“Latvian Architecture Year Award 2024” is awarded by New Riga Theater / Article

The Union says that the reconstruction of the building of the New Riga Theater building was carried out according to the design of the architect Zaiga Gaile. The building was almost doubled in size with the construction of complex underground structures. Workshops are located on the underground floor. Alongside the historic theater building is a new five-story building with two “Black Box” halls, rehearsal halls and actors’ rooms.

The two buildings are connected by a glass corridor. The breath of the century-old building is preserved in the Great Hall of the theatre, strengthened in the union.

The project was initiated by the general company “Zaigas Gailes birojs und partneri”. The general company was canceled in 2020. Then, the modification project was developed by the general company “SBSC“, which included SIA “Sarma & Norde arhitekti”, where SIA “Zaigas Gailes birojs” is a subcontractor, informing the organizers about the award.

On the other hand, the annual award in the “Silver” category went to “W māja”, whose authors are SIA “space in”, Normunds Kagainis, Mikus Hercs and Matīss Šteinerts.

The Association of Latvian Architects says that in this building, Scandinavian separation is combined with the combination and openness of Scandinavian spaces, finding a new Latvian place code. From the street, it is maintained and elegant, but opens onto the farm and the surrounding nature. The building is built in compact construction on irregularly shaped land, defining the unique W configuration. In its center is a triangular terrace, around which everything else is arranged. The faces, reinforced with wooden nails, are completely recyclable.

The award in this category was also received by “RUUME arhitekti” and “Merks”, who realized the last two residential buildings in “Viesturdārza quarter”. According to the Union of Latvian Architects, this architectural ensemble is an important structure on a city scale, which will create a new type of residential building in the historical center of Riga – with accessible human level on the first floor and street level and on limitation, functional and architectural facade natural materials. All apartments have private outdoor areas – terraces, balconies, loggias – and public outdoor areas, namely playgrounds and a park in the middle of the block.

The process “Astra Zariņa – power of nature” was also honored in this category. As the organizers of the award explain, it is a process that demonstrates the intellectual heritage of the famous Latvian architect and teacher Zariņa.

“Zariña’s vision of the urban environment, the importance of historical heritage and culture in architecture, as well as her contribution to the study of Rome and the regeneration of Banjoreggio Civita, have inspired several generations of architects around the world promotion,” affirms the organizers of the award. In the framework of the process, the main class of students “Civita 2023”, the exhibition “Roma and the teacher, Astra Zariņa” was held in Riga and Banjoreggio in Civita, a ‘ conference “Rixarch 2024: Blind Spot”, and work on which has also begun to republish the “Roofs of Rome” edition.

At the same time, the reconstruction of the technology center of the Kuldīga Technical School of Technology and Tourism received special recognition from the final jury. Its authors are the studio and office of the architect Liene Griezīte “Gints and colleagues”.

The organizers of the award emphasize that the work of this reconstruction is to integrate the work of professional education into the building, which is located in the historical building of Kuldīga. As part of the reconstruction, the existing building was renovated and two new volumes were added, combining both the historic and the modern. The Ministry of Education and Science and the city of Kuldīga participated in the project.

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