Design chosen for Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art

London-based architecture practice Adjaye Associates has been selected to design the Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art in Riga.

Adjaye Associates were chosen from a shortlist of seven international firms – Adjaye Associates, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects, Caruso St John Architects, Henning Larsen Architects, Neutelings Riedijk Architects, Sauerbruch Hutton and wHY – and will team up with local Latvian studio AB3D for the project.

The firm proposes to reference the traditional wooden houses characteristic of the Baltic region with a building featuring an angular roofscape. According to the team behind the plans, the tilted roofs will feature north-facing glazing, “so that the pure northern light is sculpted into intimate or larger gallery environments”.

In addition to gallery space, the building is also set to boast a special performance area in the form of a sloped plaza, while a grand concourse inside will incorporate a cast concrete waffle structure, engineered to improve acoustics.

“This museum will be a beacon that both celebrates Latvia’s incredible artistic legacy and meaningfully links the country to the international art community,” said Adjaye Associates founder David Adjaye.

Riga’s upcoming Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art is due to open in 2021 and has a price tag of US$34.1 million. Set to showcase a wide range of contemporary art both from Latvia and the wider Baltic region, the museum aims to become the “most-visited art museum in the Baltic states”.

Source: Dezeen