The reconstruction project of the Latvia Puppet Theatre at Krišjāņa Barona Street 16/18, Riga, is successfully approaching its final stage. So far, several significant changes and improvements have been made to preserve the building's historical value and ensure solutions that meet modern requirements, informs Jelena Gavrilova, member of the board of SJSC "State Real Estate" (SRE).
One of the most significant changes has been the introduction of a new ventilation and heating system, which will help ensure optimal comfort and energy efficiency on the theatre premises. To protect the building's historic facade, special attention has been paid to the internal insulation process. Meanwhile, the small hall of the Latvia Puppet Theatre, which has undergone major changes, has had its ceiling raised and its functionality adapted to resemble a "black box", which will offer new and innovative possibilities for creating performances.
“We want to ensure that cultural infrastructure objects are not only historically and architecturally significant but also meet modern requirements. The reconstruction works offer an opportunity to include this art space in the modern cultural scene, investing in the development of the city and society. We are pleased to observe the progress of the reconstruction of the Latvia Puppet Theatre. This building is not only an important historical object, but also an important cultural center, which in its own way shapes our future theater and culture lovers. The completed works bring us one step closer to the completion and the opening of the theater’s new premises in November of this year,” says Jelena Gavrilova, a member of the board of SRE.
Several works have already been completed, including facade insulation and plastering, window installation, interior and exterior door installation, tiling of floors and walls, completion of the tin roof and partition walls, installation of plasterboard ceilings, painting, installation of linoleum and implementation of internal networks, including water supply and sewage. Some of the works are still in the final stages of completion to ensure the comfort of the audience and the theatre's compliance with modern standards. It is planned that the Puppet Theatre team could return to their premises at the end of November 2023.
The Latvia Puppet Theatre building at Krišjāņa Barona Street 16/18 is located in the protection zone of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site “Riga Historic Centre” and is an important cultural and historical monument. It was built according to the design of architect Ernests Pole in 1911 and has been an important part of Riga city life. The building was commissioned in 1924, and it housed a cinema, a pharmacy, a book printing house and stamp workshop, a café and several shops. The Latvia Puppet Theatre has been operating in this building since 1944.
The energy efficiency project of the Latvia Puppet Theatre has been developed by SIA “Livland Group” (Ltd.), the construction work is being carried out by the general partnership “P un P BŪVNIECĪBAS GRUPA”, the contract price is 3.8 million euros excluding VAT. The financing of the renovation project of the Puppet Theatre, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, has been attracted from the second round of project application selection under the specific support objective 4.2.1.2. of the Operational Programme “Growth and Employment” of the European Union Funds “Promote the increase of energy efficiency in public and residential buildings” and from the state budget (including Covid-19 funding for heating the economy through investments in construction).
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 352 buildings and structures, which include 1000 buildings with an area of 0.95 million square meters, as well as land under buildings with an area of 607 hectares, and 3460 land properties with a total area of 907 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)
