Among the seven finalist teams, each of which consisted of a foreign and local bureau, an international jury led by David Bickle of the Victoria and Albert Museum selected a joint project of Adjaye Associates London office and AB3D Latvian bureau, with the participation of Plan A, AKTII, BuroHappold, Turner & Townsend and Martha Schwartz Partners. She also noted the purity, clarity and functionality of the concept of the duo Henning Larsen Architects and MARK arhitekti. The joint work of Sauerbruch Hutton and Ingurds Lazdinsh received a special mention - “for modest charm and anti-iconic concept”.
The winning proposal, in the opinion of the jury, gives "a poetic and beautiful answer to all the challenges of the test task, while becoming an integral part of Riga." The halls of the museum will display very different works of local artists from the 1960s to the present. With this in mind, the architects presented the building as a kind of sequence of small volumes that can be used as flexibly as possible. Such a solution, in their opinion, will make it possible to advantageously show both small chamber works and large-scale installations.
In the upper part, the division is emphasized by the intricate relief of the roof, so that in combination with the wood trim, the entire building looks like a series of small houses put together. But the unusual roof not only refers to traditional local architecture and conveys the idea of the museum as a "home for exhibits." It helps to deliver maximum sunlight to each room and is part of the rainwater harvesting system, as the project was designed in accordance with all principles of sustainable construction.
The project, estimated at around 30 million euros, will be part of the ambitious New Hanza City initiative. It provides for the formation of a new, modern quarter in the immediate vicinity of the center of Riga, combining business, residential and entertainment functions. The opening of the country's first Museum of Contemporary Art is planned to coincide with the Independence Day of Latvia - November 18, 2021.
