General partnership SBRE, which consists of Skonto Būve and RE&RE, continues the reconstruction and renovation of Riga Castle – the official residence of the President of Latvia. Progress of the interior construction works is obvious – part of the premises have already had their interior finish renovated and the first painting done.

Renovation works in the luxurious premises of the Riga Castle are taking place according to schedule, which foresees the premises at the President’s disposal by November 2015. Wall and ceiling plaster renovation and the decorative ceiling gypsum finish restoration and renovation works are finished and gilding works and assembly of the restored chandeliers and the artificial marble are underway in the White Hall of the castle. Cleaning and colour-fixing of the original decorative painting is finished in the Ambassador Accreditation Hall, and surfaces have been prepared for the first painting.

A huge amount of work is taking place in the Festival Hall as well – plaster renovation is finished, and at the same time both painting of surfaces and renovation of the decorative elements is taking place. Currently, the painting frame restoration and the plastering, painting and assembly of the wooden lining panels, decorative beams and acoustic ribs is underway. In The Hall of Coats of Arms painting works are still underway, as well as restoration of ceiling roses and coats of arms.

Painting works are being continued in the forepart of the castle, and in the premises of the President’s office interior construction works and installation of wooden elements is taking place – installation of window casements, interior windowsills, doors and parquet.

Also, ambitious work has begun in order to ensure that the mouldings on the gateway of the Riga Castle convent are preserved for the next generations. The late gothic mouldings of the Riga Castle, “Madonna with a Child” and “The Master Walter von Plettenberg”, which are artistic monuments of national significance and the oldest medieval sculptural monuments in Latvia, have been taken down and preserved for display, and will be replaced with copies of the mouldings.

The project for preservation and replication of the Riga Castle mouldings is included in the 1^st part of the Riga Castle restoration, which will conclude in November 2015.

Video: Elīna Matvejeva