Portfolio Anna Rage Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
PORTFOLIO
RAGE
INTRODUCTION
My journey of creating started already far back, during my figure skating career, which awakened the feeling for interpretation, story, and shape. I am still grateful for the sense of passion and creativity that yet follows throughout my work.
Along the way of creating a design and technical solutions for each specific place, I found my desire to improve the space around people with resilient and engaging solutions. Accordingly, the process starts with a place and identity research, which later turns into harmonious and comprehensive solutions, incorporating design, social and environmental aspects.
EDUCATION SLAMPE (Latvia)
2015
CONTEXT:
Unused territory next to Slapme parish culture center and local highschool. Potential recreation place for visitors, local people, and students.
CHALLENGES AND GOALS:
Located next to a busy highway, marshy and wet area, area with no specific function.
Need for:
•a multifunctional place that can provide activities for different social groups,
•fruitful ground for business development.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
• Memorial for owners and their property that was affected during WWII,
• Green classes for students,
• Boat and catamaran rental, cafe,
• Pic-nic places for local people and visitors,
• Varied level pathways surrounded by rases flowerbeds,
• Bare-foot trail,
• Open-air stage.
Visualization of World War II memorial
Visualization of raised flower beds, and varied level pathways
Open-air stage
Visualization of the renewed lake and two-level footbridge
2nd bigges oak tree in Latvia and apple tree garden
THESIS PROJECT - SĒJA MANOR (Latvia)
CONTEXT:
The park of the Sēja manor and its surrounding landscape is a historically and culturally significant heritage sight of the Sēja parish. The territory is located on a small hill, which provides a chance to overlook a specious and picturesque landscape. In former times, a large part of the landscape consisted of a 25 ha lake. Unfortunately, nowadays, the lake is no longer preserved.
CHALLENGES:
Fading historical values of the parish, overgrown and neglected areas, various owners of the territory.
GOALS:
Highlight the identity and value of the place, create a creative culture center and venue place for both local people and visitors.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
Using small architectural form design, demonstrate the park identity and originality, multifunctional open-air stage, a two-level footbridge with the view over the renewed lake and Sēja manor park, etc.
(Visualisations made with help from a good friend Ernests Austriņš)
Visualization of Sēja manor possible reconstruction
Visualization of the bench and trash bin designwooden pattern/rings covered with epoxy raisin
Linda’s garden
PRIVATE PROJECTS
LINDA’S AND JEKATERINA’S GARDEN
2018-2019
CONTEXT:
Both Linda and Jekaterina turned to me for the help with their private gradens. After finishing the construction of houses they wanted focus on the surrounding area.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
Linda’s garden:
The house was built in a strong symmetry where the central element is the living room with its wide window and garden view. There is a clear central axis of the building, which I wanted to bring out in the garden as well. Accordingly, the pathways were made in an oval form leaving a spacious lawn in the middle of it. A campfire site was created in the northwest corner, surrounded by bright and decorative greenery. The right side is planned as a utility area where the greenhouse and children's play area are located.
Jekaterina’s garden:
This garden is located in a former forest area, that is why there are still some unique elements of forest ground cover and pine trees. It consists of two houses which eventually could be two separate households. Because of that in the middle of the garden, there is a notable and separating highlight of the garden: wave shaped grass-perennial zone, surrounding the resting and barbeque zone. Because of the forest topic and the wish of Jekaterina, there were selected plans like rhododendrons, conifers, heather, etc.
Jekaterina’s garden
PUBLIC PROJECTS
OPEN-AIR STAGE “ZVEJNIEKU PARKS” (Latvia)
Project in collaboration with “Būvdizains” Ltd. 2018
CONTEXT:
“Zvejnieku parks” in translation means “Fisherman park”. It is located in the city called Salacgrīva, which is well known for its location next to the sea (Gulf of Riga). It is also a place where each year an international “Positivus” festival takes place. The open-air stage was built in 1967, which indicates the necessity for a new and fresh design.
CHALLENGES:
It is important to find a balance between the needs of the local people and festival organizers.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
Different variations for pavement design in order to support the identity of the city and the surrounding architecture, adjustment of the multifunctional and sustainable seating.
(Visualization made by Mihails Zuravlovs)
Pavement design (from a sketch to a technical drawing)
Analysis of the movement trajectory
Gājēju kustības analīze M 1:350
Gājēju kustība
Mazākas ntensitātes kustība
Lielākas ntensitātes kustība
2nd PLACE IN ARCHITECTURAL CONTEST “VENTSPILS
SWIMMING-POOL COMPLEX” (Latvia)
(“Būvdizains” Ltd. invited me to participate with sketch design for the surrounding area)
2018
CONTEXT:
Ventspils Municipality announced an architectural competition for the development of a new swimming pool complex with a rehabilitation center and hotel. The essential requirement from the municipality was: to maintain the diagonal pedestrian movement, to complement the area with recreational facilities and decorative greenery.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
Parking area with green islands for heat absorption, the new landscape integration in the existing location, resting pockets with benches and surrounding greenery for the visitors.
(Visualization draft made by colleagues from “Būvdizains” Ltd.
Cross-sections (E’-E’’; A’-A’’), neighborhood development in Drachten
“De Hem” neighborhood development in Leeuwarden
2020
Here are represented two different neighborhood projects in the Netherlands.
Neighborhood project “DE HEM” shows the first steps of development, where a lot of attention has been paid to the participation process withthe local inhabitants. The presented conceptual model is a result of surveys, meetings, and consultations with the local municipality.
The neighborhood project in DRACHTEN shows already more detailed visualization of the main idea. Cross-sections show the concept of the blue-green infrastructure where more natural slopes have been incorporated in the overall infrastructure.
Green infrastructure plan
Water circulation system Meet-up places and playgrounds
HKB Stedenbouwkundigen Ltd.
HEECHTEERP,
LEEUWARDEN ( Netherlands )
2021
CONTEXT:
The neighborhood was designed in the 1950s. Back then, it was considered a hip and modern place with a mix of high and low-rise buildings, surrounded by large green spaces. The neighborhood consists of repetitive stamps.
CHALLENGES:
Nowadays, neighborhood scores low on the social index - low income, high unemployment, unsafe home situation etc. Infrastructure is outdated and green areas are inaccessible to the inhabitants.
Need for:
• new diverse residential buildings,
• research of the existing trees,
• accesible recreation,
• good connections with the surrounding areas,
• car-free neighborhood.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
• Green corridors with suitable plants for bees,
• Swales for water retention,
• Meeting places and playgrounds,
• Extensive pathway network for walking.
(A section explaining the green infrastructure concept idea)
STUD FARM ‘DE WOUDE’ RIDDERKERK (Netherlands)
2022
CONTEXT:
Former agricultural business location. It is planned to redevelop the plot into a high-quality and sustainable residential area combined with a care complex while preserving the farm identity and its theme.
CHALLENGES:
Farmhouse which is listed as a national monuments, requires the preservation of historic landscape lines and its typical surroundings. The farm is located next to a historical dike structure and stream. That creates a potential to create not only a new building complex but also a diverse recreation program. New development and its green and natural ribbon could serve as the connection point between surrounding areas.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
• Diverse green functional zones, like fruit garden, food forest, meadows, etc.
• Nature by the stream improving biodiversity and recreation
• Tailored surrounding design accompanying the function of the building.
(Photo: Paul van Galen, 03.1976, Governing body of protected sites)
Entrance view analysis
Analysis of the historical landscape lines
Sketch of possible development
FLORA CAMPUS, WESTLAND( Netherlands ) 2021
CONTEXT:
Westlands is a unique municipality with an extensive greenhouse horticulture infrastructure. Its central point is Royal Flora Holland. A Dutch conglomerate of the florist. It is one of the largest auction companies in the world. Nevertheless, these industrial sites are surrounded by villages that require livability and accessibility to services and recreation.
CHALLENGES AND GOALS:
The task was to envision possible development trajectories of the Flora Campus area and its adjacent neighborhoods. It is critical to look into the green-blue infrastructure network, business and education possibilities, and mobility issues.
Since Royal Flora Holland is a very large-scale industry surrounded by low-rise neighborhoods, it was necessary to create a gradual transition from a small-scale landscape to a larger one.
Flora campus future development concept
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
• Green public space on two levels: ground level and rooftops,
• New neighborhood design was created with an emphasis on the historical landscape lines (Due to historical irrigation practices, dutch landscape has a very specific charecteristics),
• Considerable attention is paid to landmarks and anchor points. These accents make the environment more dynamic and help the visitors orient themselves better.
Royal Flora Holland vegitable auction (1912)
Green-blue infrastructure in two levels: ground level and rooftops
DANTUMADIEL ENVIRONMENTAL VISION (Netherlands)
2021
CONTEXT:
The municipality of Dantumadiel is a beautiful place for living, working, and recreation. They are proud of their landscape and the diverse identities of its inhabitants. To highlight the qualities and challenges, they decided to create an environmental vision showing the desired development direction that they opt to take.
CHALLENGES:
They emphasized that they cannot protect everything valuable and at the same time give space to all new developments. The task of this future vision is to guide the upcoming decision-making process.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
• More space for water and biodiversity,
• A balance between new residential buildings and sustainable renovation of existing housing,
• Move towards a feasible, affordable, and sustainable energy supply,
• Peat meadows as multifunctional areas: alternative agriculture, energy, recreation,
• Space for entrepreneurship and innovation.
(Author of the background photo: Anna Rage)
KAW Architecten
Eemsdelta, Netherlands
2025
As part of the strategic vision for the future of Appingedam and Delfzijl, I contributed a series of concept drawings that visualize the main approach of the development plan. These illustrations focus on themes such as spatial quality, sustainable infrastructure, and regional identity. The drawings support the translation of planning principles into visual form to clarify and communicate the project’s core strategies.
Harlingen, Netherlands
2025
In the research phase of the project exploring future scenarios for the former hospital area in Harlingen, I created a value map and a problem map to analyze the spatial qualities and challenges of the site. The value map identifies key assets, such as green spaces, heritage elements, and connectivity, while the problem map reveals spatial bottlenecks, underused areas, and barriers. These maps provided a structured understanding of the context and formed a basis for scenario development in the design phase.
Conept drawing, masterplan Regiocentra Eemsdelta
Harlingen, Ziekenhuis gebied - waardenkaart
Harlingen, Ziekenhuis gebied - knelpuntenkaart
DESIGN PROJECTS (Netherlands/Italy)
2022
CONTEXT:
This page illustrates two projects that required in-depth analysis and design skills. It is a complex research that resulted in straightforward and simplified graphical designs and illustrations.
Research prototype for the area between Groningen, Assen, and Here are addressed questions such as transport connections,
Infographic about Ecosystem services
Population distribution of the Netherlands and possible train connection between Groningen and Amsterdam
Infographic for engineering company Gpi Group in calibration with University of Trento Ph.D. student Akylai Anarbaeva
Infographic for engineering company Gpi Group in calibration with University of Trento Ph.D. student Akylai Anarbaeva
WORKSHOPS AND SERIOUS GAMING (Netherlands) 2022
CONTEXT:
A good design is reached through a collaborative process where the stakeholders and specialists in the field can work hand in hand. To facilitate an environment with a playful and creative atmosphere, I have carried out work team workshops and 'serious gaming' sessions.
This approach helps people to share and receive information through teamwork, where everyone can participate to the same extent.
UNIQUE SOLUTIONS:
• Analysis of the specific area and inhabitants
• Visual material that helps generate ideas
• Character building for various role plays
• Mind mapping and mood boards
• Facilitating meetings stewardship and support
• Design thinking approach
• Summary of the workshop in data and reports
(Photo: Anna Rage
One of the game prototypes to explore neighbourhoods in
Leeuwarden
FUTURE VISION, INCLUSIVE PLANNING AND DESIGN THINKING
Two main things drive me within my profession: environment and the human role within it. To facilitate these two main interests , I have found a pursuit that incorporates design, environmetal studies and social studies.
If previously I was focuses on technical and design sollutions, then now, through education and work experience, I have understood the importance of inclusive planning, collaboration processes and presenation through visual information.
I see myself as a person with an analitical mind that can simplify complex information without loosing it's core essence. On the other hand I have a creative side that can show this information in a clear and visual way.
