Reconstruction process of the Riga Bourse

THE RIGA BOURSE BUILDING

Between 2008 and 2011, the RE&RE building company engaged in massive reconstruction and restoration at the Riga Bourse so as to return the building to its former brilliance.  It is said that the building at one time was not just at a functionally high level in line with the demands of the times, but also one of the most ornate structures in the entire city.  First-floor business rooms were comparatively ascetic, but the main stairwell and the upper floors were very fancy, indeed.  There was faux marble, along with ornate furniture and other interior design objects.  After the successful restoration of the six floors of the Bourse, there are modern exhibition halls, various exhibitions, a “Small School” meant for children, seminar and conference rooms, cafeterias, a shop for souvenirs and other elements.  Another new thing is that there are special leisure areas and modern technologies, including audio guides for local and foreign guests.

The museum offers not just exhibitions and lifelong education programmes, but also interest clubs, discussions, concerts and theatrical performances.  After the work done by RE&RE, the building and its rooms have been structured so as to ensure access for people with movement difficulties.  Thought has also been given to families with small children.

Of great importance in the reconstruction of this ornate building was its status as a national cultural monument, which means that the valuable interior of the building could be restored and preserved only on the basis of unimportant changes to the floor plan.  Thanks to the reconstruction, Riga Bourse is finally appropriate for a permanent museum exhibition, as well as for an appropriate microclimate for international exhibitions of various sizes.

The RE&RE builders and restorers conducted the reconstruction of the building on the basis of their experience and their tolerant attitude toward historical objects.  This has allowed this jewel of architecture in Riga’s historical centre to sparkle at a new level of quality and brilliance.