Nature Elements in the City Environment of Liepaja

The forces of nature have always been admired humnas and affected their character. The proximity of water and the presence of nature create a spirit of freedom and independence. Over a period of several centuries the development of city of Liepaja has been affected by a wide array of nearby water systems – Baltic sea, Liepaja and Tosmare lakes, Liva and Perkone rivers. The forces of nature have always been admired by humans and left an influence on their character. The proximity of water and the presence of nature creates a spirit of freedom and independence. The sounds, scents and lights of nature invite one to think about the choice of location of living, and encourages to include natural elements in the city environment to create a harmony between the natural and the man-made. At the end of the 19th century Liepaja city experienced a period of a accelerated development. A city environment was created on the strip of land between the Baltic sea and Liepaja lake, with a special emphasis on scenery. The layout of buildings was in a harmony with nature elements. The construction was composed as an ensemble. The magnificent and original greeneries together with the streets of the city created a varied scenery, at the same time preserving the interrelations between large green areas, such as parks, gardens and squares. Buildings, cobblestone pavement, sidewalks and street greeneries together with city parks and squares created a unique ensemble of urban planning. Nowadays a great attention should be paid to the spacial aspect of the city environment and the improvement of the life environment, which is not achievable without the presence of nature elements. The connection between nature elements and architecture of buildings is characteristic to the historic design of the city. By exploring the previous experience in qualitative and balanced design of city environment, it is possible to continue these traditions, thereby enriching the experience itself. Such approach is a key for preserving the identity of the city