Inlämning av Examensarbete / Submission of Thesis

This is a diploma-project in the study programme in Spatial Planning performed at the
university college of KarlskronaRonneby, Sweden. This diploma-project, of 20 credit-points,
Will fulfil the requirements for and earning me the Degree of Master of Science.
The post-war housing development in Sweden and Latvia show many similarities. The
introduction of new methods of constructions, new materials and using mostly peripheral
sites changed the whole building development. The remarkable amount of new dwellings
built in the 1960s and 70s in large-scale areas both Sweden and Latvia now suffers from a
diverse range of problems. It is everything from deteriorating buildings and defective
infrastructure to social and economical problems. In Sweden there have been efforts made
to revitalise the large-scale housing areas sinte the late 70s and early 8Os, but in Latvia this
process is yet to begin. This diploma-project analyses the phenomenon behind the post-war
housing development in both Sweden and Latvia. The Latvian part of this diploma-project
however starts with a survey of Latvian history. This part serves as an introduction to
Latvia for those who are not previously familiar with the country. The diploma-project
also includes a proposal for renewal and development of an area talled Plavnieki. The area
of Plavnieki is a typical large-scale housing area with prefabricated concrete slab
buildings. The proposal focuses on physical changes in the outdoor environment.
I did my field-studies in Riga during the autumn-semester of 1996.1 visited Latvia and
Riga on two occasions, altogether 6-7 weeks. Most of the work on this diploma-work is
however made during the summer/autumn of 1997. The reason for the delay is that I went
on a five month long trip to south-east Asia during the spring of 1997. However I did not
really manage to complete the work before 1 was offered a work. So since February of
1998 1 have worked off and on in my spare-time to finish this diploma-project.