On Wednesday, 26 August, the revitalised space was officially unveiled to the public. This is the first project of its kind to revitalise a public urban space through collaboration between the local council and the business sector. Benches designed by teams from SBA Home have been installed along the waterfront. Each one is a unique, handcrafted piece, featuring an original concept and meaning.
‘We are part of the city of Klaipėda, so it is very important for us not only to operate here, but also to contribute to the well-being of the city and its people. We create furniture for people and their homes, so creating for the city is a natural part of our identity. Each bench installed along the waterfront has its own unique concept and character – we wanted them not only to fulfil their function, but also to forge a connection with this place. Usually, our furniture becomes part of people’s homes, but today we are leaving a part of our work in the shared ‘home’ of Klaipėda’s residents – the city’s public spaces. We hope this will be a lasting contribution that people will use and enjoy for many years to come,’ says Jurgita Radzevičė, CEO at SBA Home, presenting the project’s concept.
A revitalised space for city residents by the Dangė
Susiję straipsniai
As part of the project, Klaipėda City Municipality has revitalised a section of the quayside near the Klaipėdos Baldai factory – widening the footpaths, installing a jetty and landscaping the area.
‘The Dangė is a great asset to Klaipėda, which is why we are striving to ensure that the river quays are as accessible as possible to the public and form an integral part of the city. This renovated section of the quay is open to all Klaipėda residents and visitors who wish to meet up, relax and spend time by the water. We hope that the city’s contribution of EUR 78,000 will prove worthwhile and breathe new life into this section of the Dangė riverfront, which will become part of Klaipėda residents’ daily routines. It is gratifying that the business community has also contributed to this project; they did not limit themselves to simply tidying up their own premises but have contributed to something that will remain for Klaipėda and its people,’ says Algirdas Kamarauskas, Deputy Mayor of Klaipėda City Municipality.
Behind the scenes at the factory – through the ‘Window into Production’
The refurbished quay has become more than just a leisure spot for the people of Klaipėda. The Klaipėdos Baldai team has set up a ‘Window into Production’ there, where passers-by can watch the robots at work and take a closer look at the furniture manufacturing process. By scanning the QR code on the nearby information board, visitors can learn more about the history of Klaipėdos Baldai and watch a video showcasing the factory.
On the day of the Pakrantės Park’s opening, event attendees had the opportunity to take part in a special tour of the Klaipėdos Baldai factory and learn about its history, staff and production processes.
‘Over 500 people work at Klaipėdos Baldai, and the vast majority of them are from Klaipėda. That is why Klaipėda is not just the city where we operate – it is our home. We are an integral part of the city’s community, so we need to be open and show what we are all about. ‘A Window into Production’ offers the chance to look beyond the factory walls, to see modern production and technology up close and to witness how furniture is made. We can see that the people of Klaipėda find this genuinely interesting – the tour of the Klaipėdos Baldai factory held on the day of the event attracted such interest that, once all places were filled, we had to stop accepting registrations. To us, this is a clear sign that people want to get to know a modern factory up close, so we plan to organise more such events in the future,’ says Justas Baltrušis-Baltrušaitis, Director of Klaipėdos Baldai.
It is hoped that the renovated public space will help to bring the section of the Dangė riverbank– which has till now been more closely associated with the industrial part of the city – closer to the city’s residents and transform it into a more convenient and attractive place for pedestrians, cyclists, employees of nearby businesses and visitors to the city.