International architects and urban planners develop regeneration proposals for Jelgava bus station and prison area

An article from the City of Jelgava, Latvia website (https://www.jelgava.lv/jaunumi/starptautiski-arhitekti-un-pilsetplanotaji-izstrada-attistibas-priekslikumus-jelgavas-autoostas-un-cietuma-teritorijai/)

ABOVE: Planner and architect Adam Bonosky shows a concept for regeneration of a street in Jelgava. (Photo by IMCL.)

Education News Municipality City

10/07/2026

NOTE: Translated from the original Latvian.

From July 7 to 10, one of the most internationally recognized architecture and urban planning events – the 63rd conference on creating livable cities “International Making Cities Livable” (IMCL) will take place in Jelgava, which this year is dedicated to the theme of recovery and resilience, “Regenerative Architecture and Urbanism: Recovery and Resilience After an Age of Disruption”. The conference has brought together more than 65 architects, urban planners, academics, municipal leaders and other industry professionals from Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and other countries of the world.

On the first day of the conference on July 6, participants got acquainted with the Old Town, the Art Nouveau quarter, the Blackhead House and other examples of the capital’s development. On July 7, the guests arrived in Jelgava to get to know the city and its development directions. During the excursion, the participants visited the Old Town quarter and its buildings, as well as two territories for which the municipality is looking for a new development vision in the future – the Jelgava bus station territory and the Jelgava prison complex, which was recently taken over by the municipality. These territories became the central objects of the international conference’s practical workshops, where the participants analyzed both territories, developed planning sketches and development proposals, offering the municipality ideas for the future development of existing buildings and the surrounding urban environment.

On Wednesday, at the conference opening in the Jelgava Castle Hall, the Chairman of the Jelgava City Council, Mārtiņš Daģis, gave a presentation “Lessons from Jelgava”, introducing the participants to the city’s history, development, most important urban projects and future challenges. Former Carmel (USA) Mayor Jim Brainard shared his experience in the presentation “Lessons from Carmel” about how one of the most significant urban transformations in the USA was implemented, while Kyiv Deputy Mayor Kostiantyn Usov spoke about everyday life in the Ukrainian capital during wartime and ensuring the city’s resilience. At the end of the opening, a panel discussion was held, with the participation of Mārtiņš Daģis, Jim Brainard, Kostiantyn Usov and Westfield (USA) Mayor Scott Willis.

ABOVE: Susan Henderson of Placemakers LLC examined the historic. market square of Jelgava, destroyed during World War II and a source of ideas for regeneration today. (Photo by IMCL.)

“We are honored to host such high-level international architects and urban planners in Jelgava. It is especially valuable that the participants discuss urban development and also work with real Jelgava territories, offering ideas that could become the basis for the revitalization of our city in the future,” emphasized Mārtiņš Daģis, Chairman of the Jelgava City Council.

From July 8 to 10, plenary sessions, lectures, thematic sessions and practical workshops [took] place in Jelgava Castle. At the end of the conference, participants present[ed] the developed ideas and development proposals for the Jelgava bus station and former prison territories, providing the municipality with an international vision of their future development.

ABOVE: Participants examine proposals for the two regeneration areas. (Photo by IMCL.)

During the conference, the IMCL award ceremony was also held at the Ģederts Elias Jelgava History and Art Museum, where several world-renowned architecture and urban planning professionals were honored. A special honor was also awarded to Jelgava – the IMCL Livable Cities award in the nomination “For Exemplary Leadership in Regenerative Urban Development”, recognizing the municipality’s work in urban renewal and sustainable development.

ABOVE: Mārtiņš Daģis, Chairman of the Jelgava City Council, receives the IMCL 2026 award from IMCL Executive Director Michael Mehaffy, while IMCL board member Jim Brainard (left) and IMCL staff assistant Jude Chanter (right) look on.  (Photo by the City of Jelgava.)

ABOVE: Frederick Biehle and Erika Hinrichs, practitioners and professors at Pratt Institute in New York, look on as the proposals are presented for Jelgava regeneration. (Photo by the City of Jelgava.)

ABOVE: Architect Sandy Vitzthum, who led the workshop, presents the results and notes the group of participants. (Photo by IMCL.)

ABOVE: A group of participants takes a photo in the courtyard of gthe Jelgava Palace, the venue of the conference. (Photo by City of Jelgava.)