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the microrayons of riga

@micromacrorayon

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An online archive of the daily life in Rīga’s microrayons.
(feel free to submit yours through dms or by tagging me in your posts!)

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I have always thought that it was very weird how little we know about soviet-era apartment blocks. It feels like most people see them as a homogenous grey mass. But every building series has its own characteristics, standards and priorities that I will try to re-discover in this new series of articles on micromacrorayon.com. And what a better way to start than with one of the earliest examples of mass-production - building series 1-316.
Head to the website in bio to read the full article (and that’s where you will find the references too). by @micromacrorayon

Time and time again I have talked about the importance of looking beyond simply insulating the panel blocks and calling it a day. Insulation, unfortunately solves only a small part of the problems microrayons face. I firmly believe that the future of these neighbourhoods depends on the involvement of their residents. But in order for them to care, people need to see the potential and feel empowered to take care of their environment. This is why I wanted to create the imagined futures series. It’s a fun way to show how little improvements (like painting the existing playground, adding intentional routes, fun seating and play areas and even creating liveable balconies) could impact the overall quality of life for the residents and hopefully give some ideas for upgrades.
Read more about why we can’t ignore microrayons anymore on my website micromacrorayon.com

#sovmod #sovietmodernism #microrayon #mikrorajons #socmod by @micromacrorayon

Hi! I made a small gift guide for all soviet modernism enthusiasts featuring some of my favourite books, websites, creators and a few things that have been on my wishlist for a while too!

There are so many different reasons one could be interested in soviet modernism and microrayons - history, pure aesthetics, nostalgia, urban planning or modernist furniture. Trying to find gifts for us can be pretty tricky and there are only so many copies of Frédéric Chaubin’s “CCCP” one can have. So whether you are trying to get something for a dedicated architecture enthusiast, someone who appreciates the brutalist aesthetic or even just want to find a good book on the subject for yourself, hopefully, this guide can help!

Full article with all the suggestions on micromacrorayon.com!
And feel free to share any other suggestions you have down in the comments! by @micromacrorayon

Another batch of moving postcards from Purvciems!

📍Purvciems, Rīga by @micromacrorayon

Building series for small families in Torņakalns

📍Torņakalns, Rīga by @micromacrorayon

Been having fun capturing these moving postcards lately 💛

📍Purvciems, Rīga by @micromacrorayon

Bits from walks: autumn edition

📍Pārdaugava, Rīga by @micromacrorayon

A lovely entrance in Torņakalns

📍Torņakalns, Rīga by @micromacrorayon

Recently I did something I haven’t done in a long time (especially alone) - a competition. Collective Individualism, a proposal for an exhibition for the Latvian Museum of Architecture, explores how microrayon residents transform and adapt the architecture around them. While designed as a standardised, mass-produced collective environment, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, residents have continually sought to adapt, transform and personalise their surroundings, making them more their own. Glazing the balconies, introducing small architectural elements, and creating small gardens just outside their windows, have all become ways of introducing diversity into a standardised environment and reclaiming control over one’s living space.
Although these interventions are often informal and chaotic, they reveal our individual priorities and the many different ways in which we inhabit our surroundings. The exhibition seeks to analyse and categorise this apparent chaos, exploring what it can tell us about everyday life in microrayons. (Oh and the stands are supposed to reference panel blocks!)

And although, unfortunately, you will not be able to see this at the Latvian Museum of Architecture, it was a fun exercise that I’m sure I will find a use for. You can see the rest of the entries (and winners) on tandeems.lv by @micromacrorayon

Our journey through @viskali.lv with @openhouse_riga . Former military aviation engineering school and now a creative hub. I have heard so much about this building and it was very nice to finally get the chance to explore it. The scale of it is really something, the double loaded corridor seems almost endless. Crazy to imagine how busy it was during it’s heyday. It was very interesting to see how the artists inhabit this very rigid structure, but so glad the building got a second chance at life.
And thank you so much to our guide, you were great!

📍Čiekurkalns, Rīga by @micromacrorayon

It was such a lovely autumn day and all I could think about was those carousels @obelixy does. Here’s my take on romanticizing daily life

📍Āgenskalns, Rīga (I know it says Torņakalns, but it’s technically Āgenskalns 🥲) by @micromacrorayon

Walks around Dzirciems

📍Dzirciems, Rīga by @micromacrorayon