Revitalization of degraded environments is a complex and very challenging task, but the results are very inspiring. In this way, restored territories are returned to public use, where historical heritage and modern, sustainable solutions alternate. SJSC "State Real Estate" (SRE) is currently working on the restoration of several degraded sites, their total restoration budget exceeds ten million euros, informs SRE board member Jeļena Gavrilova.
"From a sustainability perspective, the best building is an unbuilt building, so when returning degraded areas to society, it is important for us to preserve and restore as much of the previous building as possible. However, renovation projects for such buildings are very challenging, because the real scope and complexity of the work to be done are revealed only after the work has begun, so it is very difficult to predict the exact completion dates for these projects," explains the SRE board member.
In revitalization projects, preliminary inspection and research of buildings is of great importance, but it will never reveal all the problems that designers and builders must face during renovation. Although SRE sets higher requirements for preliminary inspection of buildings than the technical inspection building code provides, the real condition of buildings is revealed only during dismantling and reconstruction works. For example, the research shows that the building in the future “Makerspace Riga” has a mixed brick and dolomite foundation, but in reality, it turns out that a large part of the foundation is made of dolomite masonry. Thus, it is necessary to replan the use of foundation strengthening and waterproofing technologies, which requires additional resources and time.
The foundation part can be the most worrying, as it is often revealed that the foundations are much weaker than concluded during the surveys, and significant changes must be made to the renovation projects. Also, a typical problem encountered during reconstruction is the compatibility of old and new engineering networks. However, in such cases, modern building modeling technologies facilitate the prediction of possible problems. However, since general surveys and studies of buildings to be renovated do not accurately reveal the composition of existing building structures, they are of little use for determining the stability of structures to be preserved.
“Interestingly, when working with buildings in relatively poor technical condition, we can assess how well these real estate properties have been maintained in the past. If a structure has been well maintained, it is easier to return it to public use, even if the building has not been used for a long time. Here we clearly see the importance of regular technical surveys, which allow us to understand in a timely manner which parts and systems of the house are more susceptible to degradation,” explains Gavrilova.
Thinking about sustainable construction, SRE is increasingly looking for opportunities for the reuse of dismantled materials in projects. For example, in the historical quarter at Miera Street 58A, where the educational, cultural and creative industries center “TAB FAB” is being built, the facade of the Creative Industries Business Incubator (RIBI) building was originally planned to use dismantled bricks. It turned out that they were not well preserved enough, so the facade decoration is being made from paving stones dismantled in the territory. Thus, not only will the historical environmental values be preserved, but the “TAB FAB” quarter will also gain a unique and attractive visual identity.
“Considering the many “unknowns” that arise when renovating historic buildings, the process must be approached creatively, making the most of existing materials, exposing previously hidden textures, and using them in unconventional ways. The exposed Soviet-era silicate brickwork and reinforced concrete panels of the ceiling in the Film School’s interior are witnesses of their era and are able to visually tell the story of historical heritage. The RIBI building, which gets its concrete cobblestone facade from the adjacent road being rebuilt, is a different story. By complementing the historic structure with undisguised contemporary structures, the qualities of both are enhanced and highlighted,” explains architect Uldis Lukševics, head of the architectural firm “NRJA”.
The former Tobacco Factory quarter has preserved its historical industrial environment, the old buildings are a monument of national importance, but at the same time this area was once considered one of the most degraded neighborhoods in Riga. Extensive work has been invested in revitalizing the quarter and returning it to the public over the course of several years. Currently, the concrete walls and the assembly of metal structures have been completed in the National Film School's filming pavilion. A series of works on the arrangement of building structures have also been carried out in the future National Film School building, the masonry of internal partitions has begun, work continues in the basement, on the facade decoration and window installation. The construction of external engineering networks has begun, and the construction of a heating network will also begin soon.
Like TAB FAB, the prototyping workshop complex Riga Makerspace is a clear example of how degraded areas are transformed into creative, educational and innovative places. Six modern prototyping workshops, which will be located in the former Riga Light Industry Technical School building, will help students of Riga School of Design and the Art and Art Academy of Latvia to acquire practical skills. The list of works completed in the project is impressive, and it includes various engineering network construction and construction activities aimed at ensuring high-quality and modern infrastructure. In this project, dismantled bricks are used for brickwork in certain places.
About the Education, Culture and Creative Industries Center TAB FAB
The aim of the establishment of the Culture and Creative Industries Support Center “TAB FAB” is to create a modern and inviting urban environment in the former Tobacco Factory quarter, in the vicinity of Miera Street, as well as to create a place for creative industries to learn, work, develop and realize their ideas. The first stage of the project plans to rebuild the buildings and adapt the premises to support the study process of the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC), including the needs of the National Film School and the Creative Industries Business Incubator. The second stage of the project also plans to create premises to support the study process of the Latvian Academy of Culture. The project has attracted ERDF funding in the amount of 5.1 million euros (excluding VAT). The total construction costs are 5.6 million euros (including VAT). The construction work is being carried out by SIA “Marels Būve” (Ltd.), in cooperation with the architectural office NRJA and LAC. The project is planned to be completed in early 2024.
About “Riga Makerspace”
The “Riga Makerspace” complex for prototyping new products is being built in the building of the Riga Light Industry Technical School, at A.Briāna Street 13. In accordance with the vision of the architectural firm “Krasts”, the project will include the renovation of Riga’s public space in an area of 1,500 m2 and the construction and renovation of public buildings in an area of 3,600 m2. The project involves the renovation of the technical school building, the insulation of the attic floor, basement floor, building plinth, roof and terrace base segment, the replacement of doors and windows, the reconstruction of existing engineering communications and the construction of new engineering communications, as well as the construction of a new building. The construction, revitalization and energy efficiency works are being implemented by the general partnership “P un S Būvniecība”. The total cost of the construction works is 9.4 million euros (including VAT). For the implementation of the development project of the prototyping workshop “Riga Makerspace”, the Ministry of Culture has attracted funding from the European Union Funds Operational Program “Growth and Employment,” as well as state budget funds (including Covid-19 funding to warm the economy through investments in construction). The project is planned to be completed in 2024.
SRE is successfully implementing 44 projects of national importance, of which 24 are under construction. The total implementation budget of the projects is more than 336 million euros. SRE provides professional real estate management and administration for 365 buildings and structures, which include 1100 buildings with an area of 0.95 million square meters, as well as land under buildings with an area of 602 hectares, and 3536 land properties with a total area of 903 hectares. SRE is one of 23 Latvian companies that this year received the highest platinum award in the “Sustainability Index” assessment of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Institute, confirming good governance and sustainability of its operations. The company was founded in 1996, its 100% shareholder is the Ministry of Finance.
Additional information for the media:
SJSC "State Real Estate"
Corporate Communications and Sustainability Department
Tel.: +371 20235301
E-mail: komunikacija@vni.lv
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
