As the public relations consultant Rūta Grikmane informed LETA, the application was signed by about 20 architects. In their opinion, the building is an important example of Latvian post-war modernist architecture, and it characterizes the ability of architects working during the Soviet era to be on a par with architectural trends in the world, despite the closed information space.
“Taking into account the increased interest of both local and international community and architecture professionals in Latvia’s post-war modernist architecture, we decided to apply to the NCMP to grant the building the status of a cultural monument,” said Uldis Lukševics, one of the authors and head of NRJA.
The application states that, apart from minor interventions, the building has retained its original substance and quality of details, and contains many interesting architectural ideas, skillful examples of volume joining and quality finishing.
The architects emphasized in the application that modernist architecture all over the world sought to use the same means of expression, openly taking them from colleagues and interpreting them. The authors of the building at 2 Elizabetes Street are influenced by the UNESCO building of Marseille Breier in Paris.
The group of architects that prepared the application states that the conference hall in the building with dark wood acoustic panels created by the Latvian acoustic old master Albert Vecsilis is an important part of the complex, adding even more value to the administrative building at 2 Elizabetes Street.
Lukševics emphasized that until June 2020, the building at Elizabetes Street 2 was assessed as culturally and historically valuable, therefore it is not clear why such radical decisions as demolition of the object to build an acoustic concert hall were made without discussions with the public and professionals.
“We ask for an urgent review of the opinions on the” small cultural and historical value of the building “, prepared using the criteria of architectural value of the beginning of the last century, as well as in-depth material research recognizing the building at 2 Elizabetes Street as a cultural monument,” Lukševics said.
The application signed by the architects also states that this is the time when the state and the NCMP can set an example by taking responsibility and determining the status of a monument to an architectural monument in their possession, taking care of its preservation. Professionals believe that otherwise the administration will lose any arguments to make future decisions on privately owned buildings.
The administrative building at Elizabetes Street 2 was put into operation in 1974, its architects are Jānis Vilciņš, Alfons Ūdris, Antons Staņislavskis and Gunārs Asaris, while the acoustics were designed by Alberts Vecsīlis.
CONTEXT:
The government supported it on 16 June The initiative of the Ministry of Culture (MoC) to develop the construction of the Riga acoustic concert hall at 2 Elizabetes Street, Kronvalda Park.
Meanwhile, several architects raise alarm as the site chosen for the construction of the concert hall, stating that the building is a legacy of Soviet-era modernist architecture and should not be demolished.
It is projected that dismantling of the building could start in spring 2021, and that the demolition of the building and the design competition of the Riga Concert Hall will cost about 3 million euros.
Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis (National Association) expressed hopethat the concert hall will be completed in 6-7 years.
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