After ambitious reconstruction and renovation works, the prototyping workshop Riga Makerspace has been commissioned; it is located in Riga, A. Briāna Street 13. Ms Jeļena Gavrilova, Member of the Board of the SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE) stated that implementation of the project was initiated in 2017, and it has finally been completed with creation of modern premises which will contribute significantly to the creative industry, education, and business in Latvia.
“Riga Makerspace has been specifically developed as a state-of-art prototyping workshop offering a modern environment to young designers and artists so that they could create, experiment, and develop their ideas. After construction and renovation works lasting for several years, the old volume of the site, formerly a home to the Riga Light Industry Technical School, has been fully renovated and upgraded. A new building has also been constructed providing space where students and representatives of the creative industries can interact, learn, and grow,” said Ms Gavrilova.
Very soon students of the Vocational Education Competence Centre “Riga School of Design and Art” and the Art Academy of Latvia will be able to use advanced workshops for various industries, such as metalworking, woodworking, fashion and textile design workshops, all equipped with relevant technological equipment. Riga Makerspace premises will provide opportunities also for the young entrepreneurs, promoting cooperation between students and businesses.
“This project will be a significant contribution to the creative future of Latvia by providing a platform for young people so that they could develop their skills, implement their ideas, and possibly create new products to make the name of Latvia known across the world,” emphasised Mr Kristaps Zariņš, Rector of the Art Academy of Latvia. “Riga Makerspace will be an excellent environment not only for students of the Vocational Education Competence Centre “Riga School of Design and Art” and the Art Academy of Latvia, but also to other interested parties seeking for a place to implement their creative projects.”
“Riga Makerspace will be a place to assemble the young designers in their study process and journey of creativity, letting them experiment and work with various technologies, tools, and materials to solve today’s challenges and create prototypes of new ideas,” stated Mr Jānis Gailītis, Head of Development and Communication Department at the Art Academy of Latvia.
Renovation and expansion project for the building was developed by architect Renāte Truševska of LLC “Arhitektu birojs Krasts”. During reconstruction, a new four-storey building was added to the old volume, as well as a small construction of the fifth floor with an oval roof shape and outdoor terrace. The historical building has preserved and restored windows, and the damaged windows were replaced with accurate reproductions. The interior plan of the building has been changed to adapt the premises for workshops of art students: non-loadbearing walls have been removed to create spacious and functional working areas, and several other improvements were made.
“The building has been through 5 construction periods, starting from a laundry built according to the project developed in 1880 by architect R. Pflug. Later, in 1911, mechanical workshops according to the project of K. Felsko were added to the laundry. Later, in 1913, Mr Felsko developed reconstruction of the building into a thread-making factory used by Riga Light Industry Technical School in the later period to 2009. Currently, the building has experienced its renaissance with a contribution suitable to this age – an advanced annex which will be used by the Art Academy of Latvia and Riga Design and Art School. The annex will house prototyping workshops where students and other interested people will be able to learn and become designers, artists, creative people. It is an addition to the development of the creative Miera Street quarter, and another cleaned up site in the historical centre of Riga,” said architect Truševska.
On the project
The objective of the Riga Makerspace project is to reconstruct the historical building of Riga Light Industry Technical School into an advanced prototyping workshop to strengthen the public space of Riga and to promote its sustainable development. The initiative is a part of the SRE long-term strategy to create an innovative and dynamic infrastructure that would serve both the young talents and professionals of the creative industries. The project is implemented by the P un S Būvniecība general partnership, with a total construction cost of 12,286,044.13 million euros (including VAT), of which 5,889,346.83 euros is covered by ERDF funding. For the development of the Riga Makerspace prototyping workshop, the Ministry of Culture has raised funding through the Growth and Employment European Union fund activity programme and through the national budget (including the COVID-19 funding intended to stimulate the economy through investment in construction) .
History of the Building
The building at A. Briāna Street 13, Riga, has a rich and varied history. Its roots reach back to the end of the 19th century, when a two-storey laundry building was built in this place according to the project by architect R. Pflug. More than 30 years later, when demand for this service increased, architect K. Felsko developed a project for expansion of the building up to four floors. Even though architects changed, the style of the building remained unified and harmonious. In 1922, the building was purchased by thread manufacturers, and its profile changed to the thread factory. During this period, the building was also enhanced with magnificent crafts elements, for example, window decorations and wooden panel doors, emphasising the eclectic brick architecture. During the Soviet times, the building received a new function – the State Light Industry Technical School moved in. The Technical School worked at the building until 2009. Afterwards the building was used for various cultural activities, such as the theatre festival “Homo novus”.
About SRE
According to the strategy of the company, SRE maintains long-term ownership of the properties necessary for public administration, while the properties that are not necessary for the public institutions in the long run and that generate losses to the state are sold via public auctions or transferred to other owners in accordance with the procedures established by law. Properties in the main portfolio that generate losses and cannot be leased to commercial tenants are put up for sale, making it possible to find a new use for them.
SRE provides professional real estate management and maintenance for 427 building and structure properties, comprising 1089 buildings with a total area of 0.996 million m2, as well as land beneath structures with a total area of 591 ha, and 3261 land properties with a total area of 895 ha. SRE is one of 17 Latvian companies that in 2023 received the highest platinum award as part of the Sustainability Index of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, confirming the good governance and sustainability of its operations. The company was founded in 1996 and the Ministry of Finance is its sole shareholder.
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