Four years have passed since the IN-HABIT project was launched in Riga and the Āgenskalns neighbourhood. Thanks to this partnership, Āgenskalns Market and its surrounding area have undergone several changes, evidenced by infrastructure improvements and the wide range of events and activities on offer. The project has been built on a co-creative foundation from the outset. Project partners worked closely with various stakeholders - practitioners, municipal officials and community representatives - to identify factors affecting health and well-being of specific groups and develop tailored solutions. The approach has been refined throughout the project using data collected at each stage, as well as feedback from the project team and the wider community.
Assessing the impact of IN-HABIT on Āgenskalns Market and its surrounding territory
In the spring and summer of 2024, BSC actively collected data to assess the impact of IN-HABIT funded initiatives. Reflecting on the events and activities held at the market, the team assessed the effects of the market territory’s redevelopment and various implemented social innovations. The study used quantitative and qualitative methods, including online surveys, focus group discussions and participant observation. The main objective of the research activities was to analyse how residents experience health and well-being in the neighbourhood in their everyday lives. By comparing newly obtained and initial survey data collected at the end of 2021, it is possible to draw preliminary conclusions and evaluate to what extent the project’s aims have been achieved.
The renovation of Āgenskalns Market and the IN-HABIT driven solutions provide a unique opportunity to explore the complex interactions between the physical environment, social factors, health and well-being. However, a key challenge in evaluating the impact of the IN-HABIT project lies in isolating its specific effects from those of the broader market revitalization project and concurrent transformations in Riga. From both a practical and methodological standpoint, self-selection bias poses a significant issue within the available data, potentially obscuring important aspects of how the market is perceived. Furthermore, measuring aspects that are more difficult to capture, such as changes in community dynamics and social cohesion, also presents challenges.
Hard and soft innovations introduced in Agenskalns market
The statistics collected between May and August this year show that the number of visitors has increased since the introduction of regular cultural events. In addition, both survey and focus group respondents shared the observation that the market is more frequented by people from other parts of the city, as well as by foreign visitors.
A similar picture emerges when measuring the impact of IN-HABIT's interventions along the five dimensions of inclusive health and well-being (subjective well-being, spatial and environmental well-being, social well-being, economic well-being and healthy lifestyles). The findings show that the impact has been positive overall.
Overview of the results of the online surveys on impact strands carried out in summer 2024
IN-HABIT project in Āgenskalns Market continues
Research has also helped highlight areas requiring greater attention in the future. Data from online surveys and focus groups reveal that certain groups, such as the elderly, perceive the market as less accessible due to factors like food prices and the range of cultural and artistic events offered. While overall perceptions of the multifunctional market are positive, these issues raise an important question: does everyone have equal access to the benefits the market provides?
Overall, the findings show that the project has had a positive impact on the well-being of the residents of Āgenskalns. However, it is essential to ensure that the solutions implemented in the Āgenskalns Market continue to serve and remain accessible to the widest possible range of social groups. Furthermore, it is important to consider the potential impact of the market renewal project on the wider surrounding neighbourhood. While preliminary findings indicate progress toward the project objectives, further studies with a more robust monitoring and evaluation framework are necessary to determine clearer linkages, relationships, and the impact of IN-HABIT activities.
Project participants reflect on changes observed in the market
 |
To better analyse the processes occurring within the market, project researchers conducted regular on-site visits to observe activities, interactions, and the various ways people inhabit the market and its surrounding area. Beyond collecting stories and feedback, impressions of the market were also captured through sensory experiences – seeing, tasting, and smelling. Social anthropologist Ilze Mileiko describes the experience of the market: "Different people interact here not only because they share the common goal of buying food, but also because the market reveals itself as a multi-layered space where various groups of neighbourhood residents and visitors seek and find what they need – whether it’s food of diverse categories and qualities, cafés on the second floor, or both one-off and regular events. Donning my "researcher’s hat," I also strolled through the market on a hot summer Sunday. On another Friday evening in August, I joined fellow market-goers for an experimental electronic music performance in the market courtyard, where we created music together by touching various plants found within the market (see picture). At times, I found it difficult to stick to my strict role as researcher and observer, because the market seemed to invite me to simply live within it, to engage and experience. The various elements of Āgenskalns Market draw the visitor into its life, transforming them from a mere consumer into an active participant—posters, a book exchange, individual trader stalls, each with a person offering their products; signs, stamps, and other small artefacts—all contribute to a coherent image of Āgenskalns Market. In conversations with the local community, it becomes clear that the market is both one and many—shaped by the different experiences and purposes with which each visitor enters and inhabits it.” |
Assistant Miks Brasliņš shares his experience of working with the results of online surveys and focus group discussions:
"Although I had visited the renovated market before, I now realise in retrospect that my initial understanding of the scale of change was superficial. By getting to know the specifics of the project and helping with technical research tasks, I was able to see Āgenskalns Market from a broader perspective and gain a deeper insight into its role in the daily lives of its visitors.
Online surveys on the impact of the project's solutions on well-being revealed how visitors' perspectives on the changes clashed at times, and the aspects that people liked or disliked were not always clear-cut. However, many responses pointed, either directly or indirectly, to the ways in which the multifunctional format appeals to people. This was evident, for example, in the long lists of market activities and cultural events, which often appeared in various combinations. Respondents spoke favourably of the wide range of activities on offer, noting that this makes the market an attractive destination, whether visited alone or with family, friends, or colleagues. Many responses also expressed optimism about the future development of the market, with respondents highlighting how it makes the neighbourhood more vibrant and helps Āgenskalns gradually evolve into an important city centre.
While the overall picture is nuanced and complex, there is a responsiveness, and people are open to changing their perceptions of what the market can or cannot be. In this context, the focus group discussion, where participants shared their thoughts on the market's impact and ways to make it more accessible to different social groups, was a memorable moment. By the end of the discussion, an insight emerged that underscores one of the key features making Āgenskalns Market unique compared to similar sites elsewhere. In particular, respondents emphasised that, unlike other markets, residents of Āgenskalns have more opportunities to influence its development and identity—through active involvement, organising events, and participating in public life. Although there are areas for improvement, participants felt that the market has greater potential to deliver the desired solutions in the future.."