The 19th century Kimmel Brewery stands as an island within the residential realm of the city’s urban expansion. Transformation of this iconic Riga Quarter recreates the city’s unique spatial quality through a modern interpretation of the historical Riga industrial city-block. The New Kimmel Quarter is a place for residents and visitors, for brunches and for drinks. This is an integral part of the city, offering exciting new experiences and limitless opportunities.

The Kimmel site frames Riga’s Art Nouveau area and connects with other typologies of Riga city blocks. “The competition site exhibits a unique urban planning character within the context of the historical centre of Riga; <...> During the first half of the 19th century, a number of industrial enterprises were founded within the suburban territories. In the course of subsequent city expansion, industrial quarters remained as “islands” among the surrounding residential buildings.“
Our proposal encourages the preservation of this unique urban character by enriching the street perimeter, creating a recognizable silhouette, and forming two inner courtyards.

The site layout maintains and continues the characteristic “urban island” composition, while forming two semi-enclosed courtyards – historical and new. The Historical Courtyard is surrounded by heritage buildings, while The New one is defined by a perimeter of modern office buildings.
The complex opens out to Kr. Valdemāra Street with main entrances to the office buildings, foodcourt, and conference centre, entrances to retail stores and underground parking, as well as entrances to the Historical Courtyard.
The concept aims to recreate the city’s unique spatial quality through a modern interpretation of the historical Riga industrial city-block typology. New design keeps historical arrangement of the industrial quarter.

The buildings form a harmonious composition in coexistence with valuable Historical Brewery complex. The shapes and silhouettes of the volumes reflect Riga Centre Art-Nouveau architectural patterns, fabrics and materiality. Respectful restoration of historical buildings and structures are enriched with subtle modern details.

Historical Courtyard – Kimmel Beer garden is surrounded by reconstructed Kimmel brewery building, former Kimmel production building along Kr. Valdemāra Street, former wooden residential house with garden, former residential house along Bruņinieku Street and the chimney of the Kimmel brewery. The Historical Courtyard is dedicated to public use – Kimmel brewery is converted to Kimmel Hotel with spa and fine-dinning restaurant, other historical buildings are converted into shops, pubs, bars ant other public functions with entrances from the yard.
New Courtyard – Kimmel Foodcourt is surrounded by three office buildings which are organized to remain the multi-silhouette vista to Kimmel brewery and chimney from Kr. Valdemāra Street and Hanzas/Stabu Street junction. The new office buildings form inner foodcourt space with good connections to the streets, Historical Courtyard and main entrances to the offices.

The architectural concept envisages a covered courtyard built above the subterranean car parking structure used as foodcourt and main lobby. Daylight will enter the space through little inner courtyards and skylights along the perimeter. The reinforced concrete roof of the courtyard will be supported by a steel post and beam structure. Hard paving between areas of lawn and other vegetation will make the roof of the courtyard structure accessible to office workers.