RIGA - The crumbling Gaizinkalns viewing tower - as old and ugly as it may be - holds a place close to my heart. Most see the structure that crowns Latvia's highest mountain as a Soviet relic that obstructs the views of the rolling hills of Vidzeme, which, however you look at it, it basically is.
But for me at least, this architectural monstrosity served a personally fulfilling function - it led me 16 flights of stairs closer to the sky.
I, along with many others of a curious nature, have frequently disregarded the "bistami" and "opasnost" (danger) warnings spray painted on the tower's base and squeezed through the rusty bars obstructing its entrance.
I have spent many a summer afternoon dangling my feet off the edge of the tower's disintegrating roof in awe of the sprawling terrain - a patchwork of rye fields, birch trees, and lakes - 46 meters below me.
And being a rather short person, I always felt overcome with an almost vain sense of self-importance knowing that, at that moment, I was the tallest thing in Latvia.
But as much as we all want to keep them for ourselves, beautiful places are meant to be shared. And with the government's plan to tear down the existing structure and replace it with a modern, tourism-geared viewing tower, my once secret refuge looks like it's going to be transformed into one of the architectural wonders of Latvia.
The Madona regional environmental board and Gaizinkalns Nature Park are currently organizing a national architecture competition for the new tower's design. A total of 14 proposals have been submitted and are on exhibit at the Latvian Architecture Museum.
The contest jury - made up of professional architects, local Madona government officials and members of the Environment, Culture and Society Institution - will make their decision on Oct. 18. Yet, according to Gaizinkalns tourism director Inese Apele, the final design could include features taken from a number of the proposals.
Although most of the drafts are modern renditions of the existing tower with a few unique features thrown in, some designs are startlingly futuristic. Apele herself is all for a tower of the future.
"I feel that there's no point in recreating the past with the old wooden structure," she said. "It doesn't hurt to go into the future."
According to members of the jury, three important factors must be taken into consideration. The winning design must be economically feasible, have sound foundations and an attractive architectural design that "harmonizes" with its environment.
While taking in the exhibit, you can't help but want to pick some of the architects' brains. One proposal to construct a minimal wooden frame tower blanketed in lush ivy - although creating a perfect breeding ground for the local birds and bees - possibly overdoes it on the last of these criteria.
Another design, entitled "Stopa Sakta" (Bow Brooch), was a bit more practical and included a ski slope ascending from its second floor.
An outlandishly celestial design entitled "Pirmais Latvietis Kosmosa" (the first Latvian in the Cosmos) seemed to be the favorite at the exhibition's opening night. I, however, was somehow a bit troubled by the design. The structure's translucent sphere reminded me of the evil tower in "The Lord of the Rings" film. Once built, let's just hope the orange radiating orb doesn't emit the Armagedious evil that Tolken's tower did, or Gaizinkalns' goat cheese farmers might have to form an army to fight against the dark powers generated from this quiet, tranquil corner of Middle Earth.
Gaizinkalns viewing
tower competition
Latvian Architecture Museum
Maza Pils St., Riga
Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
