Art Museum ARSENĀLS halls have reached planned volume – interior demolition works completed

Under the management of SJSC “State Real Estate”, reconstruction and renovation works continue in the premises of the Art Museum ARSENĀLS at Torņa Street 1, Riga. The interior demolition works have been completed, and the premises have now acquired their planned volume and spaciousness. Roof dismantling works are ongoing and are expected to be completed by the end of October this year, informs VNĪ Board Member Jeļena Gavrilova.

In parallel, roof construction works, repairs of cracks discovered during the dismantling process in the vaults and walls, as well as other construction works according to the project, are in progress. The development of the construction project has been completed, and a digital model of the project documentation has been created using BIM methodology, including improvements to the construction project previously developed in 2021 by “AD SPATIUM.” Digital solutions have been created that allow a glimpse into the future vision of what the spaces will look like after restoration. The authors of the project solutions are SIA “ARH stadija.”

Art Museum ARSENĀLS premises after reconstruction – 360° (panoramic) photos:

Vestibule:
https://cloud.chaos.com/collaboration/file/Y5aicrHjhXdQYL7y4uZS11

1st floor:
https://cloud.chaos.com/collaboration/file/YKPDzAprKJhwaLZ9dMirJU
https://cloud.chaos.com/collaboration/file/QshPWHJaANDXkDvonRFGWq

2nd floor:
https://cloud.chaos.com/collaboration/file/Nzs7Aemy9TsiGaETzp5wRH
https://cloud.chaos.com/collaboration/file/NSahUd6BmbLYWnjXckVx8T
https://cloud.chaos.com/collaboration/file/14XuKuMymwcFXJw17grNtD

“The ongoing reconstruction works at Art Museum ARSENĀLS are progressing sequentially, in accordance with the project design and work execution schedule. The completion of the ARSENĀLS reconstruction and the commencement of its operation in the 3rd quarter of 2028, coinciding with Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is defined as an undeniable priority for the next five-year period of the Latvian National Museum of Art. I certainly see that ARSENĀLS has the potential to become a significant venue for art events in the cultural life of Latvia and the Baltic region, with a particular focus in its program on the display of contemporary art and the purposeful representation of artistic developments,” notes Māra Lāce, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Art.

During the course of the building’s restoration, restoration works will be carried out, as well as reconstruction of the building’s load-bearing structures, including the roof, partition walls, basement, and other sections, interior finishing works, and installation of engineering systems, including ventilation, heating, climate control, power supply, low-voltage, control and automation systems, sound systems, security alarms, electronic communication networks, and video surveillance systems. Ventilation and climate control systems will be installed to ensure suitable conditions for the display and storage of artworks, as well as providing comfort for the building’s wide range of users.

In parallel with the works inside ARSENĀLS, rainwater drainage system construction has begun in the courtyard between the Saeima building and ARSENĀLS, connecting the external rainwater system to the central drainage network, thereby addressing moisture issues in the basement premises. To improve accessibility, the reconstruction of Torņa Street is planned for 2026, in the section between Jēkaba Street and Arsenāla Street. The reconstruction of Torņa Street will improve the quality of roads and sidewalks, making access to the art museum more convenient and safer for all visitors.

Construction works are expected to be completed by the end of 2027. A contract has been signed with the partnership “P un S Būvniecība” for the amount of EUR 13,629,031.97 excluding VAT (VAT EUR 2,862,096.71). The total project funding, including appropriation reallocation, amounts to EUR 19,564,108.06 including VAT, of which EUR 15,082,491.85 is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The reconstruction and restoration project of the Art Museum ARSENĀLS is financed from the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, under the Ministry of Culture’s specific support objective 5.1.1 “Promotion of integrated social, economic and environmental development of local territories, cultural heritage, tourism, and safety in urban functional areas,” activity 5.1.1.5 “Restoration of unique European-scale cultural heritage to improve accessibility through the development of cultural services.”

In 2021, under the management of VNĪ, the first stage of the ARSENĀLS reconstruction was completed, which included the restoration of the building’s façade, window restoration, and the construction of foundation waterproofing.

Art Museum ARSENĀLS is a prime example of Classicist architecture, and its restoration project is part of the Ministry of Culture’s regulatory framework initiative for the preservation of unique state-level cultural monuments located within the urban monument “Historic Centre of Riga,” which is also part of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site “Historic Centre of Riga.” Within this project, five sites in Riga’s historic centre are planned for development – the Great Guild, ARSENĀLS, Vaļņu Street and its surroundings, Daugavas Gate, and the establishment of the National History Museum of Latvia’s exhibitions in Riga Castle.