On December 16, the Tobacco Factory Quarter opened its doors in a new form, now home to the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) Film School, the Institute of Culture and Arts, graduate students, and the LAC Centre of Continuing Education. As part of the project, another degraded area in the center of Riga has acquired a new form, breath, and space for a variety of forms of artistic expression, as well as providing increasing professional growth opportunities for LAC students and researchers.
“It is a real pleasure that the vision created several years ago for the development of this Miera Street quarter has become a reality. “Tobacco Factory” has now become the home of one of our centres of cultural excellence – the Latvian Academy of Culture. Thinking in the long term, it is important that we are not only proud of how talented our young representatives of the cultural sector are, but all together, by investing work, time and also funds, we are creating an environment where these people can become talents. And the new “Tabakas fabrika” quarter will definitely be like that,” said Minister of Culture Agnese Lāce at the opening.
The project is another step towards the development of the neighborhood and the revitalization of degraded areas. In the long term, it is planned to bring even more students and representatives of the creative industries to the neighborhood, by also moving students and employees of the LAC bachelor's study programs “The Art of Dramatic Theater Acting” and “The Art of Dramatic Theater Directing” to the new premises, as well as the Riga Film Museum.
“Previously, the former Tobacco Factory Quarter was considered one of the most degraded neighborhoods of Riga, where a monument of national importance was located and the historical industrial environment was preserved. The revival of the quarter has required several years of extensive and intensive work, but together with all those involved in the project, we have managed not only to preserve historical evidence, but also to provide new opportunities for students and the quarter,” says Jelena Gavrilova, member of the board of SJSC "State Real Estate".
The implementation of TabFab will allow us to combine the wisdom of the past, the energy of the present and the potential for future growth. In the implementation of the first stage of the project, the LAC Film School has acquired new, modern and much more suitable premises. It now has at its disposal not only suitable premises for ensuring academic studies, but also a filming pavilion, which students and academic staff will be able to adapt to the creative visions of students.
"Finally, the long-awaited and very important first step towards the transition of the Latvian Academy of Culture to the TabFab Quarter has been taken. Our university has been moving towards rapid development in recent years in terms of both size and quality, so appropriate study spaces are also really vital. Both new buildings will provide students, lecturers and researchers with a place that meets modern requirements, where new knowledge, high-quality art and research can arise," says the Rector of the LAC, Professor Dāvis Sīmanis.
In accordance with the vision of the architectural office NRJA, three buildings have been rebuilt and adapted to the needs of the Latvian Academy of Culture - a film school, a filming pavilion and “Gara māja”, where lectures for doctoral and master's students of the Latvian Academy of Culture will take place, the Latvian Academy of Culture Centre and the Latvian Academy of Culture and Arts Institute will operate. So far, an area of 2,325 m2 has been renovated and improved, and public buildings of 1,090 m2 have been renovated and improved.
“We believe that the Latvian Academy of Culture quarter will become an important cultural place in the near future. And the architecture only emphasizes the energy, joy of life and sincerity that is characteristic of the new generation. In order for the entire quarter to run, both enormous energy and the desire to do so, as well as funds, which are always in short supply, are needed also. May the Academy of Culture succeed in creating a complete, vibrant quarter in the territory of the historical center of Riga,” wishes Uldis Lukševics, the founder of NRJA.
"For two years, the team of SIA “Marels Būve” (Ltd.) have done a great job to bring the bold ideas of the architectural office NRJA to life. For example, we gave a second life to the dismantled paving stones from the roadway, which we used in the facade decoration of the “GARA” house, a pink coating was applied to the asphalt, while we painted the WC walls in a green tone, which is close to a “green screen”, so that visitors can take a selfie and easily add a background of their choice," says Arturs Sproģis, a member of the board of SIA “Marels Būve” (Ltd.).
Construction works for a total amount of 6.3 million euros (including VAT) were carried out by SIA “Marels Būve” (Ltd.), in cooperation with the architectural office NRJA and LAC. Construction supervision was carried out by SIA “Baltline globe” (Ltd.). The Ministry of Culture has attracted funds for the project from the Operational Programme "Growth and Employment", Specific Support Objective 5.6.1 "Promoting the revitalisation of Riga City, ensuring efficient socio-economic use of the territory" and the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, Priority 4.2 "Education, skills and lifelong learning", 4.2.1 Specific support objective "Improve equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning through the development of accessible infrastructure, including by promoting resilience in remote and online education and learning ", measure 4.2.1.8 "Modernisation of the learning environment of higher education institutions".
About SRE
Currently, 110 projects with a total investment of 410 million euros are being implemented under the administration of SJSC "State Real Estate". SRE provides professional real estate management and administration for 427 building and structure properties, which includes 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. SRE is one of 17 Latvian companies that received the highest platinum award in the 2023 “Sustainability Index” assessment of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Institute, confirming good governance and the 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)
