Office and Residential Building Riga, Latvia

Architect Andris Vitols faced the challenge of preserving the old façade of the original building, located one kilometer north of the Daugava River in central Riga. A bold contrast has been created with this sleek, modern extension, which has been built on top of the traditional, timber-clad façade.

On a street lined with continuous masonry façades, this office and residential building stands out with its pop-up extension clad in white façade panels. The lower two floors are constructed of concrete and clad with wooden boards, while the upper three floors are covered with fiber cement panels, installed both vertically and horizontally.

A strong contrast has been created in several ways: First, there is a distinct color contrast—dark brown and white. Second, the materials and textures differ.

The structured wooden cladding is juxtaposed against the smooth façade panels, both aesthetically and architecturally. The windows and details reference the old, historical architecture of the building’s lower part, while the upper section stands out with a striking modern design and pronounced windows that contrast with their surroundings.

On the fourth and fifth floors, the façade is set back to create a deep balcony and reduce the façade’s scale toward Bruninieku Street.

The rear side of the building appears entirely different. Here, the old structure facing the street is no longer visible. Instead, the entire five-story building rises like a tower toward the sky in a unified architectural expression.

The entire façade is clad in white fiber cement panels, enveloping the old building. The ground floor opens directly to the backyard, while the other four floors each feature a glass balcony extending outward, allowing residents to enjoy views of the garden. Window openings of various sizes appear as abstract cutouts in the smooth, white façade.

The old and the new meet in contrast through the interplay of changing materials and distinct differences in color and texture.