To honour the anniversary of Latvia and comeback of the festival “Staro Rīga”, a unique environmental light installation “The Circles of Time” placed in the vicinity of the Freedom Monument and the City Canal is used as a metaphor inviting the viewer to reflect on the flow of time and its meaning for the state, city and people. After the “Staro Rīga” the installation will be modified to a spectacular Christmas light display and keep glistening until January 19.

The creators of the installation have been inspired by the stories and historical facts about the relation connection of large airships with Latvia and Riga. Airship construction flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were widely used for passenger transportation and military needs. During World War I, the German army established Vaiņode Airport in Kurzeme, where several airships were permanently located. These were elongated-shaped balloons filled with gas and enclosed to carry passengers and cargo. Control was provided by an internal combustion or electric motor and a wing in the housing. The airships were intended for reconnaissance or for bombing an enemy, for example, by attacking a Russian army seaplane airfield on the island of Roņi. The hangars are known to be called Walhalla and Walther.

After the Latvian War of Independence, the hangars were dismantled and used to build the hangars of the Riga Central Market, planning to leave them in their original size. It was later decided to use only the upper parts of the hangars.

During the First World War, an airship airport operated in Vaiņode from May 1916 to December 1917. The metal structures of the airship hangars were transferred to Riga during the first Latvian independence and used in the construction of one of the most modern markets in the world at that time – Riga Central Market. In July 1930, the largest and most modern airship in the world, the “Count Zeppelin”, flew over Riga, then headed to Helsinki and Tallinn.

The main object of the installation is a huge sculpture of light lines rhythms in front of the building of the University of Latvia. The light airship raised high above the ground, creates the feeling of flying flight. The interactive light installation will provide the viewers the opportunity and encourage to participate in the process. experience of feeling the flight.

Author and implementer of the project idea: DECEMBER DESIGN SIA
Project financier: Riga City Municipality