/p>\n

\"ManCareful planting transforms the environment<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to create a place where people could gather, meet and use the park however they like,\u201d says project manager Yu Kawai from Tokyu Corporation, which oversaw the transformation. \u201cWe also took advantage of the natural slope to build bench seating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tokyu paid for the overhaul, with an additional grant from Shibuya, and teamed up with architects Nikken Sekkei and advertising agency Crazy Ad. Blue Bottle Coffee worked with architect Keiji Ashizawa to give its wooden building a suitably earthy interior (note the volcanic ash-glazed tiles). Although this park is privately run on a 20-year contract by Tokyu and its partners, public rules apply, which means that there\u2019s a ban on big corporate signage. It\u2019s a welcome addition to the neighbourhood.
shibuya-kitaya-park.tokyo<\/a><\/p>\n

Architect: Nikken Sekkei
Completed: 2021
What it achieved: An unloved open space has been turned into a place that can be used freely by anyone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Connecting with the landscapeVilnius Plaza, Lithuania Many cities in former Soviet states have developed rapidly over the past…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127614,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[93],"tags":[62147,171,5326,12869,17941,170],"class_list":["post-127613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-vilnius","tag-haifa","tag-lithuania","tag-public-spaces","tag-tokyo","tag-urbanism","tag-vilnius"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@dk\/116901312468205168","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127613\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}