Vietas izjūta Lucavsalā: Gunāra Indriksona pieredze
Sense of Place in Lucavsala: The Experience of Gunārs Indriksons

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on Lucavsala, an inhabited island in the River Daugava, as seen through the perspective of Gunārs Indriksons (1940–2023). As one of the few permanent residents who was born and raised in Lucavsala, he provides an insider’s view of the island. His recollections of childhood memories, everyday life on the island, stories passed down from parents and neighbours, and personal experiences create a sense of place and events that have since disappeared. The unique geography of Lucavsala, characterised by its isolation from the surrounding urban environment and the prominent presence of nature, has profoundly influenced Gunārs’ sense of the place. Since 2021, the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia has been conducting a project funded by the Latvian Council of Science titled Urban Experiences: Narratives, Memory and Place Heritage. This project explores the neighbourhoods of Pārdaugava by documenting the life experience of residents, local histories, traditions, and processes of change in the area. Lucavsala is one of the locations being studied. Eighteen informants, primarily allotment gardeners, were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Given that Lucavsala is most commonly associated with allotment gardeners, while its permanent residents remain largely out of the public eye, exploring the character of the place through the story of Gunārs Indriksons is pertinent.

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