On 14 February 2023, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the Latvian Academy of Culture, SRE, the architectural office “NRJA” and the construction company “Marels būve” Ltd. placed a time capsule with messages for the future in the foundations of the creative industries business incubator building “TabFab”, the cultural and creative industry support centre at 58a Miera Street, Riga, implemented by SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE), informs Renars Griskevics (Renārs Griškevičs), Chairman of the Board of SJSC “State Real Estate”.
A time capsule with a message for future generations has been placed in the foundations of the Creative Industries Business Incubator (RIBI) building. The messages include information about the project participants, wishes for future generations and possible finders of the tomb, as well as artistic and philosophical messages.
“The “TabFab” culture and creative industries support centre is a long-awaited and much-needed centre for cultural processes, especially in their early stages, to take place in a modern and high-quality environment, which, as part of the revitalization, will give the city's historic territory a new lease of life, a new meaning. In the capsule, we have included a pithy illustration of the Ministry's operational strategy by cartoon master Gatis Sluka (Šļūka), based on one of the measures of artistic excellence - the ability of a collection of individual details to cohere into a coherent whole, creating a harmonious ensemble. I wish that this quarter will become such an ensemble in the near future,” says Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis.
"With the placement of the capsule, a very important symbolic step is being taken so that next year, after the completion of the construction of the Film School building, students of Audiovisual Arts at the Latvian Academy of Culture can start their studies in the wonderful modern premises of the former Tobacco Factory. Our message has always been and will always be the work of our students in all its diversity, and that is why we have chosen to place not just one film in this capsule, but all the graduation works of our audiovisual art students," says Jānis Putniņš, Head of the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture.
"SRE is currently implementing various projects in the cultural sector, within the framework of which new space is being created for the representatives of the cultural sector, available premises are being modernized and new opportunities for sustainable development are being created. This is one of three cultural projects where we have the opportunity to regenerate degraded areas, breathe new life into them and bring them back to the city's visitors and residents. We are honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to the promotion of the quality of Latvian culture and creative industries education," says Renars Griskevics, Chairman of the Board of SJSC “State Real Estate”.
"The first stage of the development of the Latvian Academy of Culture Quarter is currently underway. To realize the long-cherished plans for the full-fledged relocation of the LKA to Miera Street, serious preparatory work will be needed. We, “NRJA”, add a 2 euro coin to the capsule as a symbolic necessary ingredient to make good intentions come true," says “NRJA” founder Uldis Luksevics (Lukševics). The first phase of the “TabFab” interdisciplinary education, culture and creative industries support centre is actively underway in the construction quarter, which has so far already included the dismantling of the future film school premises and the start of preparatory works for the construction of additional foundations. Demolition work has also started on the film pavilion and the foundations of the RIBI building have been laid. By mid-summer, work on the floors and other structures of the RIBI building will continue and the highest point of the roof will have been reached. The first phase of works is planned to be completed in the beginning of 2024, so that the students of the Latvian Academy of Culture and representatives of creative industries can start getting acquainted with the new premises.
According to the vision of “NRJA” architects, the project will adapt the premises to the needs of the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture, as well as build a separate filming pavilion, renovating and improving the territory of 2325 m2 and public buildings of 1090 m2.
The total cost of the first phase is € 4.62 million, including a currently approved project cost increase of € 258 150. The Ministry of Culture has attracted funding for the first phase of the project from the EU Funds Operational Programme "Growth and Employment" 6.6.1. SAM "Promoting the revitalisation of Riga city by ensuring efficient socio-economic use of the territory" project "Establishment of the interdisciplinary education, culture and creative industries support centre "TabFab" in the real estate property at 58a Miera Street, Riga". Project No.5.6.1.0/17/I/005.
Photos from the event are available at: https://faili.vni.lv/index.php/s/VJWGJZtFKGjD4Tp
SRE successfully implements 44 projects of national importance, 24 of which are under construction. The total implementation budget for the projects is more than EUR 336 million. SRE provides professional real estate management and administration for 352 building and construction properties, which include 1000 buildings with an area of 0.95 million square meters, as well as land under buildings with an area of 607 ha, and 3460 land properties with a total area of 907 ha. SRE is one of 23 Latvian companies that this year has received the highest platinum award as part of the Sustainability Index of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in 2022, confirming the good governance and sustainability of its operations. The company was founded in 1996 and is 100 % owned by the Ministry of Finance.
