Under the management of SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE) the renovation works of the Art Museum “Arsenāls”, a structural unit of the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA), continue. The interior dismantling works have been completed according to the work schedule. When the floors were uncovered, historical limestone floor slabs measuring approximately 500 square meters were discovered. SRE is evaluating their preservation and reuse in one of the “Arsenāls” rooms, which will be used for packing, storage and preparation for transport of artworks, informs SRE Board Member Jeļena Gavrilova.
The limestone floor slabs found (one slab weighs about 60-70 kg) have been recognised as valuable by the National Cultural Heritage Board, and will therefore be preserved and reused in other objects where possible.
The development of the construction design has been completed and a digital model of the construction documentation has been created, using BIM methodology and making minor improvements to the design solutions previously developed by PS “AD SPATIUM”.
“During the reconstruction of the Arsenal, we are combining the values of the past with modern technologies to create a modern environment for exhibiting works of art, while preserving the authenticity of the building and improving its functionality. It is also planned to install energy-efficient ventilation and climate control systems, creating suitable conditions for exhibiting and storing works of art, as well as ensuring comfort for the widest range of users of the building. The construction works in cooperation with the involved parties are being carried out in accordance with the schedule,"informs Jeļena Gavrilova, member of the board of VNĪ.
According to the construction project, the works include restoration work, as well as reconstruction of the building's load-bearing structure, including the roof, partitions, basement, etc., interior decoration work, engineering networks, including ventilation, heating, climate control, power supply, low-voltage, control and automation systems, sound systems, security alarms, electronic communications networks, as well as video surveillance.
In parallel with the works inside the Arsenal, construction works on the rainwater network in the side yard between the Saeima and Arsenal buildings will begin in the near future, connecting the external rainwater system to the central rainwater drainage system, thus solving the moisture problems in the basement. Later, in the course of the Arsenal reconstruction project, it is also planned to improve the side yard by paving it with concrete paving stones and renewing the lawn. Roof demolition works are also planned to start soon.
To improve accessibility, the reconstruction of Torņa Street from Jēkaba Street to Arsenāla Street is planned for next year. The reconstruction works of Torņa Street will contribute to improving the quality of roads and sidewalks, making access to the exhibition hall more convenient and safer for all visitors.
The construction works are expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The contract for the construction works has been concluded with PS “P un S Būvniecība” for a contract price of EUR 13 629 031.97 excluding VAT (VAT EUR 2 862 096.71). The project is financed by EUR 17 744 108.06 incl. VAT, of which EUR 15 082 491.85 is ERDF funding.
The “Arsenāls” reconstruction and restoration project is funded from the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, Objective 5.1.1 Specific Support Objective 5.1.1.5 ”Restoration of unique European cultural heritage to enhance accessibility through the development of cultural services“, Measure 5.1.1.5 ”Promotion of integrated social, economic and environmental development of local areas and cultural heritage, tourism and security in urban functional areas".
“Arsenāls” is a model of classicist architecture and the renovation project is part of the regulatory framework directed by the Ministry of Culture for the preservation of unique cultural monuments of national importance, which are located in the urban monument “Historical Centre of Riga” and at the same time in the territory of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site “Historical Centre of Riga”. Within the framework of this project, it is planned to develop five objects in the historical center of Riga – the Great Guild Hall, “Arsenāls”, Valņu Street and its surroundings, Daugava Gate, as well as to create exhibitions of the Latvian National History Museum in the Riga Castle.
As Māra Lāce, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Art, points out: “The strategic goal of the building reconstruction and the operation of the Art Museum “Arsenāls” is to create a well-functioning cultural space, which would emphasize work with Latvian visual art of the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century throughout its development period, in stylistic and media diversity, by researching, popularizing, and creating conceptual exhibition series, creative workshops, educational programs, lectures, conferences, and seminars. At the same time, it is intended for this place to become a significant center of contemporary art in the Baltics.”
About the Art Museum “Arsenāls”
“Arsenāls” is one of the most significant buildings in the extensive system of the Latvian National Museum of Art. The customs warehouse, built in the Russian late classicism style at the beginning of the 19th century, is being adapted to the functions of the museum. The author of the original design of the building is the architect Johann Eduard de Witte. A little later, the design was supplemented with suggestions by Julius Adolph Spazier, but in 1828, the architect of St. Petersburg Alexander Nellinger and the architect of the customs department Ivan Lucchini developed the final version. In November 1832, the building was officially handed over to the then users. “Arsenāls” building has always been used as a warehouse. In the 1920s and 1930s, it served as a storage facility for military property. During the Soviet occupation, the army department used it for storage of property, goods and for the needs of a military school. In the mid-1980s, the building was taken over by the Ministry of Culture, transferring it to the establishment of an art museum.
In 1986, part of the art collection from the current main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art was moved to “Arsenāls” with the aim of establishing a new art museum, which was opened to visitors in 1988 and functioned as the exhibition hall of the National Museum of Art until 2020. In 2020, in preparation for the reconstruction, the public activities of the building were suspended and the collection of artworks was moved to the newly built Museum Repository in Pārdaugava on Pulka Street, thus creating the opportunity to ensure availability and accessibility to the entire volume of the building. “Arsenāls” is located in the city center next to the old town and fits well into tourist routes. Attributing public significance to this object only increases the historical and current importance of this part of the city as a recreation area.
During the period from its opening in 1988 to its closure, significant art and cultural events have taken place in the “Arsenal” - solo exhibitions of Latvian and foreign artists, conceptual art exhibitions from the museum’s collection, international exhibition projects, performances, concerts and educational programs. The total number of visitors during these years has exceeded one million.
About the Latvian National Museum of Art
The Latvian National Museum of Art is one of the leading public museums in the country, the most important repository and venue for visual art, which operates as a direct state administration institution under the authority of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, based on the Cabinet of Ministers’ Regulations of 18 December 2012 No. 923 “Regulations of the Latvian National Museum of Art”. Its operations are ensured in accordance with the regulations, sector policy planning documents, the Law on Museums of the Republic of Latvia, the Regulations on the National Museum Collection, the Code of Ethics of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and other regulatory enactments.
LNMA has six territorial structural units, in which a full cycle of museum functions is implemented:
The main and only historical building of the Latvian National Museum of Art, Jaņa Rozentālas laukums 1;
Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Skārņu Street 10;
Art Museum RIGA BOURSE, Doma laukums 6;
Romanas Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova Museum, Elizabetes Street 57;
Museum Storage Facility, Pulka Street 8;
Art Museum “Arsenāls”, Torņa Street 1.
About SRE
Currently, 110 projects with a total investment of 410 million euros are being implemented under the management of SJSC “State Real Estate”. SRE provides professional real estate management and administration for 427 buildings and structures properties, which include 1089 buildings with an area of 0.996 million square meters, as well as land under buildings with an area of 591 hectares, and 3,261 land properties with a total area of 895 hectares. In 2024, SRE received the “Sustainability Index” platinum award of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Institute for the fourth time, confirming the consistently high sustainability of management and the company's operations. The company was founded in 1996, its 100% shareholder is the Ministry of Finance.
Additional information for the media:
SRE “State Real Estate”
Corporate Communication and Sustainability Department
E-mail: komunikacija@vni.lv; tel. +371 20235301
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
