Teodors Spāde Environmental Object in Ventspils

The environmental object "Laiviņas" (Little Boats) is located in Ventspils, at the beginning of the Ostas Street Promenade near the ferry terminal. Officially unveiled on July 30, 2026, the monument is dedicated to the memory of Admiral Teodors Spāde (1891–1970), the first Latvian-born commander of the Latvian Navy.

The artistic composition features eight stainless steel boats of varying sizes, designed in a traditional origami paper-folding style. A figure of a small boy sits on the bow of the largest boat. This serves as a visual metaphor for Teodors Spāde’s childhood in Ventspils and his early dreams of the sea, which eventually led him to the highest naval rank in Latvia.

The structure stands 2.45 meters tall on a polished concrete base inscribed with a dedicatory text. The surrounding 170 m² area has been landscaped to include a paved square and a stylized green dune. For accessibility, an information plaque in Braille is installed at the site.

• Authors: Sculptor Kristaps Gulbis, architect Raimonds Saulītis, visualization author Mārtiņš Ziemanis, and consulting architect Andris Kronbergs.
• Unveiling Date: July 30, 2026.