Keywords
multifunctionality
neighbourhood markets
health and well-being
participatory research
How to Cite
Abstract
The transformation of traditional neighbourhood markets into multifunctional community centres is an instance of creating inclusive, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing spaces that serve multiple functions beyond their primary intended purpose. This paper looks at the multifunctional approach taken in the Āgenskalns Market renovation project in Riga, Latvia and explores how such transformations can impact community well-being and social inclusion, while also highlighting the need for methodological creativity to ensure that impact can be adequately captured. The paper argues that, despite their limitations, the data suggest that a multitude of changes have taken place, and the relative importance and impact of the market appears to be significant for the health and well-being of local residents. What is more, the study underlines the need to recognise unexpected forms of impact, while simultaneously being prepared to adjust methodological repertoires to avoid imposing ill-fitting metrics upon a complex situation.
Affre, L., Guillaumie, L., Dupéré, S., Mercille, G. & Fortin-Guay, M. (2024). Citizen Participation Practices in the Governance of Local Food Systems: A Literature Review. Sustainability, 16(14), 5990. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145990
Alomoto, W., Niñerola, A., & Pié, L. (2022). Social impact assessment: A systematic review of literature. Social Indicators Research, 161, 225-250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02809-1
Alvarez-Galvez, J., & Salvador-Carulla, L. (2013). Perceived Discrimination and Self-Rated Health in Europe: Evidence from the European Social Survey (2010). PLoS ONE, 8(9), e74252. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0074252
Béjaoui, F. (2022). The Central Market in Tunis: Fondouk Al-Ghalla. In H. Neveen (Ed.), Architecture and Urban Transformation of Historical Markets: Cases from the Middle East and North Africa (1st ed., pp. 52-66). Routledge.
Bilić, B., & Šmit, K. (2024). Evaluation of the New European Bauhaus in urban plans by land use occurrence indicators: A case study in Rijeka, Croatia. Buildings, 14(4), 1058. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041058
Cheung, S. Y. S., Lei, D., Chan, F. Y. F., & Tieben, H. (2022). Public Space Usage and Well-Being: Participatory Action Research with Vulnerable Groups in Hyper-Dense Environments. Urban Planning, 7(4), 75-89. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v7i4.5764
Coles, B. (2021). Making Markets Making Place. Geography, Topo/graphy and the Reproduction of an Urban Marketplace. Palgrave Pivot Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72865-6
Corburn, J. (2005). Street Science: Community Knowledge and Environmental Health Justice. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/6494.001.0001
Davila, F., Maughan, N., Rixen, T., & Visser, M. (2022). The Multifunctionality of Urban Agriculture Projects in Brussels. Acta Horticulturae, 1356, 219-232.
De Backer, M., & Pavoni, A. (2018). Through Thick and Thin: Young People’s Affective Geographies in Brussels’ Public Space. Emotion, Space and Society, 27, 9-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2018.02.005
European Commission: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion & Clifford, J. (2014). Proposed Approaches to Social Impact Measurement in European Commission Legislation and in Practice Relating to EuSEFs and the EaSI : GECES Sub-Group on Impact Measurement 2014. Publications Office of the European Union. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/28855
European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Lourenço, P. B., Maloutas, T., Romano, E., Santamouris, M., Negro, P., Widera, B., Ansaloni, F., Balaras, C., Katurić, I., Kolokotsa, D., Rossetto, T., Senatore, G., Tomaszewicz, A., Medeiros, E., Gkatzogias, K., Pohoryles, D., Acri, M., Becerik-Gerber, B., … Vecco, M. (2024). A practical Guide to the New European Bauhaus self-assessment method and tool (Romano, E., Negro, P., Gkatzogias, K., Eds.). Publications Office of the European Union. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/9581060
European Commission. (n.d.). About the initiative. New European Bauhaus. Author. https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/about/about-initiative_en
Fuertes, P., & Gomez-Escoda, E. M. (2022). Supplying Barcelona: The Role of Public Market Halls in the Construction of the Urban Food System. Journal of Urban History, 48(5), 1121-1139. https://doi.org/10.1177/0096144220971821
Greenwood, D. J., Whyte, W. F., & Harkavy, I. (1993). Participatory Action Research as a Process and as a Goal. Human Relations, 46(2), 175-192. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679304600203
Grivins, M., Keech, D., Kunda, I., Tisenkopfs, T. (2017). Bricolage for Self-Sufficiency: An Analysis of Alternative Food Networks. Sociologia Ruralis, 57(3), 340-356. https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.12171
Hazenberg, R., & Paterson-Young, C. (Eds.). (2021). Social Impact Measurement for a Sustainable Future: The Power of Aesthetics and Practical Implications. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83152-3
Koopmans, M. E., Mettepenningen, E., Kunda, I., Keech, D., & Tisenkopfs, T. (2017). Creating Spatial Synergies around Food in Cities. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems, 2(1), 1-9. https//doi.org/10.2134/urbanag2016.06.0003
MacDonald, C. (2012). Understanding Participatory Action Research: A Qualitative Research Methodology Option. The Canadian Journal of Action Research, 13(2), 34-50. https://doi.org/10.33524/cjar.v13i2.37
Miller, N. (1994). Participatory action Research: Principles, Politics, and Possibilities. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 1994(63), 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.36719946308
Morales, A. (2009). Public Markets as Community Development Tools. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 28(4), 426-440. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X08329471
Richmond, A. R., Harrell, K. N., Ridgeway, J. R., & M. Ware, A. (2024). Food for Thought: Unveiling Urban Transitions in a Small US City through the Lens of Foodscape Typologies. Landscape Research, 50(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2024.2377163
Roe, J., & McCay, L. (2021). Restorative Cities: Urban Design for Mental Health and Well-being. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Roe, M., Sarlöv Herlin, I., & Speak, S. (2016). Identity, Food and Landscape Character in the Urban Context. Landscape Research, 41(7), 757-772. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2016.1212324
Seale, K. (2016). Markets, Places, Cities. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315733234
Vaivadaite, S., & Navickiene, E. (2024). The Potential of Food Markets in the Contemporary City: A Systematic Literature Review. Architecture and Urban Planning, 20(1), 112-123.
Warsaw, P., Archambault, S., He, A., & Miller, S. (2021). The Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Farmers Markets: Recent Evidence from the US. Sustainability, 13(6), 3423. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063423
Woźniczka, A. (2023). The Impact of Policy Initiatives on the Design of Public Spaces on the Example of the New European Bauhaus. Architectus, 3(75), 539-549. https://doi.org/10.37190/arc230308
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emils Kilis, Ilze Mileiko, Miks Braslins, Talis Tisenkopfs, Una Meiberga, Darja Trizna, Rudolfs Cimdins