The old part is here
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=156753

@ch1le - just ask Russians to destroy the St. Olav, like they did with St. Peter's Church in WWII and then you will have brilliant opportunity to rebuild it with elevator ;) Btw. Russians never recognised that they did the thing, but I would understand them anyway - war is war and on the "land of enemy" you don't care that much about the architecture.

News from today:
1. Started construction of mega-typography near airport.
(as many times reported) In order to free up the place for the highest skyscraper of Riga "Preses nams" is moving their typography elsewhere in two locations. Today there has been started construction of new, enormous and very modern typography near the Riga airport. They hope to turn it into regional typography, which would be used by many editorials of Europe. To be completed in July 2006.
Other typography is u/c (or may be completed) in another location near Riga.
Don't know when the demolition of current old typography in Kipsala will start.

2. Construction of weird highrise hybrid on-going
In Imanta, next to existing highrise cluster there is on-going construction of rather ugly apartment highrise "Imantas perle". It would consist of 16- and 12-floor parts. Both would be united from the fourth to 12th floor in one building. To be completed in November 2006. 156 apartments. Developer - "Eko forums".
Can somebody say - is it one or two highrise buildings???? Looks like vertical prison to me :( comparing with nearby beauties - "Vestas stari" and "Solaris" this is a big step back...
http://www.nams24.lv/images/jaunmajas/Imantas%20perle.jpg

Lots of news today:

New TV centre would be built for sure
Latvian state TV is going to leave its current highrise office for new premises - government took the final decision. The new building would be lowrise, modern, high-tech building. Locations - preliminary - either Tornakalns or Maskacka near Centrum.
Current TV building would be sold through open bid, its market value is some 18 mio EUR. Most likely this sum will cover the costs of the new TV centre.

Architecture of the future neighbour of Saules akmens to be approved tomorrow
The architecture tender for DAM Property Building has ended and tomorrow the City Building Board has to approve the results. Half year ago there was announced that this multifunctional building would have 25 floors. I have no clue how high would it be at the end or how the design looks like.

Public hearing of the second stage of highrise development in Lucavsala starting
Part of Lucavsala island nearer to Salu Bridge is developing. There has been built construction materials supermarket and now there is presented the second stage of plans. Public can express its opinion about these plans until 26th August 2005.
Plans of investors include a group of highrises. Their use is different - offices, apartments. The highest building will have 28 habitable floors, height - around 100 m. There are planned several more 20+ floor buildings. Architect - "Postform Projekts". I personally am not too impressed with this project, but let's see. Start of construction planned for the next year.
Investor will build the streets as well.
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/43/lucavsalavizualavizija25ox.jpg
- - -
Pictures of the printing house near the airport, which was started yesterday. Costs of the building itself - roughly 10 mio EUR. The equipment inside would be expensive as well. It will be located next to large complex of Latvian Mail, which would be completed in next year as well.
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-07-18/52040/DSC05068.JPG

http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-07-18/52040/DSC05069.JPG
- - -
Riga City is considering to sell one underground parking place (in Kronvalda parks) as well as rent out the land to construct two more underground parking places near Opera. The financing (some 6 - 8 mio EUR) could be used to construct the third part of Opera - different technical premises for this large enterprise.

That new district in Lucavsala doesn't look very good but maybe it'll be changed? Anyway, in reality if proper materials will be used it could look different.

Printing house looks ok and quite interesting.

Can't wait to see how neighbour of Saules Akmens will look like. ;)

i think Lucavsala looks rather okay, glassy, straight forward, and even has some urban think into it... but lets see better renders, its a bid sad though that the highrises are placed in green like that, but the surrounding buildings will create a nice streetscape. so id say its pretty good compared to some big projects weve seen here

wow, that Lucavsala project looks really big, great news :)

That one in Lucavsala is one of the projects which is "brewing" since the summer of the last year. Did not hear about it for some 8 months and was afraid that the idea is dead. In total the detailed plan envisages at least 11 highrise buildings - it is hard to understand from the picture and detailed plan the exact number.
a bid sad though that the highrises are placed in green like that
You mean - they are like "islands" in the green grass? Then I agree - it looks somehow weird. Riga traditionally has got perimetral, quarter-style planning with buildings along the streets. But these highrises are set like commieblocks in 1970ies. And whole project is very squarish.

And... the riverside is left as it is - but with that dense population it will surely need some more work, some lighted promenade. Especially because this is becoming popular beach - Daugava is becoming cleaner.
It is funny that this aerophotograph does not show recent changes - all the buildings in the upper left corner have been removed now for Riga Plaza mall (which will have much better architecture).

This project will create more urban feel for Lithuanians, entering in Riga and wondering - "where is that city?" ;)

^^^ Yeah, we were pretty much disappointed :lol:

Entrance in Riga from the side of Bauska/Lithuania/Europe is the worst by looks. This by far is not our "parade gate". But so far this is the fastest way to enter Centrum.
When Southern Bridge would be built in 2007, the entrance in Riga would be much more spectacular.
- - -
Riga agglomeration will reach medium income level of EU (25 000 EUR GDP per capita) at the very latest in 2015. Currently it is at 70% of medium EU.
- - -
Officially started construction of enormous State Police administrative complex (so called "Pentagon") in Gaujas Street, near Mezaparks, floor area 42 396 m2. It will consist of four buildings hosting most of the police, reginal Interpol and many similar other institutions. First stage would be completed in 2007. Total costs 45 mio EUR

UNESCO prises Riga
http://www.riga.lv/NR/rdonlyres/15A00CA2-1F02-4807-A12C-EAFDA78B9A1D/0/Riga018.jpg
More than one year has passed since the conflicting with UNESCO World Heritage authorities about the development of Riga historical centre and now Riga has proved - it goes the right way. UNESCO Committee has appreciated very high the elaborated Plan of Riga Historical Centre Development and planning issues in the city in general.

To my own understanding - since the "dark times" of 2000 the city has done very large progress. At the very last moment before the start of huge investments Riga municipality has managed to take over the iniciative over city planning... these huge investments even were stopped to spend more time on proper planning.
- - -
Architecture of DAM Property highrise next to Saules akmens has been approved. This means that now elaboration of detailed project starts. I would expect that the construction of this highrise will start in 2006. That should be fine view when in the second half of 2006 simultaneously would be built those neighbours - 1) DAM Property building; 2) da Vinci; 3) House on the mountain and 4) Vertikala pasaule complex. Two towers of Akropolis 300 m further should not be forgotten too.
- - -
Riga historical centre board did not support a proposal of City Transportation Department to build a new estacade from Vansu bridge to embankment in front of Old Riga. Reason - this would have negative impact on panorama of Old City and the embankment would be closed for traffic in coming years anyway.

I praise the Riga historical centre board for the in-depth planning of Rigas centre architectural view :master:

Great to hear that soon new high-rise buildings will be built.

I'll be waiting for more projects.

Kliversala highrise district to be redesigned, international tender announced
Some time ago as a result of negative public hearings Riga City Council rejected the detailed plan for Kliversala highrise district - here rendering of this plan:
http://img140.exs.cx/img140/2826/kliversala0lv.jpg
Now there has been announced new architecture tender for this district. Investor remains the same - "Prokurs", with some Italian investments behind. (for the previous project they were ready to invest 180 mio EUR)
Premium for the winner - some 25 000 EUR. I don't know exactly, suppose that such sum will not attract big architect companies worldwide, but some local companies will be interested for sure.
Deisgners should come up with highrise ideas - this area is planned for highrise development. Total floor area of the design will exceed 160 000 m2. Area will be multifunctional.
Tender lasts until 3rd October this year.
Description in Latvian:
http://www.architektura.lv/konkursi.php?id=67
- - -
One more interesting winner of another design tender from homepage of Union of Architects: (they publish very little pictures to mymind...)

Apartment building in Miera Street 59/61, architect "Legzdins un partneri"
http://www.architektura.lv/rezultati/l163.jpg

That Miera Street apartment building is a charmer! :okay:

I'm a bit worried that the Kliversala district project will remain a bunch of boxy flat-tops ... we've seen that happen too often. :(

I hope Saules Akmens will get worthy neighbors! :)

And BIG congratulations for Riga's city government for making wise decisions at the right time! :applause: Its Old Town is one of its major assets, and protecting it from improper interference is a great move.

Some interesting renderings from architecture company "Arhis" (visit their Webpage in www.arhis.lv !)
- - -
Planned office center in Duntes Street. This still is deppressive area near Skanstes Street highrise area.
1. Street view. This kind of wooden buildings is not valuable IMHO, they could go if dwellers have got other options ;)
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/542/duntes11tz.jpg
2. View when going to centrum:
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/553/duntes27hg.jpg
3. Planning at the backside:
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2739/duntes39oz.jpg
Don't know if they have started to construct it.
- - -
Watch tower for tourists. To be located in Ragaciems nature reserve, between Riga and Jurmala (inside Jurmala municipality), at Lielupe rivermouth. There should be beautiful landscape from this 30-m high tower.
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2190/ragactornis15nd.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5153/ragactornis22hb.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9519/ragactornis39ir.jpg
- - -
Some more renderings of Lucavsala development. As you may remember, the consortium of local companies won a tender with 920 mio EUR proposal for development of Lucavsala island over the next 16 - 18 years. They planned to start the works in this summer but the newly elected City Council has slowed down the works. They wanted to call international conference about the development of this island - but this idea has been rejected now. Now it seems - the development will go as shown in these renderings:
1. Lucavsala island in future - looking to the centre
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4076/lucavsala14xt.jpg
2. View over Zakusala towards Lucavsala. You can see the many new bridges proposed. And some "vertical accents" - f.e. highrise at the nearer end of the island and in the central part of the island. Nothing terribly high (but - at this moment nobody speaks about the maximum heights on the island). Highrises are located to provide excellent views to water and nearby historical centre from possibly many points.
Btw. the area nearer to the Salu bridge has been rented to another developer, who is going to build highrises there (look up this thread). This rendering does not show it.
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1853/lucavsala28dy.jpg
3. Important part of the new island forms new channel. This part of the island is planned as international watersports centre - mainly for different rowing competitions, water-skiing.
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8063/lucavsala37oa.jpg
4. Private properties on those smaller islands should cost millions one day
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4076/lucavsala43eo.jpg
Architects IMHO have provided very good division of private, secluded areas and public area. Finally an interesting waterfront in central part of Riga!

Yumm yumm :cheers:

fabulous... saying those highrises arent terribly high is an understatement, if you compare the highest of those with the tv tower its easy to say they are 200m

^ I doubt anythings at or above 200m ...but impressive proposals nevertheless.

- - -
One more interesting winner of another design tender from homepage of Union of Architects: (they publish very little pictures to mymind...)

Apartment building in Miera Street 59/61, architect "Legzdins un partneri"
http://www.architektura.lv/rezultati/l163.jpg

Do I smell some "neo-functionalism" in this one? Looks very nice.

2. Construction of weird highrise hybrid on-going
In Imanta, next to existing highrise cluster there is on-going construction of rather ugly apartment highrise "Imantas perle". It would consist of 16- and 12-floor parts. Both would be united from the fourth to 12th floor in one building. To be completed in November 2006. 156 apartments. Developer - "Eko forums".
Can somebody say - is it one or two highrise buildings???? Looks like vertical prison to me :( comparing with nearby beauties - "Vestas stari" and "Solaris" this is a big step back...
http://www.nams24.lv/images/jaunmajas/Imantas%20perle.jpg

A bit commieblockish to my mind, but nice warm colors and no element borders - it's a big step forward!

Do I smell some "neo-functionalism" in this one? Looks very nice.

Indeed.

There was nothing too important to say since the 1st August... But I have to add something otherwise the thread would be lost ;)
- - -
Some more constructions in the Old City started
One day I went to my friends in design company "Meliorprojekts" and they told that the reconstruction of their ugly, Soviet time office building on Peldu Street will start any day. Bah... some days later cosntruction crane was there and works are on-going! One of the rare Soviet time buildings of Old City will look better now.
There has been started construction on Teatra Street 2/4 as well. This is heart of Old City, where an open construction plot among narrow streets was standing for years. Before there were standing two buildings - one demolished in war time, another - in 1993. Now investor "Man-Tess Hotel" has started construction of two apartment buildings with 25 luxury apartments. Construction company - local "Kalnozols"
http://www.kalnozols.lv/lat/img/obj/obj_manteshotel.jpg
Initially they planned hotel, but Old City has got enough hotels for now.
One of the buildings will use for its facade material one kind of black tropical wood.
There should be more than 20 construction projects on-going now in Old City.
- - -
Italian investor Ernesto Preatoni once more presented his future ideas. Nothing that new - he once more reaffirms that there are planned highrises in Kliversala, whole project will take some 10 years. Picture shows project area, design tender ends in 3rd October.
http://www.architektura.lv/rezultati/l193.jpg
Besides this there is planned huge investment for 1,8 ha area near Tallinas Street, in Centrum. Here would not be built highrises.
There is planned reconstruction of the The World Trade Center on Elizabetes Street as well.
Mr. Preatoni will have apartment himself in upper floor of the building which is reconstructed right now, on Kugu Street. Approximate value of this apartment - some 3 mio EUR. With nice view to Old City over Daugava River.
- - -
Jurmala City has started reconstruction of family entertainment park in very centrum of the city - in Dzintari, area 131 108 m2. Park would be fenced, but with opened gates for pedestrians. Park will include exhibition halls, skating park and track, playground for children. Finally...
- - -
Riga will build new hospital with floor area 70 000 m2. Costs - some 55 mio EUR, construction to be started in 2009. This modern hospital should substitute the ageing hospital No.1 in Centrum. Which btw. is located in beautiful building. It seems, they will sell the historical buildings - and I would not wonder if the cost would cover the costs of the new hospital. Small picture of the 1st hospital:
http://www.nma.lv/Gram/lielvaki/d3_.jpg
- - -
Riga Central Railway Terminal will reconstruct passenger arrival area. Tender for design lasts until 1st November this year.
While the front side of the terminal looks well:
http://www.glass.marisa.lt/Images/Pub/Works/Riga_TrainStation_01_Big.jpg
back side still is "Soviet"

I wonder why your politics and stuff aren't mad about this project. We have Kaunas Arena project in island as well and gooffy Lithuanian politics and greenpeace (sort of) hysterically protest agains it as against destruction of natural beauty inside city
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8063/lucavsala37oa.jpg

to compare with Kaunas Arena
http://www.kaunas.lt/miestas_/arena/8.jpg

There is no legal reason to protest. If this island would have the following:
- protected biotopes
- protected species of plants or animals living there
- other rare species
Then most likely this project would not have a chance. But Lucavsala today is not natural area, it has been inhabited (read - "sh*tted") by people for decades. This place is degraded. Sometimes some rare birds are observed here, but this island is not crucial for their survival.
-
Please note the shore of Lucavsala nearer to Zakusala (the long island) - in the middle part of this shore there is located the only interesting place in Lucavsala. It contains beautiful monument to Russian soldiers in Art Nouveau style, historical manor house and two protected trees. One of them is the largest linden tree in Riga with some 6 m circumference. Riga City has marked some 500 large trees with signs for tourists two years ago.
This place will be preserved as it is, and park would be developed around it.
- - -
Greens are active here, part of them were protecting the interests of small garden owners around Skanstes Street, while the other part noted that those small garden owners use more pesticides than conventional agriculture. We can expect similar battle over the eradication of small "gardens" in Lucavsala - although this time there are expected higher compensations for them (idiotic IMHO - they don't own this land) and another area for those gardens. Note that the word "garden" this time describes something like favelas in Rio.

^^^ Lucky you :)

Eh, we got other problems enough...
Some news:
17 Soviet time buildings to be removed from Daugavgriva fortress
As a part of the investments in the enormous Daugavgriva fortress in the northern part of Riga there would be removed 17 Soviet time buildings in the area of fortress. Works would be started at the end of August.
I had a report from Daugavgriva fortress in December last year. Here one picture, showing the historical watertower, 18th century. It shows the condition of the heritage buildings there. Let's hope that the idea to turn all of this into historical entertainment park will be realised:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1914/daugavgrcietudenst319dec048si.jpg

Delfi.lv says that the building on Smilsu 9, in heart of old town, now Nord/LB Latvia central office is sold to a local company which would establish there a 4 or 5 star hotel by attracting a worldwide known hotel chain. The company would already having negotiations with several potentiol hotel chains. I couln't find any pictures of it atm, but iirc it is a beautiful art-noveau building of 5 or 6 floors, in front of Hotel de Rome and Unibanka office. The new hotel would have 100-130 rooms and open as soon as Nord/LB moves to their new central office which would be constructed in another part of Riga (Skanstes street?? Kiipsala??).
Earlier I read, that the situation with the lack of accomodation in Riga is better now, but still not sufficient.

demolishing soviet buildings - great news!! :D
renovating soviet buildings - good news!

IMO it's as bad to demolish soviet relics as it is to demolish "good" history. Maybe in 50-100 years tourist will want to see the remains of the Soviet Empire?

Don't worry, nobody will be able to find billions to destroy even 30% of Soviet "heritage". Of course, there are many things worth to preserve too.

Very nice projects happening in Riga. :)

Construction of Operette centre approved in Riga
Financial success of several culture centres in Riga, especially Opera, creates wish to invest more in this sector.
Yesterday Riga City Development Committee approved the plans to construct culture centre "Lacplesis" at Daugava river. This centre will host operette, musical hall (3000 seats), small theatre (400 seats), jazz club and some more related things. Expected costs - 5 mio EUR (cheap???), construction time - until middle 2007.
Here - proposal for this centre by "Arhis". I don't know if their proposal is the winner... Investor - local "Multiplekss".
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8569/lacpl19gh.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/655/lacpl22wq.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8559/lacpl38mg.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3447/lacpl41om.jpg
- - - -
In 29th August will start construction of estacades over Krasta street (not far from this operette theater) for the Southern bridge. This will be the first case in Riga when three-level traffic estacades would be built. Total length of estacade access roads in the right bank of Daugava would be several kilometres.
As a result for one year (less, if construction company will do the works faster) will be closed one of the most busy streets in Riga. OMG, OMG...
Picture - Krasta Street nearer to the centre (this is not the place of works)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1448/krastaiela17jun054ew.jpg
- - - -
Riga City requires that the concert hall in Daugava should not close the view on Old City. Due to this the works will be even more expensive - the concert hall most likely should be located on the very tip or the beginning of the A-B dam.
This might be linked to requirements of Mr. Preatoni, who wants to build apartment quartal (including 7 highrises) in Kliversala and is mad about the fact that something can close the view on Old City from those buildings. But this is in interests of other people as well - currently there is wonderful view on Old City from the streets in Pardaugava and large building in Daugava River can close the view.
This might end up with moving the concert hall project to another place? (Which might be not a bad idea IMHO)
Picture: A-B dam, proposed site for concert hall as seen from Saules akmens:
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3073/1abdambis31mai056je.jpg
- - - -
Construction of several factories of electronics approved
Over the last years electronic industry is one of the fastest developing ones in Latvia. Recently a row of new projects have been approved. Company VEF KTR is going to build telecommunications factory in eastern part of Riga – area 11 700 m2. They are producing automatic phone stations.
In Riga suburb - Ogre - there has been approved extension of electronic factory "Hanzas Elektronika", built new factory "RB elektrotehnika", as well as started development of eletronic equipment laboratory.
Another ambitious project related to electronics starts in Ventspils - started complex development of electronic industry - a) there is built new electronic engineering faculty at the highschool; b) established high-tech park, where new electronic industries receive high tax reductions - here in few years will be working 100 people.
- - - -
Construction boom becomes faster – over the last year the construction has increased here per 16%.

Finally some news :)
I really don't like the idea of building the concert hall on the A-B dam. Only in Latvia there can be such stupid people who want to spend xx millions of € to build something on a place that is totally absurd location for such purpose. And all this while many areas in central parts of Riga are still looking like parts of a 3rd world country.

5 MIO Euro is too cheap mby 50 mio!

@ch1le - 5 mio EUR is for another concert hall, which is private investment (name - "Lacplesis"). It will be located at Daugava in Maskacka district.

But the Large concert hall for A-B dam should cost more than 30 mio EUR for sure - even if proper location is found.
IMGO Riga City mayor was not wrong when he today mentioned the tip of Zakusala island as proper place. Although in this case "greens" would protest - to this island has been moved colony of terns (dove-like birds) which lived on Preses nams highrise up to now. It is decided to remove Preses nams, thus these rare birds vere moved to another place with rather expensive project.
Geologists today came up with announcement that construction of large building on A-B dam would be expensive as hell. F.e. river sediments here are more than 16 m thick.
Latvia has better ways to spend money IMHO.

Lucavsala developers propose to create joint venture with Riga City
I hope that Riga will agree to this - group of Lucavsala developers have proposed to Riga City to create joint venture, where Riga invests land and "Lucavsala" - financing.
This could be good legal way to move ahead with this mega-project.
13. janvara street in Old Riga - not hotel but apartments
Some buildings in the southern part of Old Riga become more and more ready, two would be finished in beginning of 2006. Initially developer said - this will be hotel, but now it has been decided - apartments would be there. This is current trend in Old Riga - to build expensive apartments.
Here's how look the buildings on 13. janvara street (rendering - but reality becomes very similar now):
http://www.gpconsulting.lv/lv/projects/13janvara/13.janvara.jpg
This is located in the shanty-town looking southern part of Old Riga. Architecture - not exactly Old Riga style but there was nothing valuable before as well. Price - more than 3000 EUR per m2 for sure.

thank you for rendering of that hous at 13.Janvara street. Haven't seen it before. Seems not that bad as it could be. Before damaging there (or at the neighbour plot) was very nice building of the begging of 20th century with beutifull balcony made of cast iron.

http://www.gpconsulting.lv/lv/projects/13janvara/13.janvara.jpg this looks fantastic actually.. !

Oh, @Artis, I did not know. I remember that place since my childhood as a sad ruin. Always wondered how can it be that in very centrum of city there is standing such abandoned house.
Here some recent works of architects "Silis & Zabers un Klava" (www.szk.lv):

Quite interesting apartment house somewhere in Riga

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/1750/daudzdzmaja24gs.jpg

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/7880/daudzvmaja6wi.jpg

Proposal for development in the right side of "Jurmala gates", next to "Livu akvaparks". Approximately one year ago I heard that they want highrise to be built, but only now I get to see what could it look like.
http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/4411/jurmvienibas360xj.jpg

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/4001/jurmvienibas3620ys.jpg

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/4922/jurmvienibas3635pe.jpg

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/9839/jurmvienibas3649ze.jpg
None of the renderings show the complex from Lielupe riverside - the highrises are planned just next to Lielupe.
Me likes :)

the highrise is cool reminds me a bit of of work of estonian architecture burau "Kosmos" :) wonder if they have a hand in this :P

of course not, this is more like "Solaris" apartment highrises designed by the same architects.

From such renderings it's quite hard to imagine how those high-rises in Jurmala will look like in reality but the project looks very good.

Some recent pictures of Riga Arena:
1. Looks like optimal use of space:
http://www.arenariga.com/images/galerija_collection_166/1753186599.JPG
2. ...
http://www.arenariga.com/images/galerija_collection_166/1743290885.JPG
3. Outside. The building looks in OK for its vicinities. I am pretty sure that Skanstes Street area would be a "kickass" modern architecture quartal
http://www.arenariga.com/images/galerija_collection_166/1261798421.JPG
4. New street network is built in this area:
http://www.arenariga.com/images/galerija_collection_159/1171115060.JPG
- - - -
1st tower of Panorama Plaza building 9-th floor:
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6950/pp9le.jpg
- - - -
Radio SWH wants to build entertainment centre on the pylons of old bridge opposite Old Riga. In this site there is planned to build Zemgale bridge over Daugava - SWH promise to remove their building when construction of bridge will start.
Weird - how would it look like?

eh... Merko is very fast with arena... last time i remember seeing the arena it was still piles in the ground! :D

eh... Merko is very fast with arena... last time i remember seeing the arena it was still piles in the ground! :D
Do you really think it's Estonians work in Latvian Merks? ;)


[/ironic]

So, what will the Riga Arena be used for? Football? :)

Do those pictures give you answer? :D

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/5195/fani12xa.jpg
http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/2348/fani27ii.jpg
http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/1627/latvia20059ry.png
http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/9429/rakings6on.jpg

Use of Riga Arena? Everything. Look in their homepage, events section:
http://www.arenariga.com/en/events_eng
There has been established special agency to use the arena half year ago, they are hard working with events. They plan to organise two - three large events every week.
- - -
Construction of Jauna vecpilseta quartal in Old Riga today. They have made incredibly large hole. Archaeologists researched the cultural layer in previous years, now they have gone much deeper than that. In this picture seen approximately half of the construction site. Hope that the man in the picture will not be angry at me.
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/4400/jaunavecpilseta31aug052rn.jpg

Do you really think it's Estonians work in Latvian Merks? ;)


[/ironic]
well mantaz here i have to correct you ! merks ( latvia0 and merko ( estonia) are both from so called merko group ! CHECK www.merks.lv and www.merko.ee ;)

Mantaz knows that well enough ;)

^^ I hope he didn't get angry, too, Gatis. :) But why should he? You took a perfectly harmless photo at a perfectly harmless seeming construction site that is wide open for everyone to see.

And I surely hope the final product will look more like the picture on the left than the one on the right. In fact, Riga being Riga, I assume that is the case. :okay:

well mantaz here i have to correct you ! merks ( latvia0 and merko ( estonia) are both from so called merko group ! CHECK www.merks.lv and www.merko.ee ;)
I know they are, I just don't think that most people working in Merks are Estonians ;)

New residential quarter in purvciems by "Hanner":
(317 apartments)
http://www.hanner.lt/common/img/obj/22/big/2.jpg
http://www.hanner.lt/common/img/obj/22/big/3.jpg

Do those pictures give you answer? :D


Yes, I know enough of sports to read from the rankings table that this is pictures from an icehockey game. :) I probably couldn't tell just from the pictures of the supporters. Icehockey just isn't one of my favourite sports.

Hope that the man in the picture will not be angry at me.
With this innocent-sounding sentence, you could melt anybody's heart... :angel1: :colgate: How could he possibly be angry with you for taking a picture of him?

These "Hanner" buildings haven't been announced here yet. Interesting!
- - -
Suburban manor house turned into apartment building
Barocco style manor house in Garkalne - village near Riga - is getting turned into apartment house with 12 apartments. In Soviet times it was used as a resort for writers, thus it is called "Writers house".
http://www.nams24.lv/images/jaunmajas/Rakstnieku%20nams_L.jpg
They plan to renovate the Barocco garden as well. One more of many manor houses around Riga would be saved.
- - -
Stakes rised - offices in Kipsala would be up to 50 floors high
Riga City Development Department says - the noise around the "missing infrastructure" in future Kipsala highrise district is not justified. During the planning stages investors agree with gas, water suppliers etc. and they are not making something whant will not work. There are no technical reasons to delay the construction.
He also mentioned that the ambitions of investors and city are increasing and now the possible height of buildings is up to 50 floors.
My own observation ...Site of "Vertikala pasaule" - most prepared site of new highrise - still is rather silent. From time to time some people appear there, but no works starting.
- - -
Hotel to be built next to railway station
Architect Ugis Senbergs proposes the following design for new hotel building close to Railway Station. In a way this is stepping stone between modern architecture of Railway Station and historical architecture around it.
http://www.a4d.lv/_fl/viesnica93.JPG
You can judge whether you like it or not. I have mixed feelings.
Hotel (investor - "Happy Trails") will have 260 - 275 rooms. To be built around 2007.

50 fl :hammer:

50FL!? :bash:

It would be quite stylish to live in such former manor house. Nice idea to turn manor house into apartment building.
---
50 floors? That`s just awesome. :eek:

I like the appearance of that manor house! Hope we'll see a photo of it when it has been renovated.

Second redaction of Riga development plan proposed for public
Almost year ago there was proposed the first redaction of Riga City development plan - now there is prepared the second one and public is starting to discuss it. One of the biggest works done - strategical environmental impact assessment, as well as many other things. Lots of articles in newspapers.
For Latvian language speakers - whole plan is available at
http://rpap.riga.lv/lv/plan/strategija/Default.aspx
Besides the many other changes I see now that Riga is more aggressively positioning itself as the centre of Baltics and potential future centre of wider region. They have worked with "Rail Baltica" project and have tried to model how it should interact with the city. They more aggressively try to stop the building of villages around Riga in order to maintain historical natural areas around the city.
They have settled up the idea of "centres" - in previous plan there was a mess. Now they plan that there will be:
1) historical centre as it is now
2) new highrise centre in Kipsala, Kliversala and Tornakalns
3) modern extensions to historical centre like Skanstes Street;
4) Northern centre near Podrags;
5) Lucavsala as centre by itself;
6) Ezermala centre between Mezaparks and Riga historical centre
There are proposed 13 new protected historical city areas, all historical wooden buildings in centrum would be protected!
Finally there has been taken political decision about gambling - it would be alound only inside 4 and 5 star hotels.
OK, here I can continue for very long time...

Bridges
Southern bridge for planners is reality already. Seeing in nature how far the works have gone it almost seems like this.
They once more analysed two options for new bridge in northern part of Centre - Hansa bridge and Northern tunnel/bridge. Hansa bridge (nearer to Centrum) would pay off faster and would give big effect. Northern tunnel/bridge (further away from Center) would be more expensive and pay off slower, but it would give big effect as well and would position Riga better regionally. Both are needed for good functioning of Riga as city - but financial possibilities most likely will not allow both. Northern tunnel is priority, while the land for Hansa bridge should be reserved as well (this is done already).

Pedestrian streets in Centrum
LatvianGG and me could not understand - which street in centrum would be pedestrian - K. Barona or Terbatas? Plan says - both, up to possibilities.

Public transportation
Low floor tram all the way is priority No. 1 (where are those slow guys with international tender now???)

Highrises?
Still maintaining idea about lowering Ministry of Agriculture highrise. OK, so be it, not many would be sad here to see it happening.
Permitted height in historical centrum - 21,3 m (not counting architectonic accents), 6 floors.
They have made some corrections.
In southern part of Kipsala there would be aloud buildings up to 50 floors, up to 175 m height. This does not refer to architectonic accents (point 3.2.6. in building rules), f.e. spires - thus technically the building could be higher.
Seems, this is maximum in central part of Riga. If somebody would build something higher outside centrum - I doubt.

- - - - -
- - - - -

Vestas stari sold and renamed
Company B.S.R. has bought semi-completed project "Vestas stari" (5 18-floor apartment buildings in Imanta) and renamed them - Metropolia. Look their Webpage - http://www.metropolia.lv/lat/
Height of the buildings - 63 m, total investment - 50 mio EUR, to be completed in 2007 - 2008. Each of the five houses has got a bit funny name:
http://www.metropolia.lv/popup/images/fortuna_r2_c3.jpg
- - - -

Lighting the streets in Riga for one winter night costs 0,3 mio EUR. In coming years the amount of lighting would be increased. Somebody wanna pay our electricity bill????

And where those cars can drive, if Barona street is only for trams ?

Does it will be specialy lights system on Barona street, when tram drive, cars stop?

Development plan says - up to possibilities K. Barona would be for pedestrians and tram. This is not a strict requirement - because planners understand - this is not realistic until heavy investments in transport infrastructure around Centrum.

I personally think that instead of developing two neighbouring PARRALEL streets as pedestrian streets in Centrum they could propose crossing pedestrian streets, f.e.
a)Terbatas or K. Barona (not both). K. Barona would look a lot cooler visually.
b) perpendicular Lacplesa Street from K. Valdemara to A. Caka Street - with underground car parking under this street.

This could be cheaper and less stressing for traffic.

I think that better is for pedestrians Terbatas street, pedestrian street with tram rails is not realy good.

Tvnet.lv writes that it's possible that very soon there would be build a fake building on one part of the Dome square. It would be a copy of a planned hotel building that local investors want to build there. This project recently got rejected by city council.
By such interesting way they want to show the people that it's not that bad and make the city council change it's mind and let the building got constructed. :eek:

Hehehe, the developers probably heard about the same idea that was proposed for Akropolis Office last year :D

Weird... about that fake building. You can't judge about it from something artificially looking.
- - -
Central Railway terminal tunnels reconstructed - works in tunnel A and B are on-going. Railway station is planning to build large dome over the arrivals area as well - but they say that architects are not presenting anything valuable so far.
These tunnels... I am happy - they were shame to Riga so far.
- - - -
More than 1000 architecture monuments in Riga will get informative plates with the story of the building. There was approved the design of these plates - thick glass will be used. Will be paid by municipality.
- - - -
This one is far outside Riga - but no wish to open new thread for this. Neogothic palace in Vecauce some 100 km from Riga will get new lighting this autumn:
http://g.delfi.lv/images/pix/file12202770_Clipboard01.jpg
Looks good... for horror movies ;) But that palace is beautiful.
- - - -
Starts selection of architect companies for already scandalous Accoustic Concert Hall (the one in Daugava opposite Old Riga). There will be 4 companies from Latvia and 11 international companies. Latvian companies would be selected in 23rd September.
- - - -
Kempinski hotels continue expansion in Latvia. They will turn the large hotel "Riga" (Neo-Classical style, 250 apartments) in Old Riga and turn it into 5star hotel. Reconstruction will start in autumn 2006, will last one year. Expected investments - 30 mio EUR.

Seems, that without loud announcements one of the banks (don't remember - Krajbanka, Aizkraukles banka or Rietumu banka) have started construction of their new office highrise in Vesetas Street 7. This is 14-floor office building, designer - Zenico Projects, the same which designed Saules akmens. Project was approved several months ago. Unfortunately I don't have design available.
Now they are making huge dig in the ground. Whole Skanstes Street area for several kilometres looks like endless construction site, where everything - piping, streets, lighting poles, lots of buildings - everything is created in empty fields.
...Thus - ladies and gentleman - the first highrise of Skanstes Street area is going up.
Besides this I noticed also pile driver working at the potential site of 20 - 22 floor apartment buildings at Skanstes Street. But here I am not that sure.

Seems, that without loud announcements one of the banks (don't remember - Krajbanka, Aizkraukles banka or Rietumu banka) have started construction of their new office highrise in Vesetas Street 7. This is 14-floor office building, designer - Zenico Projects, the same which designed Saules akmens. Project was approved several months ago. Unfortunately I don't have design available.
Now they are making huge dig in the ground. Whole Skanstes Street area for several kilometres looks like endless construction site, where everything - piping, streets, lighting poles, lots of buildings - everything is created in empty fields.
...Thus - ladies and gentleman - the first highrise of Skanstes Street area is going up.
Besides this I noticed also pile driver working at the potential site of 20 - 22 floor apartment buildings at Skanstes Street. But here I am not that sure.

Good news m8!! Although it's sure would not be ready until the icehockey championships (the whole Skanstes street district)

14-floor office highrise on Vesetas Street 7 is built by Rietumu banka. They are digging the fundament. I suppose that the project would be announced to the public when the starting stone (or how it is in English) would be laid.
- - -
Commieblock districts to get churches
http://www.realty.lv/lat/img/news/21789714092005095836.bmp
Over the coming years there would be built at least 5 new churches in commieblock districts of Riga. The first is some 40 m high Catholic church in Purvciems, nearly completed.
Anninmuizas boulevard in Imanta, near the new highrise apartments will get new Catholic church too. Very nice IMHO, this will make this district look more lively.
5 churches would be built in Riga by Orthodox church.
- - -
Realty specialists suppose that construction of highrise apartments is short-term trend in Riga. As the income level will increase, people will prefer low-floor apartment buildings, which are more in line with local habits. Thus we can expect that in 4 - 5 years time there will not come up new projects similar to "Panorama Plaza" or "Solaris".
- - -
In this year Latvia will get 5 785 new apartments and private houses. This is more than in previous 5 (!) years together. In 2006 there will be built 7 230 new apartments and houses.
There have been completed 37 new villages with 1 668 houses as well as 102 rowhouses. But most new apartments are in multiapartment houses - 4 015.

/\ 5 785 ?

LatviaDubai...

@ch1le, this is not that much. I am pretty sure that Estonia has similar number this year and Lithuania way bigger.
- - -
New administrative center of Riga not forgotten
Some of you may remember beginning of this year when I posted results of architecture tender for the general planning of new administrative center in Riga - in Tornakalns. This district could include not only new Riga City Council but also some government buildings.
The winners - F.L.Tadao - proposed several spectacular highrises.
As the new City Council came in March, they said - this is not high priority for us.

Now the wheel starts turning again. Riga City Development Committee today approved this idea and City Development Department should continue work at this. Total area of this exercise - nearly 15 ha. There was approved financing for draft design, price estimates etc.
Investigations show that new administrative centre for Riga would be financially beneficial. Riga City Council now uses 28 different buildings, only 13 owned by city itself. Total value of those buildings - 114 mio EUR. Selling those buildings or having long-term rental agreements would cover the costs to construct new, more suitable administrative center.
New City Council should be at least 30 000 m2 large.

no Gatis, Estonia and Lithuania will have about 3500-4000... ;)

no Gatis, Estonia and Lithuania will have about 3500-4000... ;)
Last year we had 6804, why should we build less this year?
Anyway, 5785 is much, Latvia is booming for sure. :okay:

heh, what should we call Oslo then, with 6.663 apartments under constrution 31'st of july;)

heh, what should we call Oslo then, with 6.663 apartments under constrution 31'st of july;)
Well, it's not that much for Oslo, in soviet times only in Vilnius for one year 10 000 flats in commieblocks ;) was a normal number. Now, there are 4000-4500 flats being built in Vilnius each year but the demand is bigger than that. Bureaucracy and problems with land stops from bigger boom. :(

yeah I confused the figures with the data i had about Tallinn and Vilnius vs whole country! ;)

Btw, we compare different things, there probably are usually more buildings u/c in some "31'st of july" than buildings which are being finished in some year.

Oslo is interesting anyway - because medium Norvegian has way more space to live comparing to medium Balt. And still they somehow find enormous markets to build more...
- - -
Some illustrations in this thread which otherwise becomes too gray:
- - -
1. Valdemara parks - 70 mio EUR quartal rebuilding project in historical centrum of Riga (all historical buildings would be preserved!). Tender was won by German architects Behnish, Behnisch & Partner. they propose rather dense perimetral construction with park-styled inner garden. I really like their work. If all goes well, project may start next year.
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7331/behn19el.jpg
2. Terbatas centrs have hired local architects"from "Kubs" to complete their 24-hour activity quartal rebuilding project in historical centre. Name of the project would be changed. Costs - less than "Valdemara parks". Works may start in this year already.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1706/terb5ry.jpg

3. Berga bazars was the first (or second? after Konventa seta) modern total quartal rebuilding/reconstruction project in Riga. Some years since finished, now they spice the quartal up by different things. Here - new fountain opened some days ago
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7259/berg5ot.jpg

4. Hotel Reval Latvia could be considered whole quartal rebuilding project as well. Now they are building third or fourth floor of their new part (in total - six floors) - Brivibas Street now starts looking very metropolitan! Works to be completed in spring next year.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6162/hotellatv4zz.jpg

5. "Built in 2004"... (or 2005 - am not sure). Private villa of Mr. Gerkens - rich, extravagant trader. For a while he owned the longest car in the world...
Judge about his taste what you want. Still I consider that architect didn't do bad work. Villa located to the east from Riga.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4140/gerk5id.jpg
- - - -
Over the last weeks one or another investor comes and announces big plans for Riga. I don't mention them all, because it would be interesting to wait for some real results.
But this might be interesting for our Estonian forumers: Estonian "Arco Investments" announced about 1 billion EEK investment in apartment houses in southern part of Riga, Bisumuiza. This is 64 mio EUR. There are planned some more investments in office space as well.

Other announcement some days earlier - developer "B.S.R. Europe" in coming months is going to sign agreement about apartment building project of unseen size with more than 2 000 apartments. I am a bit afraid of those megaprojects - they are too "monocultural". Let's return to this around November, when they will announce details.

Oslo is interesting anyway - because medium Norvegian has way more space to live comparing to medium Balt. And still they somehow find enormous markets to build more...

One explanation could be an annual population increase on 1.5%;)


Valdemara parks looks..interesting. Like something freaky from the 80'ies, but I sorta like it still. Looks very different than most things build these days.

Tender was won by German architects Behnish, Behnisch & Partner. they propose rather dense perimetral construction with park-styled inner garden. I really like their work. If all goes well, project may start next year.I look forward to see more (and better) renderings of this project, if such will be available. These Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner (http://www.behnisch.com/) have designed some awesome buildings, among these the Norddeutsche Landesbank in Hannover and the never built "Danish National Archives" in Copenhagen. Check the website for more of their work. :)

the valdemara project is really cool! really really cool!

by the way, where is it located and what's there now?

i have to agree, Valdemara project is one of the coolest projects i have ever seen, its a urban dream!

gotta agree too..it's one of these youjusthavetobuildit projects:D

"Valdemara parks" in TV presentation looked even much better than here...
Here map - total quartal reconstuction projects in Riga historical centre known to me.
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4962/rigaquart8sy.jpg
- Skonto quartal will start development after ice hockey World Championship, they promise two highrises too. Costs not known to me.
- Valdemara parks. Now it has got some valuable buildings, especially wooden architecture and old industrial buildings. Here was brewery until recent times, students from nearby Geography faculty dormitories loved to work there as night guards ;) But most of the quartal is really ugly.
- Sporta pils - ugly Soviet time sports hall in middle of quartal to be removed and new perimetral quartal to be built. But they are not too lucky with the architecture tender, may be they will come up with anouther tender.
- Terbatas centrs - very ambitious too, they are removing some 9 ugly buildings now.
- Galerija Centrs in Old Riga - ongoing in full speed - weird to see such large hole in middle of Old Riga.
- Southern Part of Old Riga - partly on-going now.

I just can't get over the number and variety of Riga projects! :eek:

And, Gati, you're doing doing a FANTASTIC job in keeping us up to date ... I wonder how you manage to do it? :applause:

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7331/behn19el.jpg

I agree that this picture looks really seducing. Good thing is that terraces faces south side, and historical 2 storey wooden houses which are to be preserved. Architects say that they form language is modern interpretation of "Art Nuveau". WH once said to "beware of these Behnisch, Behnisch & Partners" designs but this one to my mind looks really promising.

BTW a week ago there was an interview with architects from Behnischs' bureau and now they have several commisions (likewise GMP) in Latvia. Valdemara centrs, some private villas in Jurmala and even skyscraper in Kipsala (no other details known, neither the first sketch shown).

Therefore in the best scenario Riga (currently the most passive city in Baltics in terms of highscaper development) would get very nice addition next to Saules Akmens - edifices by von Gerkan, Behnischs' and Arhis (Andris Kronbergs). Probably there also will be a skyscraper (180m?) by local bureau "F.L.Tadao & Luksevics". They are really good at small objects, but this will be their first big-scale building so it is a really big challenge for them. In this context only Akropolis twin tower doesn't look very promising, but it may change much. So overall maybe the slow pace of Riga will pay off.

Interesting news about Estonian investment in Bisumuiza. Estonians as always are very clever and have found IMHO potentially one of the best site (still very much undeveloped) in Riga. And this is also the first step of developing metropolitian feel of the highway entering Riga from Kaunas/Vilnius.

@zigurds, this is such an interesting information!!!! Thanks!
Regarding @WH - I think she rather warned us of Gerkan&Marg, not Behnish. But the highrise project "da Vinci" by Gerkan seems to be very fine.

180m? wow!!! hope it's true!

@Jarmo & Gatis:

About 180m - to my mind this is still unofficial information. I think that Gatis has also posted some rumours. According to the preservation of Riga historical Centre (issued by Latvian goverment, full text in latvian you can see http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=85432) buildings in so called "zone-around" cannot exceed the height of the spire of St. Peters - 121m. It includes all Kipsala, but on the other coast of Zunds Channel at least theoretically such prohibition doesn't exist.

Of course it is very questionable. Now you already can feel the spire of Saules Akmens (107m or so) in may places of Riga. A 180 meter high neighbour would dominate much much much more. So you never know will the changes bring good or bad ;) I think the scraper there will be, the question is only in the height - maybe 180m, maybe lower.

I think this is also the thing our good friend WH minded when she wrote her worries about Behnisch and Behnisch work. By her comments here I got the impression that she doesn't have too much optimism about things like "fashionable international architectural stars in the fragile historical environment" or "development at unbelievable speed" or "higher, higher, higher" or so ;)

I agree with you Gatis that GMP's da Vinci will rather be nice than awful. The shape of course reminds BMW in Munich so it won't be too fresh, but neverthless - to my mind it will be quite ok. I hope they will invest in details not only in floor areas.

Also interesting thing (maybe already regionalistic feature) that all newly built Riga highrises will have round form - Saules Akmens, GMP's da Vinci, and Arhis' scraper. The sketch of Arhis scraper at the moment looks the most interesting and fresh. AFAIK the shape of the "180meter" is quite similar to cylynder, so again - round form. Only the veteran of this place - "Preses nams" nearby will remain box-shaped :)

But draft detailed plan for Kipsala envisages removal of Preses nams because here under K. Valdemara Street will go continuation of Kipsala Street. That would improve traffic here very much. Would be interesting to see - what plans have the owners of Preses nams (owned by one Ventspils enterprise) regarding this...
F.L. Tadao designed highrise is outside the zone of 121 m limits - at Daugavgrivas Street. Look in Riga building project on-line database - there is approved project of office building on Daugavgrivas Street 13_11 designed by F.L. Tadao - that's the one.

thanks for the information, zigurds! (:

looks like riga has got the same problem as tallinn - the fear of new skyscrapers dominating the old-town panorama... i'm glad the area for highrises is bigger in riga, therefore you can build tall scrapers further away.

Just read in tvnet.lv that there are plans to build big, modern hotels on Zakusala island. It is a long narrow island, next to Lucavsala. There are atm only TV building and TV tower over there with lots of unused land. The man behind the idea of this project is said to be local Viesturs Koziols. He said that recently some developers from USA, Denmark and Norway have worked on a Zakusala development plan. This plan envisages SPA and conference type hotels to be build there, as well as mega-cinema, some restaurants, and just a little bit of residentials and offices. It is quite not clear how certain this all is and wether there would be planned highrises. the first land plots have already been rented in march this year to Koziols' co-owned company "Zakusala Estates". Norvegian "Urban development Group" is co-owner with 31,67%. But anyway, this seems big.....

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1585/zakusala8xd.jpg

Am not too happy with plans to cover Zakusala with buildings. There was brilliant opportunity to create spectacular park with large tropical orangerie etc. Of course, bunch of highrises on small island may look cool as well - if well planned and with good architecture. But one thing would be the worst possible - large hangars there. Just my thoughts...
News about this project:
Estonian "Merks" wants to buy 50% shares in "Zakusala estates". Currently majority share is owned by local businessman.
- - -
Construction of Zemgale technological park started in Jelgava
30 mio EUR investment has been started in Jelgava last Friday - construction of Zemgale Technological park.
One of the buildings in the project
http://www.bb.lv/att/1/3200/34615.jpg
Jelgava for sure is destined to be industrial city - nearly every month here is opened new factory. Zemgale technological park is another investment aimed to lure in large international factories to Jelgava. Area - 11 ha, located near Lielupe River, near centrum.
It will include mostly technologial research facilities and offices as well as infrastructure for smaller high-tech factories. 30 mio EUR here is just like seed money in order to get much larger investments - with this financing there would be developed infrastructure to host expensive industries here.
First facility to be built here - construction materials innovation and testing centre - to be used by 10 countries of this region of Europe. Developers of the project expect that Zemgale technological park alone will enable to increase Latvian yearly GDP per 2,6%. Project developed by municipality, universities and several industrial associations.
This is one of 14 industrial parks which are under development in Latvia now.

Tallink will press on development of passenger harbour in Riga
In order to start regular operation of ferry lines in Riga Estonian ferry operator has made official requirements for the following:
- to build tunnel connecting ferry terminal and city Centrum. There is busy street which is hard to cross otherwise.
- improvements of car parking, loading and registration;
- increase efficiency of customs in ferry terminal;
- revise port fees (port rises incredible costs for passenger traffic...)

Ministry of Transportation agrees, am pretty sure that Riga city will agree as well. Let's see what Riga Port will say. Eh, whatever, now I am sure that ferries will start bring thousands of tourists to Riga every day next year.

Some projects from architect Vents Didrihsons. There are several good architects with surname Didrihsons in Latvia, hope, that I am correct when placing all three projects under his name ;)

1. Department store (passage) in Jelgava. Construction of this enormous building (enormous for Jelgava) coming to end, at the beginning of next year it will be opened. Jelgava is becoming fast!
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7805/jelgavaspasaza3oq.jpg
2. "Vudisona parks" - theme park + apartment area in western part of Mezaparks. Now there stand huge oil storage capacities but owner is willing to develop huge City of Fountains. Initially he wanted to start investments in 2004 already but ambitions are increasing and project is becoming more and more interesting
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7884/vudisona4kc.jpg
3. Multifunctional centre between Krasta Street and Daugava, on Grapju peninsula. This development has been approved some months again, but the only thing I knew was - this is highrise complex. Still I don't know what is it's height and when the works will start. But looks pretty interesting. Riga City General plan has included it as well.
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7424/grapjupss3wp.jpg

I could be mistaken. These highrises are on Zvirgzdusala not Grapju peninsula. Their allowed height would be up to 24 floors. Look for Zvirgzdusala here:
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5789/skatszr1rn.jpg

Tallink will press on development of passenger harbour in Riga
In order to start regular operation of ferry lines in Riga Estonian ferry operator has made official requirements for the following:
- to build tunnel connecting ferry terminal and city Centrum. There is busy street which is hard to cross otherwise.
- improvements of car parking, loading and registration;
- increase efficiency of customs in ferry terminal;
- revise port fees (port rises incredible costs for passenger traffic...)

Ministry of Transportation agrees, am pretty sure that Riga city will agree as well. Let's see what Riga Port will say. Eh, whatever, now I am sure that ferries will start bring thousands of tourists to Riga every day next year.

Now THAT would be wonderful! :banana:

Caribbean style supermarket to be opened in 2006
German consortium "TK Development" yesterday started 35 mio EUR investment in Riga - supermarket "Galeria AZUR". It will be located next to the Southern bridge (which is under construction now). They said: this supermarket will include Caribbean style elements in its architecture. Looked at architect Webpage www.vincents.lv - design is not there :( But architecture is promised to be interesting.
Happily they do not press on size (25 000 m2) but on style. This is what Riga needs. So far the stylish ones have been - "mc2" (any delicatesses from any place in world) and "Debessmanna" (style of 1920ies).
"Galleria AZUR" will include large RIMI supermarket and some 60 - 80 other shops.
- - -
Started geological investigations in the site of Accoustic Concert hall in Daugava. Works will last for four months. It is known already that the Concert hall will be 15 000 m2 large, there will be two halls - small one for 400 people and larger one for 1 500 people. Known costs so far - 40 mio EUR. Works to be completed in second half of 2008. Architect companies have been selected for architecture tender. In the list six Latvian architects as well. Tender not announced yet.

Detailed plan for central part of Lucavsala has been approved today:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/43/lucavsalavizualavizija25ox.jpg
Area includes several highrises, highest - 28 floors. I hope very much that they will elaborate something more attractive than this...
As far as I get it - along the large street and water there will be apartment houses, along the street there will be offices as well. Total area of the project - 13 ha.

Latvian TV will start broadcasting from new building in 6th November 2008. There has been elaborated order how to leave existing building (highrise), how to sell it and how to build new one. It may happen that new TV building would be more epxensive than the sales of the current offices - then state will add the financing. Current building would be sold through open bids.
- - -
For the first time in newest history number of foreign tourists to Latvia has exceeded number of our tourists abroad. In this year expected mora then 3 mio tourists here. So far increase per 32%
- - -
Saliena - ambitious one billion EUR new city project between Riga and Jurmala - has been sold again. This time the happy owners of 600 ha and enormous plans are Swedish "Ostermalm Property Investment Fund". They extend development plans for the new city even longer. At now nothing there happening, only golf course built.
- - -
International architecture conference Waterfront Expo starts in Riga with 350 architects from 32 countries. They will work with Lucavsala, Andrejsala (Jaunriga), Old City waterfront and other places in Riga.
- - -
That's all for today, folks ;)

Latvian TV will start broadcasting from new building in 6th November 2008. There has been elaborated order how to leave existing building (highrise), how to sell it and how to build new one. It may happen that new TV building would be more epxensive than the sales of the current offices - then state will add the financing. Current building would be sold through open bids.

Last friday I was on a field trip with my class to the TV center ... and belive me ... they don't need that 22storied building ... we were only in 3 floors and saw the whole work ... and for 500 working people that building is far too big ... but it was build so big cuz at that time there were more than 2000 people working there
BTW ... there was a project in the soviet times to build a second building (~25 stories) for the radio but it wasn't realised.

Assessment of 7-floor underground car parking on-going
Company "Eko-Park Ltd." has offered to Riga City council to construct 6 - 7 floor underground car parking place in front of Opera, in Boulevards. They promise to grant 8 mio EUR for construction of the third stage of Opera as additional bonus and 5 of income from car parking for City.
City hasn't started to revise this project yet, everyone foresees many bureaucratic and technical problems for this project. Car park promises to use "Trevipark" technology (example, not real situation in Opera):
http://www.parkingsolutions.org/ParkingSolutions%20web%20page/Trevi.gif
Here the cars are lifted up and down by elevators, after you pay for ticket. This contains large, round floors, one 6-floor "drum" can have 98 cars.
Company wants to build four such 6 or 7 floor "drums" in front of Opera, one more at the backyard for the needs of Opera itself and the sixth one - across the street, in front of hotel "Riga".
There are worries that long lingering of Riga City Council may stop this idea.
- - - -
"Terbatas centrs" quartal design rejected
Local investor is continuing hard fight with the heritage protection people about the planned enormous changes in one quartal of Centre. 50 mio EUR investment is postponed at the last moment - Historical Centre Board rejected the current design:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1706/terb5ry.jpg
- - -
"Sarlotes centrs" owns the land next to Brivibas Street, at the far end of Centre. Some years ago they proposed 30+floor highrise there, but this was rejected, then lower highrise - rejected again. New plan for historical centre prohibits construction there (there is small, green square). Now they propose underground car parking for 513 cars. It seems that they will have hard fight with city officials again.
- - -
New administrative centre of Riga City will cost some 150 mio EUR
The preliminary cost assessment of the new administrative centre for Riga hasn't been completed yet, but it looks expensive... Selected location - Tornakalns - isn't developed - all the transport and other infrastructure should be built and rebuilt.
In 2006 there would be made draft design of the new administrative district and then there will be started technical design. If all goes well, the works may start in 2007 - 2008. Expected number of visitors per year: 850 000 at least in Riga City Council. Total area - 14,84 ha. There will be highrises for sure. Complex would be located along the main entrance in Riga from the south - from Lithuania.

Here: some fantasies of architects from F.L.Tadao for future Tornakalns. Reality, of course, will look a lot different:
http://img91.exs.cx/img91/1773/tadaogriezums0zr.gif

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/1421/tadaogriezums23ao.jpg

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/5261/tadaoparskats5yk.jpg

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/4033/tadaocentrs1dc.jpg

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/205/tadaoskatsvecriga5ga.jpg
Btw. Latvian TV most likely would be here too. State asked Riga City to reserve land for new TV building in two places - near Central Market and in Tornakalns. City in response has said that Central Market area has been booked by other projects already.

New Ministry of Finance building and State Immobilities agency have a wish to come here as well.
- - -
Hello to all btw.;) Yesterday there was beautiful De-Phazz concert!!! Looking for Nouvelle Vague now...

And someone told me that in Riga is inpossible build underground projects, of course it is all bullshit.

Can someone update me with information about:
Solaris
Panorama Plaza?

Thanks in advance.

And someone told me that in Riga is inpossible build underground projects, of course it is all bullshit.
Everything is possible technically. But engineering geology investigations will show what it costs here and what potential influence it may have on groundwater flows and levels. This is dangerous zone - with potential influence on wooden piles keeping many valuable buildings in Old Riga. I don't think that this deep car parking place has much chances to be realised.
- - - - -
@juanico:
You were interested in news about "Solaris" and "Panorama Plaza"
1st - you can look their webpages - www.solaris.lv and www.panoramaplaza.lv - both have Webcameras.
Both "Solaris" towers are near to finish, interior works, insulation, facade works, garage construction on-going. Both towers look absolutely great from outside.
http://test.parkhaus.lv/new6/images/IMG_3073.jpg

http://test.parkhaus.lv/new6/images/IMG_3074.jpg
Panorama Plaza I (25 - 27 floors - depends how you count) builds 12 or 13th floor (they start counting from 2nd floor).
Panorama Plaza II - pile driving on-going.
Started works in the front part of the complex - construction of department store.
- - -
I have got exact heights of Panorama Plaza. They are higher than many of you thought ;)
Each of the 25-floor buildings would be 98,9 meters high.
Each of the 30-floor buildings would be 113,9 m high.

This large height is explained by the fact that the first floor is rised 5,1 m over the soil, and there is rather high upper part above the upper floor, as well as increased height of each floor. I don't know the height of spire though. Thus these will be second highest apartments in our region (after Turning Torso) and highest apartment in Baltics!
Sorry Klaipeda... Sorry Tallinn...
:tongue3:
Evening view from room in Panorama Plaza
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/356/tips88aviesistaba4aq.jpg
View from terrace
http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/7617/tips8terase6vx.jpg

"Duntes ozoli" residential (17 floors) reached full height two weeks ago.
http://scada.lv/external/budimex/XH8O0241.jpg

http://scada.lv/external/budimex/XH8O0237.jpg
Rendering
http://www.scada.lv/external/budimex/do_o.png

WTF! :D
Hope our people will mistake while counting floors and build some more :D
Btw, Solaris looks better than i thought :okay:

@gatis nice update! But how will Panorama plaza be the tallest? Tornimäe will be 115m[NO SPIRE]. What will the spire on PP look like? is the height 113.9 for the spire? Because you see, a sinle 5.1m floor doesnt explain that height. Tornimäe has 5 6m+ floors, and 25 3.3m floors to form this hight.
the facade of Solaris looks a bit better then i anticipated! Sadly, these are not true highrises for me, well i mean they are highrises definatly, but the fact they are not in a urban environment diminishes their importance to me... :( If these were in Kipsala i would be cheering like hell ! :D

Wow, if Tornimae apartments are 115 m high, you should change the data in emporis - there stands 113 m. That's why I thought that Panorama Plaza is higher than Tornimae.

I got the height of Panorama Plaza from architects - full height without spire. Have no clue about the height of spire.
I just noted that the first floor is located 5,1 m above the soil - they don't count the floor below it as a valid floor. May be because whole quartal will be enormous concrete complex. This makes for me the exact count of floors a bit complicated.

"Solaris" will have highrise neighbours around it - this will be (is already) highrise district. Currently there is cluster of 7 buildings with 17+ floors, in future there will be 8 apartment highrises more, high church and at least one office highrise (most likely 24 floors). This is turning into one of the subsidiary centres of Riga. This place still looks sad - but it is changing now.
- - -
"Duntes ozoli" has strategic location - you see this building towering above Skanstes Street when going from Centrum. Looks cool - and with highrises around Skanstes Street will look even better.

@ Gatis
thanks a lot :)

yeah Gatis, thanks for the nice insight! ;)

In Riga have arrived Chinese specialists to assist in installation of 4D cinema in "Go Planet" entertainment centre.

4D cinema envisages the following effects:
- 3D movie;
- special effects in the chairs of visitors, which enable the following effects: wind, rain (just a little), tremble;
- rain, fog, lightning effect and other effects inside cinema room;
- full range of odours and smells;

The screen will have cylindrical form - it will enclose the visitors. Each chair will be on movable platform.
There is no similar cinema in Europe.
- - -
Besides this "Go Planet" will have indoor carting hall, enormous laser show and laser game room (virtual reality game room) and many smaller things. Total area of entertainment here - 15 000 m2.

Riga (together with Jurmala and other places in metropolitan region) is aiming to be entertainment centre in this part of Europe. In some months there will be opened new, very large attraction in Spice supermarket as well - but they don't disclose - what would it be. They just say that there is nothing similar anywhere.

Wait some hours, until I get Go Planet pictures. It looks very impressive from outside.

Construction of very stylish office building started - unfortunately I haven't got larger renderings...
This is "RBS Skals" office building in northern part of Kipsala. This building will be one of dominants for ships coming in Riga - it will not be high (six or seven floors) but with unusual, eye catching design. Architects: "Arhitektonika".
http://www.building.lv/images/87439_02.jpg

http://www.building.lv/images/87439_22.jpg
Office space would be for rent, building would be owned by construction company "RBS Skals".

^^ Interesting. Same thing in Klaipeda. "Klaipedos Nafta" will build its 6fl. office building near the gates to the port.
Would like to see some bigger renderings.

Process started - tender on Accoustic Concert hall announced
After selection of candidates 15 architecture companies have been invited to elaborate draft design of Accoustic Concert Hall on Daugava river:
- "Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner Architekten" (Germany);
- "Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects" (USA);
- "CoopHimmelb(l)au" (Austria);
- "Dominique Perrault" (France);
- "Future Systems Ltd" (Great Britain);
- "Henning Larsens Tegnestue A/S" (Denmark);
- "Klaus Kada + Gerhard Wittfeld" (Germany);
- "Snøhetta" (Norway);
- "Ricardo Bofill"(Spain);
- "Arhis" (Latvia);
- "SZK - Sīlis, Zābers, Kļava" (Latvia);
- "Sarma & Norde" (Latvia);
- "Venta Didrihsona arhitektūras studija" (Latvia);
- ""Z4" / "Standartsituation" / "B+G Ingenieure"" (Latvia);
- "Arhitektonika" (Latvia).
Some names are known internationally but I am sure that Latvian architects can compete very well too.
Companies should elaborate not only the concert hall itself but whole vision about the development of surroundings. First round of tendering will end in 21st November this year, then selected group of companies will continue the work. Expected costs of works - some 45 mio EUR.
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3073/1abdambis31mai056je.jpg
- - -
One more residential allowed in Centre
Akas Centrs residential has been allowed in Centrum - on the corner of Akas Street. This decision is controversial - they fit into height limits 21,3 m, but the number of floors is 7 + rooftop terrace, while allowed No. of floors is 6. Here - rendering:
http://balkom.lv/data/akas_centrs/akas_centrs.jpg
(Wouldn't place this information here if the rendering would not be available...)

Jurmala City working at highrise development vision
After fighting between investors and city council city has decided to elaborate single document about the development of highrise buildings in the city. This dicument will be attachment to city development plan stating the places, height limits and related things for future highrise districts. There will be done 3D visualisations to analyse impact of highrises on landscape from different sites.
City is forced to allow highrises doue to the extremely high land price. Now the land price in Jurmala exceeds the land price in central part of Riga and construction of two-four floor hotels is not viable. Thus the future of the city as international resort city could be endangered.
Currently there are 3 highrise hotel proposals waiting for Jurmala City approval. One of them:
http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/9839/jurmvienibas3649ze.jpg
- - -
Terbatas Centrs continues development
Last week Historical Centre Board rejected proposal for Terbatas Centrs quartal rebuilding. Architects worked hard - and this week they got permit to continue the works. Thus it is clear - in 2006 large scale construction will start there.

View from the 10th floor of Panorama Plaza I - taken from project Webpage:
http://www.panoramaplaza.lv/galerija/PP_10_stavs%20003.jpg
This part of Riga is incredibly green - do you believe that it hides dense historical quartals with beautiful buildings?
http://www.panoramaplaza.lv/galerija/PP_10_stavs%20004.jpg

^
Nice views. I like second one with chimneys on the left; Tornakalna and Alberta churches on the right.

Different smaller news to keep the thread up:
- - -
Golf field in Saliena near completion:
http://www.saliena.com/002/mega_006.jpg
I have some doubts if this picture is taken in Saliena (place between Riga and Jurmala) - but it could be something similar. The ambitious Saliena city project has been restared, they build additional 15 houses, Website www.saliena.com has been renewed. May be we really will see new city there soon.
- - -
In Skonto stadium started construction of administrative building for Ice Hockey World Championship. It will have three floors, will host officials of the championship, special guests. They extend in-door stadium (so called small stadium woth 6 700 seats) as well. In early spring next year the works should be completed.
- - -
Started geological investigations of Daugava river bed and A-B dam in the proposed construction site of Concert hall. Water divers are photographing the underground part of the dam now, testing it, from the ships will be made test borings. Works to be completed around New year.
- - -
Started construction of "Latvijas krajbanka" office in Skanstes Street. I had some hope that this will be highrise... but not. It will have only 8 floors, area 6 000 m2, costs 6,7 mio EUR, to be completed in October 2006.
That's the unimpressive building behind that weird black girl
http://img229.exs.cx/img229/977/skaev37ey.jpg
- - -
"Zunda pasaza" is built - quite interesting apartment block in old industrial quartal in Zunds. The building will keep the old industrial feel. Developer - "Realia" - www.realia.lv
They will have "Akropolis" skyscrapers as neighbours. This would worry me if I would be living in "Zunda pasaza" because skyscrapers would be to the south from the apartment building - shadow...
http://www.realia.lv/link.php3?id=13099&filename=zp_1.jpg
http://www.realia.lv/link.php3?id=13097&filename=zp_2.jpg

I was yesterday in Riga city council to meet my liabilities as Riga citizen - to take place in public dispute on Riga development plan.
I left my opinion.

I welcomed the plan to restore the perimetral structure of building in Oldt town and historical center, for example plan to build in the southern part of the Cathedral Square between Šķūņu, Tirgoņu and Rozena streets. And then I left some suggestions for tourism development. I think this must be one of the top priorities and not development of the port. And fro tourism development there were very few suggestions in this plan mostly just taking place in internationl tourism exhibitions, tourism infrastrucure in the city for example signs on teh streets and information in internet about Riga. But I think for the development of tourism also the internatinal transport is very important - port and airport. And suggested to make Riga Passenger port independednt from Riga Free port and privatise it. And Riga city have to inform not only the people about Riga but also the airplabe companis about Riga and how good destination it is. Because once they fly to Riga they do marketing for Riga too, f.e, in their inflight magazines.
And than I wanted the railway bridge and cable bridge to be lihten up in the dark winter evenings - that would be so beautifull.

Gatis, have you heard some plans about what is going to happen in the district next to the central train station between satekles, elizabetes, Marijas streets? accordign to the Development plan this area can be built up and it will remain as main hub of the pulic stransport in Riga, it means there will always been many people around. Thi scan be very good place for shopping disctric in Riga. We still dont have it. ALl the shops are scatered all aroudn the city. And theer is not too big choise of shops also, we still dont have many shop chains as H&M, Marks&Spencer, C&A, New Yorker, Next and so on. And such a busy distric directly nex to Berga Bazars could develop as area of shopping.

Well, JanisLV. I will try to reach Riga City Council as well today :)
As far as I know - there is one single investor for whole quartal, he is hard working at detailed plans. One of the buildings to be built there - hotel "Happy trails" with 260 - 275 units. This design proposal is winning so far (architect Ugis Senbergs)
http://www.a4d.lv/_fl/viesnica93.JPG

Today looked at "Rietumu Banka" construction site - two pile drivers working, lots of activities. There was also shield attached and finally I can present the design to you:
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/6870/rietumubanka4hz.jpg
Design is nothing special, neutral (Architects - "Zenico projekts"). But assuming that it has got only 14-floors... khm that's funny. I counted at least 19 floors and 20-th - as terrace, Let's consider that they will have 19 floors. Here are allowed higher buildings too - so no legal problems. Fine - Skanstes Street area is getting something quite serious!
- - -
"Aizkraukles banka" next to Skanstes Street is planning very interesting new district "Hanzas parks" with lots of spectacular airbridges. This still is in early planning stage. There is planned to build some 400 000 m2 space - apartments and offices. Several buildings should exceed 20 floors. The office of bank itself will not be that high, but it will exceed 12 floors. Later will add scanned images
- - -
"DAM" properties building next to "Saules akmens" will have 25 inhabited floors, 28 floors - technically. It will be lower than "Saules akmens" but not much lower. Unusual feature - 8 underground floors for cars. Later will add scanned images.
- - -
Started active construction of estacades in the right side of Daugava near Southern bridge. Large area looks like Moon landscape, with pile drivers and other heavy technics doing the work. Estacades will be stacked on three floors here - works to be completed in 2008.
- - -
Appetite of "Merks" seems to increase - once more in interview director said that in this year (2005) there would be started not just two, but four apartment buildings, 24 floors each - all on Skanstes Street. I am not that sure about this information though. Technical design of those buildings is nearly completed. In total in Skanstes Street area managed by "Merks" (not counted in highrise parts of "Skonto" and "Aizkraukles banka") over the next 6 - 8 years would be invested more than 250 mio EUR.

Wow wow wow!!! :D
Well that's something I call good news :) !!1

Hm, I'm kinda sceptic about design of Rietumu bank :sly: But other news are very promising :okay:

Sceptic? I think this is a great design! Reminds me of some buildings in London by R.Rogers, a bit more conservative though

88 Wood Street by Rogers
http://www.arkitera.com/v1/gununsorusu/2001/10/06.jpg

^^ So what did you want to say? :?

NICE :D I say!
The design is cool, very elegant!

@John, that building in London is great! I hope that "Rietumu banka" would be partly transparent as well - then it would be cool!

Here come promised scans - from latest magazine "Latvijas architektūra":
- - -
"DAM Property" building in Kipsala, construction most likely will start in 2006. Area - 26 400 m2. 1st to 11th floor - SPA complex, offices, 12th - 25th floor = apartments. Fundament will reach dolostone, which is 22 - 24 m below the level of soil here.
Architect - local "Zenico projekts"
1. Building will be located between "Saules akmens" and "Da Vinci". Picture does not show the planned 20-floor apartment building behind "Da Vinci":
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2541/dam17bm.jpg
2. Section of the building, shows the 8 underground levels to keep 270 cars
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1532/dam29tm.jpg
3. Building itself:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2205/dam36qn.jpg
4. Plan shows that it will have untraditional form. Should be not that cheap to build it.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1286/dam42sh.jpg
- - -
"Aizkraukles banka" - AB.LV - has purchased abandoned railway complex near Skanstes Street and historical centre of Riga. They will build their own office there as well as develop more things around. Tender on draft design for the district was won by local architects "Silis, Zabers & Klava". Total space to be built - 410 000 m2. Nearer to Riga City the buildings are lower, but further away their height increases to 24 floors.
The design is named "Hanzas dārzi" - "Hansa gardens" - because there is Hanza Street and lots of gardens are designed.
5. Overview of the area, Centre in upper left corner. Skonto hall is seen in middle part - it will be removed to have highrises as well.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2058/hanzasdarzs11ru.jpg
6. Closer look to group of buildings for "AB.LV" in central part of area. Height increases from 6 to 16 floors, all buildings are interconnected.
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/8654/hanzasparks29xr.jpg
7. Side view - this will be densely built quartal. Don't mind the colours - they are added to differ the buildings better:
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/7962/hanzasdarzs30mz.jpg
8. Planning of district, letters added by me:
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/5094/hanzasdarzs49uq.jpg
- - -
Riga has got already several such imaginary large projects (Andrejsala, Lucavsala, Kliversala, Green Daugava City etc.). Hope, at least some of them would be realised successfully ;)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2205/dam36qn.jpg

mby a bit too international.. but i still like it, the twisting shape is very cool! ;)
And so it begins...

looking at the plans... fear strikes me... mby Riga will actually catch up and surpass in highrises... Hopes not :D we got the pro maakri highrise district mayor back... in his last term he said " why cant the tallest building in Europe be in Tallinn? ;)" Why not :D. Anyways, im getting jealous, seeing all these Riga renders... god damn.... :D Cant wait to see renders of the several highrises proposed in Tallinn! :(

Great news for Riga, I think that both "Rietumu Banka" and "DAM Property" building projects are good though I like "DAM Property" building much more. 8 underground levels really seems very unusual to me, especially if we'll have in mind that it'll be located so close to the water.

/\ indeed... 8 underground floors that is SO much, deepest foundation in baltics definatly... this hole will be enormous!

Little background why they are forced to make such a deep hole:
Balasta dambis is very small street. Since Saules akmens is built there, cars on both sides of the street create problems for traffic. Saules akmens has got large parking lot, but this does not help anyway. Next skyscrapers might turn this into nightmare.

Thus city requires that per 100 m2 of floorspace there should be one car parking place built. DAM properties got very small land plot. They had only two options - to build over the land (first floors of highrise) or below. Soil conditions in this place are not good - river sediment. They have to make extensive pile driving and enforcement 22 - 23 meters deep, until they reach dolostone. Digging out all of this sediment makes it even simpler. Look at crossection of the building - it shows geology a bit as well.

/\ 23 meter piles is not much ;) Tornimäe got 40m piles, actually entire Maakri ighrise district is on a riverbed (theres a river underground)
and digging out... there is no way it can be simple!

Riga needs naw one underground tram line more in future near of this new district, this is more then clear :)

^^ So what did you want to say? :?

I wanted to say that there's no reason to be sceptic about the design because it's great. ;)

^^ So I still don't like it ;)

^^ So I still don't like it ;)

This is really strange then. ;)

Hello Everybody!!!

You was thinking that i was lost but nop, i've just watching your disscussions and now i have few things to say about it! :)

First of all i'd like to congratulate You with winter begining! ;)

OK, let's start!

New "Rietumu banka" building i like, because it have modern, feathery design and very regular and clean look!
I like that kind of buildings - minimalism and functionality is future buildings way!

"DAM Property" building is a little bit 1980s style. That kind of buildings was build in south states of USA and another south countries - specially in Australia, but almoast nowhere in Europe! "DAM Property" will be stylish minimalism, a little retro, building and i don't know why, but i like it very much!

And now question to all of You - special to You Gatis!
We have so lot of numerous new highrise buildings proposed in Riga but why we don't build one really HIGHrise building?
I think we need one 50-60 storey building in Riga for sure!!! Not in downtown, where is all these hight limits, but somewhere else (maybe in Skanstes street or farther from downtown!).
This is the same dream that few days earlier was posted here: "Why European's tallest building can't be in Tallinn?" ... i have the same question:

WHY EUROPEAN'S TALLES BUILDING CAN'T BE IN RIGA???

P.S. Maybe we don't need to build European's tallest building, but some 50 - 60 storey building we (I) need for sure!!!

Thank You and See Ya around! ;)

/\ that is you asking it... that question was asked by our Mayor :D the fact is it can :D

Hello, Laurijs :)

It's some 60% probability that Riga will get 50+ floor building - and that it will be standing in Kipsala. But nothing will be higher IMHO. In Skanstes Street area for sure nothing will be taller than 30 floors, but some other areas have no height limits, f.e. Podrags (who cares about this remote place now?)
There should happen something of large scale, f.e. some major changes in international politics and business so that Riga becomes a centre of larger importance, like a smaller version of Singapore or Hongkong. Then something like this can happen, "washing" away all the previous perceptions about Riga as a city.
This happened at least once in history - in late 19th century, when this city became No.3 in Russian Empire regarding industrial output and No.1. regarding innovations. Then hundreds of quartals of the old, Barocco and Classicism style wooden city were removed and many hundreds of ornate, expensive buildings built every year. If this would happen nowadays, we would see here something like Dubai rising with an endless forest of 300 - 400 cranes in the centre for several decades. Now in Riga centre (not suburbs) we can count some 30 cranes and this already seems so much

Of course, this might happen again, but Latvia alone will never make it - question is - if others will want it. And would we be happy with this?

/\ 30 cranes, holy how, do you mean the big ones, not small little cranes... coz i can count just 12 Cranes in Tallinn downtown :( (soon there is going to be alot more because of harbour area)

No Gatis, I don't want the same situation as Singapoure .... no!
I Just want few skyline dominantes and that's all!!!

One 70 storey building
Few 40-50 storey buildings [all in one group somewhere in near downtown...]
and that's all! :)

Hello, Laurijs :)

It's some 60% probability that Riga will get 50+ floor building - and that it will be standing in Kipsala. But nothing will be higher IMHO. In Skanstes Street area for sure nothing will be taller than 30 floors, but some other areas have no height limits, f.e. Podrags (who cares about this remote place now?)
There should happen something of large scale, f.e. some major changes in international politics and business so that Riga becomes a centre of larger importance, like a smaller version of Singapore or Hongkong. Then something like this can happen, "washing" away all the previous perceptions about Riga as a city.
This happened at least once in history - in late 19th century, when this city became No.3 in Russian Empire regarding industrial output and No.1. regarding innovations. Then hundreds of quartals of the old, Barocco and Classicism style wooden city were removed and many hundreds of ornate, expensive buildings built every year. If this would happen nowadays, we would see here something like Dubai rising with an endless forest of 300 - 400 cranes in the centre for several decades. Now in Riga centre (not suburbs) we can count some 30 cranes and this already seems so much

Of course, this might happen again, but Latvia alone will never make it - question is - if others will want it. And would we be happy with this?

Well now ... Rietumu Banka and DAM buildings look booring to me ... well ok Rietumu Banka I can accept a bit ... but if it has only 14 floors then goodnight ...

But DAM looks like a simple toothpaste box ... and if looking the whole skyline it looks bad betrween Saules Akmens and Da Vince

The Architects could have done something more unique.

Greater Riga in making (map - Riga City Department of Development; my photo)
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/4562/autumninriga047detailed5gz.jpg

I was surprised when I first time saw this map. They have forgotten some roads, which are already in detailed design stage, f.e. the new Via Baltica entrance in Riga from Kekava side. Of course, Daugava with 5 more bridges than today... looks effective. Please, give some billions to build them :)
- - -
Tomorrow two important things happening:
1. International plenaire about the development of our garden city/Disnleyland - Mezaparks - ended. 8 international teams (including collegues from LT and EE) were thinking how to turn this area into something beautiful. Some press releases have been issued already, sound very promising. They propose air tram around the area among others.
2. Deadline for Kliversala highrise district design proposals. Impatiently waiting - should be something interesting!!!

Meanwhile some fresh pictures from Riga!!! By me - and today

1. "Vertikala pasaule" construction plot waiting. If all goes well, here might rise the highest building in Baltics very soon - and with very unusual design.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7289/vertikalapasaule24okt053bk.jpg
2. The same place, looking ahead, towards Old Riga.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/651/vansutilts24okt056ts.jpg
3. Brand new "highrise district" in Imanta. Just the first ones here, soon there would be a lot more. I would not call them "commoeblocks", these buildings look a lot better!
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6694/imatasaugst24okt053nb.jpg
4. "Metropolia" project a bit nearer
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8303/metropolia24okt050nt.jpg
5. "Commieblock" in Annimuizas boulevard nearby nearly completed
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9104/anninmuizasbulv24okt058zk.jpg
6. "Duntes ozoli". Architect dod good job! The building is not that much intruding in the green scene of Duntes Street
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/808/duntesozoli24okt056tv.jpg
7. Arena Riga with Olympic Sports Centre in the background. Arena is covered with glass now, looks very impressive. "Rietumu banka" will rise just behind it.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2927/ledushalle24okt051hi.jpg

Some small news from Riga (still in hope for bigger things though...):

- Riga city and state swap land at Riga airport. Airport gets 80 000 m2 for extension of runway and other things on this area, investment - 110 mio EUR. Riga gets valuable forest land (Riga City is the biggest forest owner in Latvia - already since medieval times)
- In November starts contruction of third "Metropolia" highrise. All five 18-floorers would be completed in 2007, the first one would be ready in December this year.
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-10-25/59224/metr2.jpg
- Jurmala city has supported construction of highrises in very tip of Jurmala, near mouth of Lielupe river (in opposite side of river - Riga). But reading further in text turns out... these are just 5-floor buildings. Wow, 5-floor highrises :). Total area of the land plot in question - 25 ha. 4 ha would be used for apartments, remaining - offices, entertainment complexes. Quite scale project brewing here...
http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/6653/lielupe8hy.jpg

hahahaha

sometimes we can read similar news here in estonia as well - "the city approved another highrise building. the 7-floor residential will be.... etc" :D

too bad the metropolia buildings look better in renderings...

Metropolita... it looks nice... but the thing that i dont like is copying one design over and over! GRRR!

But that's cheaper for sure, he he. The same all over the world, including private houses, rowhouses etc. But "Metropolia" in life looks good, I can assure you.
- - -
The new building of Latvian TV most likely would be in Tornakalns, behind Library.

yes, it may look good :D But just that its beeing multiplied degrades it value as a skyscraper for me.... think if there were 20 ESB's... bahh, id hate it :D Multiplying - another feature for me that shows commieblockism... :P

Next year in Riga takes place NATO summit - and state has reserved in state budget 15 mio (some 21 mio EUR) LVL for this. This will be massive event but Riga is using every opportunity to turn the city in international conference centre. In 2009 we expect to host International Olympic Committee as well when the host of 2016 Olympic games would be selected.
Now we got to know where 4 mio of this NATO sum will go.
- 4 mio LVL would be invested in reconstruction of Dailes theater, which will be used as press centre for 1 300 journalists during the event. Dailes theater is located on central - Brivibas Street. It is built in 1977, architect - controversial and progressive architect Marta Stana.
http://www.bb.lv/att/1/3235/35011.jpg
- - -
Parex bank wants to build multifunctional quartal near Kipsala
"Parex assets management company" has purchased land on the corner of Ranka and Kalnvciema street and wants to develop here apartment and office quartal. But it is too early to speak about the height of those buildings - they are consulting with the with the city about this now.
- - -
Local branch of UNESCO Committee has rejected the elaborated Riga Historical Centre Development plan. They say that it is unacceptable that in some places near center there is planned to build new buildings near the waterbodies, that the plan allows too much new buildings.
Their actions are sad IMHO. They could rise these questions in due time, then discussions about this plan were in full force.

Second attack against skyscrapers in Kipsala is slowly starting.

Over the last weeks there is seen interesting process - there is started second attack on skyscrapers in Riga. Not in whole Riga, but to Kipsala.
Several newspaper articles in different mass media have been published about highrises. Nobody is against them but the main thesis is the following:
- things are happening too fast (have you noticed how 1 office highrise has been built in 15 years!!! WOW) and there is too little planning (have you noticed that for three years at least there is done the biggest planning exercise in history of Riga).
But after those critical remarks I have to admit that the aim of those publications os good - a) Only very high-level architecture should be used for highrises in Riga. At least as good as in Saules akmens; b) Should be done thorough spatial planning of visual impact.

But the requirements are a bit weird:
- Before permitting any new highrises there should be planned the optimal visual silhouette of the skyline in Kipsala and Kliversala.

Such requirement can kill anything, if applied. Cities are living organisms and this is not totalitarian state. Old Riga skyline was not created though such "bureaucracy of beauty". I have not seen good results for such imaginary large scale "beauty planning" anywhere in world.
This state is getting too bureaucratic, and society is puching it into this direction :(

well, Gatis, I think "society" (pushing) is a really loud statement :) in this case society=a group of rather influential people (and i think it is not too hard to identify them), 'cause generally i personally do not know any human being who is against seeing Kipsala as highrise district (and in a short period of time)! it's a pity a lot of people involved in this "project" are deep into politics, and do not forget, we are entering pre-elections period :)

Next year in Riga takes place NATO summit
It seems that new NATO members are very popular for similar events, especially Poland. Btw, this year there were two summits in Vilnius too (NATO and NATO&Ukraine).

About "second attack on skyscrapers in Riga" - it seems that you are going to the same direction as we are in Vilnius too, though I think that the situation here is much worse - there are already many things changed: Vilnius gates (lowered from 20 and 15 floors to 17 and 12 floors), Registru center (lowered from 27 to 16 floors), for each project in "new city center" there has to be some study prepared which says how it'll change "visual silhouette".

/\ i think that is normal, atleast that has been done here for years now...

Tartu mnt 15 got clipped from 40 to 35 :(

@Ch1le: Yes, but now there are two tallest U/C in Tallinn, also decrease from 40 to 35 is not that big. If there will be only 16 floor or lower buildings in NCC of Vilnius allowed then skyline of Tallinn will look better (30-40 floor additions in center of Tallinn vs 12-16 floor additions in NCC of Vilnius ;)).

/\ well yeah things have thawed here... some people are still fighting over "olaf will be tallest bullshit" but thankfully they are not winning... Money is too important in this town thank god :D Still highrise plans take alot of time to get through!

NATO Summit in Riga would be the first ever in Baltics and second in Eastern Europe after Prague in 2002. This is the highest possible event in NATO structure, smth. like Olympic Games for sports. In Vilnius there were lover scale events, one of them - Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers (April 2005).
- - -
Latvian railway plans big investments in railway system inside Riga. Today there ends design tender for new passenger arrival zone in Riga Central - the requirement is to get architecturally expressive, innovative ideas. This will end the reconstruction of Riga Central Terminal.
There is planned to purchase low-floor trains - thus the passenger perons would not be elevated.
There is planned also to construct noise barriers along the railway in centre.
There is prepared large Riga railway network reconstruction project, costs - 100 mio EUR - realisation of this project will not start before 2007.
- - -
Started public discussions about Sporta pils quartal reconstruction.
http://www.tvnet.lv/majas/images/upload/sport-l_0_0.jpg
I wrote earlier that local investors want to remove existing Soviet time Ice hall from this quartal in Riga Centre, and to build a group of new houses, including new, smaller ice hall.
Quartal would be multi-functional, 24-hours alive part of Centre. Total costs of project - 50 to 80 mio EUR, area of quartal - 20 400 m2. Designer - local "Sestais stils".
Thanks to www.apollo.lv for picture! Whole quartal would be newly built.
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-10-31/59682/at.jpg

I'm glad about Railway network, but You say really large, does it will include new lines, ring line and line to Bolderaja ?

Not new lines in new places. This includes lots of smaller additional lines along the existing ones, f.e.:
- Mangali railway station will get new railway line extension;
- Mangali - Ziemelblazma part will get additional line;
- Electronical and signalisation part reconstructed;
- Works in Skirotava station and lots of smaller projects
You see that those works are mainly cargo-train related, not so much about passengers.
http://www.tvnet.lv/majas/projection/article.php?id=18183

Picture of Dienvidu tilts (Southern bridge) works from far away - from the 40 years old Slavu overpass. Picture got weird perspective tricks - "Unibanka" - the higher building in the central part of picture - is some 4 km away from me, in the opposite side of Daugava river.
http://img313.imageshack.us/img313/9305/dtilts1nov055li.jpg
Slavu bridge would be rebuilt (not reconstructed) as well and there will be one more road giong higher, above my head.
In total there are working some 50 pieces of different machinery, but the enormous distance does not allow to see them. You see two enormous cranes (look like frames) standing in Daugava river now and one floating crane, which is some 40 m high. This still is early stage of works.

Now this place looks sad - but not for long time.

You were privilieged people. While you know about construction of Rietumu banka for some weeks already, general people here in Latvia got to know this only yesterday ;) They had press conference.
Some facts:
- first A+++ class office in Latvia;
- to be completed in early 2007;
- places for 1 000 employees, floor space - 16 500 m2;
- costs - some 23 mio EUR;
http://rus.tvnet.lv/images/upload/00_l_10551.jpg

Btw Latvian banks in this year have earned 133,3 mio EUR. This is 44% of total earnings in Baltic banks. Estonian - 39%, Lithuanian - the remaining 17%.
- - -
Seems, Riga City is lingering with the approval of "Vertikala pasaule" highrise complex in Daugavgrivas Street - it is waiting for approval for one month already. Meanwhile in construction plot there are arriving people, seems, they are planning the works.
I have no exact information about "Vertikala pasaule" but there is possibility that it will consist of three highrises, the highest may exceed 40 floors. Just uncertain information.
- - -
Tomorrow to be reviewed the permit for removal of large group of old buildings in Kliversala. Architecture tender for the new highrise district (seven highrises up to 24 floors) there has ended, but results are not announced yet.
- - -
Krasta Street in evening (have been sitting for several hours in traffic jams there)
http://www.realty.lv/rus/img/news/98988002112005102144.bmp

http://rus.tvnet.lv/images/upload/00_l_10551.jpg - entire complex just 16 000 SQM? wtf ;)

Saules akmens with its 26-28 floors has got 30 000 m2. If there are two times less floors - could be two times less. I don't know, should be OK? (While National library will be over 60 000 m2, what is just enormous IMHO)

Btw Latvian banks in this year have earned 133,3 mio EUR. This is 44% of total earnings in Baltic banks. Estonian - 39%, Lithuanian - the remaining 17%.
Interesting how these numbers were made. E.g. "Hansabankas" who works in Lithuania is not counted for Lithuania?

No, it is counted as Lithuanian bank. At least Latvian Hansabanka is considered to be among Latvian banks.
- - -
Got to know why Rietumu banka does not have that much flor space. 90% of the space in this building is efficient working place, while in general bureaus this is only up to 70%. This will be so called "intelligent building" with all the whistles and bells of modern electronics with microclimate steering system for working spaces and lots of other features.

No, it is counted as Lithuanian bank. At least Latvian Hansabanka is considered to be among Latvian banks.
Then:

Btw Latvian banks in this year have earned 133,3 mio EUR. This is 44% of total earnings in Baltic banks. Estonian - 39%, Lithuanian - the remaining 17%.
133.3 mio EUR - 44%, it means that ~303 mio EUR - 100%. 17% from 303 mio EUR - ~51.5 mio EUR. Lithuanian banks earned ~51.5 mio EUR. Lets see. Two biggest banks of Lithuania: "Hansabankas" earned 101 mio LT while "Vilniaus bankas" earned 97.4 mio LT. They both earned 198.4 mio LT which is ~57 mio EUR. So we get that two biggest banks of Lithuania earned more than all banks of Lithuania? :dunno: Maybe I made some mistake? :)

All criticism to be sent to Baltic News Service - they say that LT banks this year earned 50,9 mio EUR what is 31% more than last year.

All criticism to be sent to Baltic News Service - they say that LT banks this year earned 50,9 mio EUR what is 31% more than last year.
I see, then probably they made mistake or only true Lithuanian banks are counted, without "Hansabankas", "Vilniaus bankas", etc. (but I doubt it).

Gati, where exactly this Rietumu banka complex is going to be built? I am working on Skanstes street (near SWH/Itera/Creditreform), and i saw one already functioning constr. site (with crane) and one empty paddock with Merks sign (nearer to ArenaRiga, but still close to Skanstes str.).. first site has poster with picture of constructed building (there was info on that here some time ago), the empty site doesn't have any posters/pics.. so, is it for Rietumu banka complex (RBC)? Or is RBC planned next to newly built street (from Zirņu str. to Olympic center)? Any info on that?

From this perspective I kinda like the design of Rietumu (except maybe that narrow part could be a bit fatter)

Sveiki, @vanniken :)
Rietumu banka is built on Vesetas Str 7. - this street goes between Skanstes and K. Valdemara Street. Skanstes Street highrise area will use several quartals. Buildings mentioned by you: with crane - "Latvijas Krajbanka" office, empty plot - most likely 3-floor office building next to Arena Riga. Across Skanstes Street, where gardens still exist, this autumn might start construction of several highrise apartment buildings. Somewhere in this area will be started new hotel as well in coming months.
- - -
Today there has been announced wonderful Website about Old Riga with virtual tours. Site is heavy, takes time to load - but it is wonderful!
http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/5122/vecrigainfo6jh.jpg
http://www.riga.lv/media/VecrigaInfo/en.html
This is just the beginning of this Website, a lot more is under preparation now.
- - -
Riga City Development Committee has approved changes in height limits for Zakusala and Lucavsala. On both islands there are permitted highrises now. Initially there were worries that higrises in this place will create problems for ventilation in Old Riga because future higrises will stand in direction of most frequent wind direction. Finally after consultations there is decided that highrises will not form a "dense fence", there would be more sparse coverage with high buildings.
I don't know what is the permitted height here though. Its a bit sad that Zakusala will get highrises - this is perfect area for entertainment zone in middle of river, among the historical city and future highrises.

the site about old riga is actually quite fast and very interesting i am half a day in it :)

That website is INCREDIBLE!!! :applause: Thank you for the link, Gati! :)

Some more renderings of "Rietumu Capital Centre" - that's the official name. Looks grim and very serious, but I, of course, like it!
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-03/59953/ritumu2.jpg

http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-03/59953/ritumu1.jpg

http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-03/59953/ritumu.jpg
- - -
For Kliversala highrise district there have been received eight proposals. Now the works are evaluated, results to be announced in 10th November. Just to remind - area of project - 5,7 ha. Seven highrises to be built, floor limit - 24 floors. Full realisation might require 10 years, but the highest building will come first.
- - -
YESSS! Old projects here don't die! Around 2001 there was announced office highrise "Spice" in Kipsala (next to supermarket "Olimpija") - since then there was silent. They planned some 16 floors back then.
There will be announced architecture tender on multifunctional building "Kipsalas spice" in Balasta dambis 90. But I don't know the details.
Kipsala + Kliversala for sure will be spectacular highrise forest, now there are 17 highrises in different preparation stages known for me.

Sorry, I made mistake. "Kipsalas spice" project is not in Kipsala highrise part. It is located on very northern tip of Kipsala island some 2,5 km from highrise district. New city development plan allows here 17 floors. Place is very spectacular, but I am not sure if it would be good to have highrise there.
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/8526/kipsalasspice9jb.jpg

Rietumu banka building looks good, minimalistic and "nordic". Though I prefer more complex designs like e.g. of Saules Akmens. ;)

hmm, if RCC address ir Vesetas 7, then i've seen the place.. it's quite small, preparation works going on there for a month already, you can see it, when going to Olympic SC from Sporta str., it is right before Latvijas Auto office building.. it will look pretty strange there among mostly lowrise buildings around (except some 5-floor residential buildings over Vesetas str.) :/ i dunno, i think it is a bit weird for a bank to chose such place for a main office, but who knows, anyway...

http://smeldze.com/temporary/RCC.JPG

here's the place, if it's Vesetas 7

Today at least some pictures appeared about the international Mezaparks planning seminar.
Hottest problem regarding Mezaparks - the grand Song Festival Stage has to be rebuilt until 2008, when the next Song Festival (and 90 years anniversary of Latvia) take place. This is enormous work. The existing estrade is even dangerous.
http://www.kekava.lv/imgs/dz_sv/big/img_05.jpg
http://www.astro.lu.se/radio2001/side-04.jpg
http://www.am.gov.lv/data/pic/en/p/107-0752_IMG.jpg
Belgian architects 51N4E propose to build new estrade in new place - at Kisezers lake nearby:
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-07/60232/m1.jpg
I don't know... the view is magnificent there, but what about cold winds?

View across Mezaparks with Kisezers in background - by local "Venta Didrihsona arhitekturas studija". In forefront - the idea about Mezaparks Fountain City - futuristic project of apartment/entertainment city, which is elaborated since some 2 years already by Vents Didrihsons. Investor impatiently waits when he could start investments.
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-07/60232/m3.jpg
- - -
Pedestrian tunnels at Central Railway Station have been renovated and squares at the "backstage" of the station will be reconstructed. This was one of the ugly places in Centre of Riga.

Belgian architects 51N4E propose to build new estrade in new place - at Kisezers lake nearby:
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-07/60232/m1.jpg
I don't know... the view is magnificent there, but what about cold winds?

I always appreciate your news, thoughts, and comments, Gati! :)

Looking at that image I also wonder about one crucial thing: how are all those thousands of people supposed to get to that proposed large venue located in this beautiful piece of nature?

I suspect that public transit would be insufficient to handle the crowds, and they can't possibly plan to build a huge parking lot? :bash:

The existing stage is already next to this site in pictures, some 300 m from it. You should go by feet there some 1 km from the nearest street, but if you have a car - the parking might be much further away.
This hasn't been a big problem. Song festival is very special event with high spiritual energy. Long walk on wide pathway (some 15 m wide) below the oak trees among hundreds of thousand people, singing and all happy - that's very special feeling.
- - -
But there are other problems... f.e. what happens if there is fire of some terror danger - and lake from three sides around?

Ah, OK on the access then. Sorry! :runaway:

Well, it's not a political thing (I mean, the Song festival), it's our culture and it has nothing to do with the presence of the latvian armed forces in Iraq & Afganistan... etc...

And since we've never had any terrorist attacks here, I quite don't believe we'll have an attack in the nearby future... The only thing that I rememmber is the bomb in the market center "CENTRS", but that was done by some idiots for stealing goods from the shops in there...

But we should be afraid of the bolsheviks that hate anything that has something to do with Latvia and people of our nationality - who's the stupid one, those activists have spent all their lifes here (on average 16-20 years), and they don't want to learn any word in latvian because they think that we don't respect their minority laws - CRAP!!! The funniest thing is that their leader is a black??? guy comming from some african country (or whatever), he perfectly knows the latvian language, but he's offended when we say that russians must use latvian in civil establishments... Once he went to a metal/rock festival and started to tell that all latvians are stupid a***oles... The latvian police often found stuff that is necessary to make bombs in the homes of the 'poor minorities', whose laws are not respected in our 'little ignorant & fashist country'...

Phew, I hope that wasn't too political... :D

And since we've never had any terrorist attacks here,
Not true. One Russian nationalist group bombed the stage during the Nordic Song festival in 1995 - happily just few people were injured ligthly.
- - -
Does somebody have time to go and take pictures of Kliversala highrise district proposals in Architect's house??? Torna Street 11

I was there myself and took lots of pictures. Wait the evening when I will process the pictures. The proposals for this tender are beyond impressive - Kliversala will shine not only in our region!
It was fun to be there - seems, this is the first day when the exhibition of Kliversala design proposals has been opened. Some journalists started to appear then Italians (most likely Preatoni and some his people) came.

Waiting... :|

GATIS FASTER I WANNA SEE THEM :nocrook:


:D

You're in the wrong thread, ch1le. :D

Gatis opened a new thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=279185

Update about many things, lots of pictures:

1. Enormous beast has arrived in plaza in front of Central Railway Terminal. I didn't go inside though...
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/1963/stacijaslaukums8nov053ol.jpg
2. Old Riga is absolutely infested with construction and cranes. I counted 15 cranes but should be more. They should coordinate between themselves, because they often are close together. Here - view on Galerija "Centrs" construction site, here are built two more things besides this.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/857/pieuniversalveikala8nov054sl.jpg
3. Scanned pictures of RBS Skals building, which is constructed in Kipsala right now. Architect - "Arhitektonika" - the same who designed Southern bridge. Very good architects IMHO.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/2954/rbsskals8qb.jpg

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/4183/rbsskals25iy.jpg
4. Dzelzavas Street in Purvciems (Plavnieki?) will get one more residential highrise. This is proposal by "Malas". This place will be one more highrise cluster - there is planned one office highrise and several residential highrises too.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/8867/dzelzavas9nh.jpg
5., 6. More detailed pic of Zvirgzdusala development proposal. Architect - " Venta Didrihsona studija". Spectacular project IMHO. I see that Kliversala " Fake Amsterdam" proposal has some similarities.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/6955/grapju5zb.jpg
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7371/grapju21zs.jpg
7. Multifunctional complex on Grostonas Street, part of Skanstes Street highrise district. Architects - the same " Arhitektonika".
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/2778/grostonas0ey.jpg
8. Rehabilitation complex in Jurmala. Can't imagine where it could be - but looks like rather uninteresting highrise proposal for this highrise-hater city. "Palast Architects"
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7640/jurmala6na.jpg
9., 10. Office building on Liepajas Street 52 (on corner with K.Ulmana gatve). Architect - "Arplan". Project could make the boring K. Ulmana highway more interesting.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/4700/liepajas11tq.jpg
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7337/liepajas28hq.jpg
11. Noticed that in one Kliversala project proposal there is shown unknown silhouette of highrise next to Saules akmens - project by "Behnisch" architects. This is the same site where is DAM Property building. Turns out - there are several proposals?
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/5627/behnish1qm.jpg
12. School in Barona Street 99, architect "Malas"
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/9474/skolabarona9nb.jpg

Just a small insight in landslide of projects approaching Riga.

Thanks for update :okay:

As for the beast, I wonder if it's the same that resided in Palanga this summer :)

Zvirgzdusala project look aaaamazing!!!! Who is behind this? And how big are chances that this is going to be realised?
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/6955/grapju5zb.jpg

LatvianGG - I don't know. It was presented to Riga City almost year ago, but since then nothing heard. But I am sure that something is done there.
- - -
Riga airport has announced open tender on rent of the land in their "Aviapolis" (this word is my invention, not official). There are planned office, education, hotel buildings. The tender documents for office, education, culture zone can be obtained starting from the 14th November, deadline - 12th December. The tender for service buildings (hangars, cargo rooms, car parking, communication buildings) starts in 10th November, ends in 5th December.
This tender is only about the wish to develop, not about architecture.
The final result after investments may be will look like this:
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/6672/parskats0gi.jpg
- - -
In Riga City Council there is exhibition of proposal for Ratslaukums (City Plaza in English?) development. There is envisaged to do something about this controversial place - although I am sure that any action would be met with very controversial reaction from the public.
Current situation:
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-08/60354/rats4.jpg
Proposal. Several new buildings to be added. Unfortunately it seems that the ugly opening to Daugava side will not change.
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-08/60354/rats.jpg

http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-08/60354/rats2.jpg

And another ugly and useless building to be built near Ratslaukums... I like it when Old Riga gets filled with buildings, because I love the density and the small streets, but those projects don't remind me the architectual potential that the architects had in the years 1900-1930... Ain't there nobody who's gonna make something gothic like the Academy of Arts??? :(

oh what great projects!!!!


the ones by arhitektonika are amazing! and so's the zvirgzdusala 'vision'.

thanks yet again for a detailed update, gatis! (:

Perhaps this is a bit stupid question - may be answer could be found from some old post, but there are too much pages about Riga City development and I'm just too lazy to read them all... Anyway, is there any development plans to Zakusala island (where TV Tower stands)? It's currently quite empty, but it could offer spactacular views to Central Riga and it's waterfront could make it very attractive place.

@Jape - Zakusala has some development plans, because there is one single developer. I was informed in Riga City Council back in June that this developer is hard working with some ambitious plans, but they did not reveal - what was in his mind.
Some weeks ago Riga City Development Committee approved that highrises can be built on Zakusala.
- - -
Architects "Silis, Zabers & Klava" propose unusual apartment building in Centre, at A. Caka Street.
http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/5336/alauksta19wi.jpg

http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/5180/alauksta25mr.jpg
- - -
Some news about public transportation in Riga
In 2007. there will start functioning the first 19 low-floor trams in Riga. Until 2010 there will join 17 more.
Until 2008 there will be purchased 100 additional long trolleybuses, after 2008 - 75 shorter trolleybuses.
Riga now has got only new buses but the needs increase and there will be purchased 38 more.

/\ 2007... hmm well see how Tallinn responds!
we get more and more "Updated" trams on our streets, but new ones.. hmm... theres just talk, im hopeing that the Lasnamäe tram project wont delay new tram purchases.

That new building in centre is interesting, not your usual thing - i like! Originality is nr1 on my list of qualities for architecture.. originality and classiness

In Riga City Council there is exhibition of proposal for Ratslaukums (City Plaza in English?) development. There is envisaged to do something about this controversial place - although I am sure that any action would be met with very controversial reaction from the public.
Current situation:
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-08/60354/rats4.jpg
Proposal. Several new buildings to be added. Unfortunately it seems that the ugly opening to Daugava side will not change.
http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-08/60354/rats.jpg

http://www.apollo.lv/upload/2005-11-08/60354/rats2.jpg

personally i don't like the new addition its kinda ugly and don't fit to the surrounding biuldings :(

I don't like it either :(
- - -
One more interesting building for another place in Centre - Miera and Ierocu Streets. Architects - "Lejnieku projektesanas birojs" and "8am".
With such projects I am glad that Soviets did not have money to fill up the war-torn empty places in Centre of Riga. Now there is better architecture than in 1970ies.
And one more tendency - after the big war against the ornament in beginning of 20th century... ornament returns in modern architecture after 100 years!
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/2679/miera34xg.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/2131/miera15be.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/1245/miera28rk.jpg
- - -
Riga City has allowed to build 3-floor underground car parking at Dailes theater, at Brivibas Street. Owner - "Sarlotes centrs" for many years is struggling to build something/anything in this land plot. They promise that the existing garden and greenery would be kept intact. Hope that they will be asked to bring in order plaza in front of theater.

These proposed developments in Riga seem much more interesting than the ones in Vilnius - they are more imaginative and there are far fewer "skyscrapers for skyscrapers' sake" I especially like the apartment building on A. Caka - the way it harmonises with the other buildings reminds me of the Tancici Dum in Prague.

damn, that orange building ROCKS!!!!!!!

latvian architects seem to be really talented.... =)

Yeah! The Orange building looks great!
---------
Zvirgzdusala project looks COOL! But didn't You think these low-rise buildings looks like from movie "Back To The Future" (1985) ???
I know it is just a proppose .... but anyway idea is excellent!
---------
Gati - Do You know something new about VP Market highrises!?
Every morning i drive nearby - whole site is now full of sand and few excavators are digging big hole ... it is a start of highrises or just another test works?

Don't know - haven't seen myself either. But city has not approved any works there. And VP Market said that they are not going to start earlier than in spring next year.
May be they are building that transformer station which is needed for this complex. Or may be site preparation+demolition starts? But this has not been approved as well - I think.
- - -
About Zvirgzdusala - really, there is something like Jetsons or "Back to the future". In US in 1960ies there was popular architecture style Googie which tried to incorporate sci-fi designs in real life. Didrihsons works in a similar way - some sci-fi together with some fairy-tale romantics - but somehow tasty and unbelievably interesting. At the same time it goes together with the latest trends - a kind of organic architecture. I like his works - they would make city very interesting!
- - -
Another big project might be starting any day - "Galleria" construction site has been revived in Dzirnavu Street 65, near Hotel Latvia. Cars, which were parked there, are gone, some other works start. That would be one weird and impressive department store (Danish investment, don't know the architect), which will bring a lot more metropolitan feel to Riga. Especially if you remember that next to it there will be built 24hours quartal - Terbatas centrs.
http://www.patollo.lv/
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/1934/galleria4qi.jpg

Yesterday there was presented the newly built train set - first Riga based RVR company built train over the last years. It is built for Belarus. Train is nothing special, but not bad either. It has got the necessary modern thingies – air conditioning, soft seats, TV sets, individual lighting for each seat etc. There would be supplied more trainsets to Belarus.
http://www.tvnet.lv/onlinetv/images/upload/vilc_L_0.jpg
Future plans of RVR are much more interesting. They are going to build some 20 such trainsets per year at least, but with each new trainset their design and comfort will be improved - because they will get profit and will invest this in development. This means that even after 1 year in Riga would be produced sleek trains!
Political things: EU in general does not cooperate with Belarus. Latvia does not support such attitude - there should be economical cooperation + political support to opposition. If Belarus would be poorer and more isolated, this would not facilitate democracy there.
Costs of one train - 5 - 7 mio EUR. Latvia itself will get RVR produced trains only after some 5 years (starting from 2009), meanwhile RVR will modernise the existing ones. It is expected that by 2009 RVR will produce really modern, elegant trains. Latvia needs some 35 – 40 passenger trains.
Currently RVR is reconstructing also the premises and installing equipment for low-floor tram production.
- - -
Concert hall gets 11 bids
Riga accoustic concert hall architecture tender has got 11 preliminary bids - from 6 Latvian architects and 5 international companies (including Henning Larsens Tegnestue, Dominique Perrauld, CoopHimmelb(l)au). At this stage there is received only documentation, not design proposals. First round of evaluation will end in 21st November. Final selection of architect will take place in 12th May 2006. Expect something unusual and grand - architects now know that Riga wants unusual and impressive things!
- - -
Riga public transportation stops in next year will get electronic tablos which show how many minutes to wait until the next bus of each line. All 450 city busses will have GPS systems installed.
- - -
After 105 mio EUR investment has been restarted operation of TEC1 - large electricity and heating power station in Ciekurkalns. Now it will use natural gas and be a lot more efficient. After some months there would be completed major reconstruction of TEC2 - costs 175 mio EUR. Both projects significantly decrease dependency of Latvia from imported electricity.
- - -
Riga City Council is preparing for the final approval of Riga City Development Plan. As a part of it – there was allowed to rise the maximum floor count in Grapju peninsula from 12 to 17 floors. This peninsula is south from Old Riga, at Daugava River – next to Zvirgzdusala, where 24 floors are permitted and spectacular Project by Ventis Didrihsons under preparation:
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7371/grapju21zs.jpg

that train looks pretty nice, whats the max speed, i had no idea RVR was developing new trainsets again! Spectacular

I don't think that it is fast... may be up to 130 km/h like the common RVR trains - working horses in 1980ies. The maximum speed here is not important, because suburban trains have frequent stops and the lines running through cities simply can't have safety standards of high speed railway.

Cars, which were parked there, are gone

Surface parking lots are an eyesore and a waste of space. :bash:

On the other hand, provisions must be made *somehow* ;)


Thank you as always, Gati, for keeping track of so many things for us! :) It's really hard to keep up with what all is going on in Riga. :cool:

Hello @WH :)
It is really hard to catch up with the city. Construction goes crazy and I don't know what's built in most cases. Those projects which appear here are just some representatives.
- - -
Some more info about trains:

- max speed up to 140 km/h - but not for this one, for the next trainsets.
- TV sets in 1st class carriages are built into backside of each seat and each passenger can choose TV programs etc.
- Train has got a system of tracking - you can know where it is exactly on the map, technical people can follow its technical condition from distance;

Unfortunately this train does not correspond to Latvian railway safety system, it is built for Belarussian system. Thus after driving some 100's of meters it was stopped and then dragged towards Belarus.

RVR is producing trains 110 years already - they have anniversary this year.

Pictures by Vadims Falkovs from forum tram.ruz.net. He provides rich, brilliant information about public transprotation in Latvia. Please remember - this is only the beginning, RVR is going to modernise their trains a lot.
http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/5059/vilc12bb.jpg
http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/6338/vilc26qy.jpg

Yes, RVR is doing good job! :okay:
I read on their website (only in russian!) thatin their golden times RVR used to produce trains for not only former USSR, but also for Yugoslavia and Cuba... :eek:

Gorgeous trains, both inside and out! :cool:

any other pics of the carriages?

(weird how the current old 1980s RVR trains are up to Standard and this is not? Eh?)

(weird how the current old 1980s RVR trains are up to Standard and this is not? Eh?)
Old 1980ies trains have modern electronic equipment inside - and it is programmed for our standards. While Belarussians have different standard. It's hard for me to speak about this item - am not specialist. But as far as I understand this is more about computer software and some signal standards for communication.

Old Riga today from bigger distance (Zakusala). From this position I could see 11 cranes, but on picture there are seen 9 - 10. In reality there are some 15 - 20 cranes, just the smaller ones can't be seen.
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/8051/vecriga14nov057kg.jpg
- - -
Riga is slow but very fundamental regarding bycicle roads - there are few but expensive. Now there is on-going public discussion about planned bycicle road from Centre to Darzini (southeast) along Daugava - 17,7 km long. This road should be newly built, it might require even 125 m long bridge uniting Zvirgzdusala (where impressive highrises are planned btw.) and Grapju peninsula. Now Riga is building bycicle road to the north of city - to Vecmilgravis. In 2007 it will be extended to Vecaki beach. In 2007 there would be built another bycicle road to east - to Bergi.

Bycicle roads in Riga would be separate roads with their own lighting, designers has tried their best to avoid crossings with streets.
- - -
"Lucavsala" is hard working with their large-scale project. Now in the design and planning works have been invested nearly 1 mio EUR. Exact schedule of activities is not announced - they still have problems in City Council with some officials.
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8063/lucavsala37oa.jpg

- - -
Riga is slow but very fundamental regarding bycicle roads - there are few but expensive. Now there is on-going public discussion about planned bycicle road from Centre to Darzini (southeast) along Daugava - 17,7 km long. This road should be newly built, it might require even 125 m long bridge uniting Zvirgzdusala (where impressive highrises are planned btw.) and Grapju peninsula. Now Riga is building bycicle road to the north of city - to Vecmilgravis. In 2007 it will be extended to Vecaki beach. In 2007 there would be built another bycicle road to east - to Bergi.

Bycicle roads in Riga would be separate roads with their own lighting, designers has tried their best to avoid crossings with streets.
]

Bycicle roads are badly needed in Riga, it`s interesting to hear about possible bridge connecting Zvirgzdusala and Grapju peninsulas, bycicle road will be very nice then, not only part of Krasta street.
http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/3118/lucavsala37oassc9bd.jpg
Also number of bridges in Lucavsala is amazing !

indeed quite alot of cranes. Tallinn centre is also absolutely flooded with cranes:)

One more highrise dream for Riga
Jeez, all of them can't be realised.
There is ugly complex of Soviet time building material construction factory in pardaugava, Mukusalas. Ugly as hell!
Now - purchased by Lithuanian "Pozityvios Investicejos" (spelling seems to be wrong). Initially they wanted to build a multifunctional complex with the height up to 5 - 7 floors - their plans include to create new channels as well. Total floor area of those plans - 65 000 m2.
Now they want to increase the height of buildings to 18-24 floors.

Riga City Council is rather negative about this. Those plans together with the other highrise plans in this district create a kind of wall which prevents circulation of air in centre - this is the ruling direction of wind.
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/2954/mukusalas6ps.jpg

4. Dzelzavas Street in Purvciems (Plavnieki?) will get one more residential highrise. This is proposal by "Malas". This place will be one more highrise cluster - there is planned one office highrise and several residential highrises too.
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/8867/dzelzavas9nh.jpg

Thats in Purvciems ... few meters away from my home :D ... finaly something new near me :D

May be your home would be in eternal darkness behind that monster now ;) (Don't like base part of this building while the top is OK)

Hello @WH :)
http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/5059/vilc12bb.jpg

This first new train is actually bassed on a old DR1A train ... so I guess no big improved in the engine ... so the max speed is 130km/h (as for all EMU and DMU sets build in the USSR)

and what about that once loudly presented SandClock highrise proposed by Valdo (if i'm not mistaken), somewhere near their green office box in Pardaugava (next to Bauskas (?) str.)? any news?

None. I think - we can forget about it.
While "Da Vinci" project some days ago was laid on the table of Riga City Council for final approval before the start of the works.

and what about that once loudly presented SandClock highrise proposed by Valdo (if i'm not mistaken), somewhere near their green office box in Pardaugava (next to Bauskas (?) str.)? any news?

O I remember that proposal! :) Somebody showed it here (probably CrazyKing?) years ago and we speculated about the weird design, which was actually quite fascinating although perhaps beyond the bounds of what's realizable. That was before the days when we had steady, sound information on Riga & Latvia by the many wonderful LV forumers we enjoy now. :grouphug:

OK, so we won't see the Sand Clock building -- thanks for that news, Gati. :cheers:

Finally Riga City Development plan 2006-2018 has been approved by the City Council. Many projects were stopped waiting for it's approval (including Kipsala development projects).
In the last moment the ruling party (Jaunais laiks) made some jokes, they managed to spoil the Lucavsala project in the following way: there was decided that approximately one third of the island should be used as public park and entertainment area. How? Who will pay? Will somebody do this? They don't care... they say - city will do this.
This decision at first might seem good for people... but it is direct hit at "Lucavsala" development project. They planned to develop on this one third of the island private housing area. This would be very profitable part of their heavy 920 mio EUR project, which would help to develop the remaining - business and public part. Answer from "Lucavsala" is not ready yet, but it is possible that they wil stop their activities and quit this project.
And Lucavsala will remain abandoned and ugly place without parks and housing. Or may be there is somebody else hiding behind "Jaunais laiks" and badly wanting to get Lucavsala? Time will show.

But OK, this is only minor part of the whole development project. Many other projects will start and go faster now.

Forgot to add that mass media writes very much about skyscrapers regarding this plan. This seems to be turning point in turning Riga into highrise city, lots of Internet comments dicuss skyscrapers, many newspaper articles.

Sad about Lucavsala, althaugh good that other projects will go faster now :)

yeah, Jaunais Laiks seems to be the most obvious "pocket party", I'm not informed on who's responsible for their PR activities, but in my case, considering the fact, that they are trying to spoil everything that personally I like (Saules akmens, Arena Riga including, now Lucavsala), this is the last party I'd vote for on next elections, be them local or national :/ sometimes I tend to believe that these people are really living on Mars, the most populistic political group of people here in LV.. I'd even say - the most latvian party in their spirit (if I don't get it, no-one will!) :(

They have their own agenda unfortunately. I happen to know too much about this... (just a hint - they managed to slow down the development of Eastern border)

Sad about Lucavsala, althaugh good that other projects will go faster now :)

My sentiments exactly! :)

And too bad about that Janais laiks gang. :bash:

Sad about Lucavsala, althaugh good that other projects will go faster now :)
same here....

Gati,

is there any information what is planned to do along Bauskas street and new street that is a part of Dienvidu Tilts project and will lead from the Dienvidu bridge to Ziepniekalns?

May be your home would be in eternal darkness behind that monster now ;) (Don't like base part of this building while the top is OK) Actually no ... I live about 200 - 300 m away from it ... near the 84. school ;)

@Jazwiec - I don't have much info - there is not much announced.
At Bauskas Street there has been started construction of 17 4-floor apartment buildings (complex Bisumuiza), investment some 25 mio EUR at least. But that's some 1 km towards Riga Center.
http://www.arcoreal.lv/projects/img_967/teritorija.JPG
I have heard that the land deals around the planned bridge have beet very hot some years ago - most likely everything is purchased there already. But part of the land owners could be waiting for increase of prices, without intent to develop anything.
Closer to the bridge stands Riga dairy (producing "Karums" among other products). Currently they are expanding, constructing something.

You can look at the plan of "red lines" in www.rigis.lv - That's on-line GIS of Riga City - then you can find out where will go the communications. This Webservice will require download of some component - this is free of charge. You can also look at Riga City development plan here, set of maps of spatial planning (in Latvian, but maps are easy to understand). Note that the latest changes by politicians are not shown there.
http://rpap.riga.lv/lv/plan/teritorijas/default.aspx

Note that to the south there is another municipality - Kekava municipality - with their own planning etc.

You can look also at the approved detailed plans around the Southern bridge:
http://www.rdpad.lv/Detailplans/
Click at any of three parts "Dienvidu tilts".
You can get the information about the landowners of each land parcel from Riga City Construction board - then you should pay for it.

Here closer view with the allowed heights around Southern bridge in left bank of Daugava, some my additions on this map. Surprisingly - they did not allow high buildings (nobody wanted them?). Darker shade of pink = 12 - 17 floors, light pink = 10 - 12 floors, orange - 7 - 9 floors.
http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/517/dtiltas3ee.gif

Should I open consultancy business? ;)

Thanks Gati,

I guess you would have a great success with a consultancy business. :nocrook:

Some more info about "Latvijas krajbanka", which is u/c on Skanstes Street now:
http://g.delfi.lv/images/pix/file12812253_maja.jpg
Not bad. Initially I was a bit sad that it is not highrise... but now I know - that's stupid.
Investment - 10 mio EUR. To be completed at the end of 2006. Floor area - 11 350 m2. Architect - Sarma&Norde.

Hotel Reval Latvia gets interesting features - bar "Sliver"
"You like to watch. Don't you?" ... beginning of the movie "Sliver". Local architects India and Architrāvs won the competition for trade gallery with their project "Sliver". Location - front of Hotel "Latvia" on Brivibas Street. Here on-going construction craze now, the new 6-floor hotel has reached full height. Across the street any day will be started two enormous buildings: giant "Patollo" trade centre and very expensive apartments.
"Sliver" (Skaida) is 12 m high and 100 m long glass screen going close along Brivibas Street. There is created a kind of garden at the entrance, between the screen and hotel, further inside starts trade area. They planned that the building will have glass floors as well, unfortunately their area has been decreased. Project has been approved, may be construction has been started already - hard to understand in this construction craze.
From a4d.lv and india.lv
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/177/skaida11pj.jpg
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/386/skaida22xg.jpg
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8253/skaida36ja.jpg
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8232/skaida42da.jpg
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6092/skaida56rk.jpg
- - -
Talks about "overheating" in construction sector continue. At the end of 2006 there will be 10 000 new apartments waiting for their inhabitants in Riga and surroundings. Isn't that too much for current purchasing possibilities?
Now there is predicted that construction boom for apartments will start to decrease at the end of 2006 - beginning of 2006. But the next wawes of construction - offices, industries, road infrastructure - are coming...
Medium costs of apartments in Old Riga now - 3000 - 4500 EUR/m2.

About "overheating" in Riga: exactly same talk goes on in Tallinn. Today's business newspaper Äripäev cites Evi Kohv, a real estate agent: "Everyone who calls wants to buy something, but there's nothing on sale." And chairman of Pindi real estate firm Peep Sooman: "People have gone crazy. They buy without choosing, buy everything that's on sale."

During last 4 years, apartment prices in Tallinn have doubled. I guess in Riga it's about the same.

Some better renderings of "Terbatas centrs" 25 mio EUR project, which should start any day (but most likely - at the beginning of 2006). Architect "Kubs". If you remember - this is mainly inner-quartal project aiming at creation of pedestrian area, which is alive 24 hours per day:
View from Dzirnavu Street - just two new buildings:
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3828/tc13at.jpg
But view from above shows that there would be interesting new things inside:
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8537/tc6ga.jpg
10 000 m2 new space - apartments, hotel, offices, art galleries, cafe, restaurants, sports and beauty centres. Whole central area will have several floors of underground parking.

/\extremely pretty and urban project, wish we had more like that here, and its all so dense!

I like this one :okay:

What about that 5 story black buliding, does all people dont live there enymore?

That building isn't part of the project.
Good that you like it, I am eager too to see it realised! That place now lacks identity.
- -
Riga just supported financing for extension of decorative ligthing system in Boulevards - that means some hundreds of lanterns instead of boring electricity pools.

That building isn't part of the project.


I know but does it will be demolish ?

No, all historical buildings will remain. There would be removed 19 buildings from younger times, for most part inside the quartal.

New 100 mio EUR investment to be started in spring 2006
"Dambja centrs Ltd." (Lithuanian "Sklypo servisas" and British owned) will start ambitious investment in the spring next year. New office + apartment quartal between Ganibu dambis, Sermulinu and Petersalas Str will be constructed. Public hearing of the project on-going now.
Location - north from Centrum, not that far from Skanstes street area.
Existing Soviet time factory to be removed. Along Ganibu dambis there would be a kind of 6-floor wall - offices. Inside the quartal - mainly 8 - 9 floor buildings. Office space - 17 000 m2, apartment space - 7 700 m2.
I don't know why it is that expensive.
http://www.realty.lv/rus/img/news/18592024112005102128.bmp

GO Planet centre opened today
Largest covered entertainment complex in Baltic states - "GO Planet" - is opened today. Indoor area - 15 000 m2. In 2006 expected at least 0,5 mio clients. Main attraction - indoor carting trace as well as high-end virtual-reality F1 simulator. Other attractions - unique 4D cinema, laser labirint games in several floors (like computer games, but you should go there yourself). Most of those attractions are the first such in Europe.

100 mio EUR to be invested in entertainment complex near airport
Local company ADG Shipmanagement is going to invest some 100 mio EUR in area of 20 ha in Marupe municipality, near Riga airport. This project has been prepared over the last few years, construction to be started in 2006 and completed - in 2008. This will be a kind of small Disneyland with different kinetic attractions.

Terbatas centrs project (see some posts ago has been renamed to Tango projekts.

hmm, pretty quiet opening for such grand complex.. i'm speaking of GO Planet :/

Wow, nice investments you get there :okay:
And it would be interesting to visit GO Planet

New 100 mio EUR investment to be started in spring 2006
"Dambja centrs Ltd." (Lithuanian "Sklypo servisas" and British owned) will start ambitious investment in the spring next year. New office + apartment quartal between Ganibu dambis, Sermulinu and Petersalas Str will be constructed. Public hearing of the project on-going now.
Location - north from Centrum, not that far from Skanstes street area.
Existing Soviet time factory to be removed. Along Ganibu dambis there would be a kind of 6-floor wall - offices. Inside the quartal - mainly 8 - 9 floor buildings. Office space - 17 000 m2, apartment space - 7 700 m2.
I don't know why it is that expensive.
http://www.realty.lv/rus/img/news/18592024112005102128.bmp
[/B].
17000 m2+7700m2=24700

100000000 eur/24700=approximately 4050 eur/m2

:eek2: I think you just didn't get proper info about this project or its gonna be most expensive project in EU :)

I consider that this is mistake - everyone here is upset about those news. 25 mio EUR would be more reasonable.

but the numbers are correct! i've seen the same numbers in todays newspapers, 70mio Ls, which is ~100mio EUR.. there are abandoned industrial buildings at this place today, they plan to remove them completely and use only old bricks for parts of facade of the new buildings..

as i understood, lithuanian RangaIV Investicijos and Hermis Capital plan to invest 20mio EUR, by building residential apartments (~300 flats) in the place where Aurora Baltika factory was (in Pardaugava)