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Swedbank Grants €2.5 Million for the Development of the Creative City “Grīziņdārzs”

We are pleased to announce that, with the €2.5 million financing granted by Swedbank, we have the opportunity to continue the development of “Grīziņdārzs” by creating a modern office and retail complex that will also serve as an inspiring lifestyle hub. This ambitious project is being implemented in collaboration with the renowned architectural firm “Open Architecture Design,” led by the internationally recognized architect Zane Tetere-Šulce.

The industrial buildings on the former “Rīgas Adītājs” factory site are being transformed while preserving their historical charm and highlighting architectural details such as large windows and factory loft design elements. As a result, a unique working environment is created, where historical heritage is seamlessly integrated with modern solutions.

The main goal of “Grīziņdārzs” is to preserve and highlight the cultural and historical value of the neighborhood while modernizing infrastructure and creating an environment that serves both business and community activities. In the future, the area will offer opportunities for cultural and public events, making it a dynamic gathering place. Swedbank’s financing is being invested in building renovations, green space restoration, and infrastructure improvements, creating an attractive and sustainable district for both residents and businesses.

“Supporting initiatives that revitalize urban spaces to benefit the local community should be a priority for every business. Grīziņkalns is a unique part of Riga with a rich history, and transforming old industrial areas into attractive spaces for entrepreneurs not only revitalizes unused territories but also makes Riga more beautiful. We are proud that Swedbank is part of this transformation, and this project is a great example of how innovative ideas and careful planning can come together to create a dynamic and appealing environment” says Jevgenijs Ivanovs, Head of Swedbank’s Corporate Division and Member of the Board.

Andrejs Stolbuškins, head of RA Invest, emphasizes: “The ‘Grīziņdārzs’ project is more than just real estate development for us—it is our contribution to Riga and the Grīziņkalns neighborhood. We see this place as an opportunity to bring life back to an area that has been silent for decades. It is about respecting history and blending it with future visions. We want to create a space where people feel inspired—both those who work here and those who simply come to enjoy this place. Thank you to Swedbank for believing in this vision. Together, we are not just restoring buildings but also creating new energy throughout the entire district.”

The “Grīziņdārzs” office and retail complex features eight buildings spanning over 16,100 square meters, offering inspiring spaces for businesses across various industries. These spaces are designed to meet diverse needs while maintaining high levels of comfort and incorporating modern industrial architectural and interior design solutions. This center not only enhances the urban environment but also provides a green and well-organized space for the city’s residents.

Grīziņdārzs 2024: A Year of Transformation, Creativity, and Community

Looking Back at 2024: A Year of Growth and Gratitude

As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with deep gratitude and pride for all that we have accomplished. This year has been exceptional for Grīziņdārzs—marked by significant achievements and inspiring transformations. None of this would have been possible without you—our dedicated tenants, architects, builders, and partners. Your support and trust are the foundation of Grīziņdārzs’ growth.

Major Achievements of the Year

2024 was defined by several key milestones:

  • K2 Building Facade Renovation: The modernization of the K2 building has created a functional and contemporary space for offices and commercial tenants. Our next step in 2025 is to design a unique interior that will unlock the building’s full potential and attract the perfect tenants.
  • K1(D) Building Renovation: The renovation of the K1(D) building has begun, and we eagerly look forward to welcoming new tenants to this refreshed space.

However, this year wasn’t just about building renovations—we also continued strengthening Grīziņdārzs’ identity as a sustainable and creative urban development project.

Green Thinking and Sustainability Initiatives

In 2024, sustainability was one of our top priorities. We take great pride in our green initiatives, particularly:

  • Beehives on the K4 Building Roof: In June, we installed 10 beehives on the roof of the K4 building, symbolizing our commitment to biodiversity. This initiative not only improved air quality in the area but also allowed us to produce local honey—bringing joy to office workers and the wider community.

Celebrations and Recognitions

This year was also filled with celebrations and recognition:

  • K2 Topping-Out Ceremony: Marking the successful completion of renovation work.
  • Outdoor Stage Opening: This new cultural space in Grīziņdārzs was launched with an unforgettable event featuring cellist Tomass Ančs, an impressive bartender show, and an inspiring speech by Zane Tetere.
  • BREL Awards Nomination: We participated in the prestigious “Renovated Project of the Year” category. Although we didn’t win, our participation highlights our ability to stand alongside top office complexes and reinforces our commitment to restoring historic buildings with high-quality and sustainable standards.

Completion of Klijānu Street Extension

In October 2024, we completed a significant infrastructure improvement—the extension of Klijānu Street. This new road provides a convenient connection between Grīziņdārzs and Brīvības Street, improving access to the VEF Bridge. The project was realized in collaboration with our neighbors—Sprinkler Service and GS Baltics—and was fully funded by our own resources. This investment not only enhances accessibility to Grīziņdārzs but also contributes to the city’s infrastructure as a whole.

Creative Ideas for the Underground Bunker

This year, we collaborated with @lmainterjeradizains students, who developed exciting ideas for repurposing our unique underground bunker. Their concepts included transforming the space into a sauna, concept store, café, and other creative venues—providing inspiration for future projects.

Christmas Spirit at Grīziņdārzs

We put extra effort into creating a warm and festive Christmas atmosphere for our tenants and visitors. In collaboration with AdamaLight, we decorated the courtyard with Christmas trees and illuminated the tower with glowing stars. Additionally, together with Pastaiga Market, we organized a Christmas fair, where visitors could purchase festive gifts from local artisans.

Looking Ahead

2024 has been a year of significant transformation, but it is only the beginning. We look forward to 2025 with great optimism and clear goals. We will continue working on our projects to make Grīziņdārzs an even greener, more creative, and sustainable urban hub.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Your support is our motivation. Let’s build an even brighter future together!

“Grīziņdārzs” Celebrates Significant Development Milestone with New Outdoor Stage Opening

Last Thursday, a festive atmosphere filled the courtyard of “Grīziņdārzs” as the new outdoor stage was officially unveiled. This event marks a significant turning point in the development of “Grīziņdārzs”, symbolizing our commitment to creating not just a modern work environment, but also a vibrant cultural space.

The event brought together “Grīziņdārzs” tenants, partners, and friends to collectively celebrate this important occasion. The opening ceremony was hosted by the charismatic Niklāvs Kurpnieks, who throughout the evening introduced the attendees to the vision and future plans of “Grīziņdārzs”.

Guests also had the opportunity to enjoy a special musical performance – a captivating recital by cellist Tomass Ančs, which gave the event an unforgettable atmosphere. The music performed by Tomass complemented the new outdoor stage perfectly, highlighting its potential for hosting a variety of cultural events in the future.

The evening concluded with an exciting bartender show, demonstrating the potential of “Grīziņdārzs” to become a place where work harmoniously coexists with entertainment and culture.

The new outdoor stage is more than just a performance area – it represents “Grīziņdārzs'” commitment to creating a place where culture, business, and community meet. The goal of “Grīziņdārzs” is to become a place where people not only work but also find inspiration, relax, and enjoy cultural life. The opening of the new outdoor stage is just the beginning of this broader vision for “Grīziņdārzs”. In the coming months and years, we will continue to develop this unique urban environment, creating a space that inspires, unites, and fosters creativity.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this special evening and helped make it unforgettable. We look forward to future events on our new stage!

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“Grīziņdārzs” Nominated for the Prestigious BREL Awards 2024

We are delighted to announce that the creative city “Grīziņdārzs” has been nominated for the prestigious BREL Awards 2024 in the category “Revitalized Project of the Year”. This nomination is a significant recognition of our efforts to transform the historic “Rīgas Adītājs” factory complex into a modern, dynamic, and sustainable urban environment.

BREL Awards is an annual event that highlights the most outstanding achievements in the Latvian real estate market. The award aims to honor projects, developers, and initiatives that have made the most significant contribution to the industry’s development over the past year.

The nomination of “Grīziņdārzs” in the category “Revitalized Project of the Year” confirms our successful approach to building renovation, while preserving their historical heritage and adapting them to modern business and cultural needs. BREL Awards laureates are determined through public voting. Voting has already begun, and we encourage everyone to support the “Grīziņdārzs” project. Your vote is crucial as it not only supports “Grīziņdārzs” but also promotes the development of Riga’s urban environment in a modern and sustainable direction.

How to vote:
  1. Visit the voting website: https://www.brelforum.com/brel-awards-2024-voting/
  2. Go to the third page
  3. Find the “Grīziņdārzs” project
  4. Click the “Vote” button
Voting is open until October 1st.

Thank you to all our tenants, partners, and supporters for your trust and contribution to the development of “Grīziņdārzs”. Together, we are creating not just buildings, but a better future!

Grīziņdārzs Celebrates Rooftop Ceremony for K2 Building

The creative city “Grīziņdārzs” team is delighted to announce a significant milestone in the project’s renovation journey, celebrating the topping-out ceremony for the complex’s Corpus 2 (K2) building this month. Another stage of construction has been completed, paving the way for successful further implementation of the project.

Special thanks are extended to the architectural bureau OAD and its lead architect, Zane Tetere – Šulce, for their excellent cooperation and invaluable contribution to the project’s implementation. Thanks to their high professionalism and responsible approach, the buildings of the “Grīziņdārzs” complex are taking on a new lease of life, becoming home to modern offices and commercial premises.

What makes the K2 building unique?

Peaceful environment in the city center: The high-glass windows of the offices will offer a view of a quiet and green inner courtyard, creating the feeling of being in a green oasis in the heart of the city.

Spacious roof terrace: The top floor of the building will have a green roof terrace, ideal for breaks, lunches, or business meetings. Flexible office spaces: The building will offer a few exclusive office spaces in sizes ranging from 90 m² to 500 m², which can be adapted to the needs of any business.

Functional layout: The 1st floor is intended for commercial premises and a customer service center, while the 2nd and 3rd floors house office premises.

Convenient access: Separate external stairs will provide access to office premises in this complex building, giving the feeling of an individual office and optimizing the rental costs of the premises.

Offices in the K2 building will be available from the beginning of 2025. We invite you to contact us now to reserve your favorite premises!

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Buzzing with Life: Grīziņdārzs Introduces Urban Beekeeping

We are happy to welcome new residents to the creative city “Grīziņdārzs” as one of our complex buildings has become home to 10 beehives. This initiative is part of the “Grīziņdārzs” project’s goals to promote a greener environment and biodiversity in the urban environment.

The beehives will be tended by Jānis Šnikvalds, a well-known urban beekeeper in Latvia, who has overseen several successful projects, including the placement of beehives in Mežaparks behind the Song Festival stage and on the roof of the department store “Stockmann.”

The beehives are located on the roof of the K4 office building. The bees will pollinate and collect honey all summer—from June to August—promoting a healthy environment for flowers and plants in the surrounding green areas. The practice of urban beekeeping makes a valuable contribution to the city’s ecosystem and offers city dwellers the opportunity to learn about the importance of bees and observe their work up close.

The creative city “Grīziņdārzs” project is based on green thinking and responsible action in the urban environment. Cooperation with the beekeeper Jānis Šnikvalds and installing beehives provide environmental benefits and directly benefit the office complex residents. Improved air quality, reduced stress levels, the possibility of obtaining local honey, and informative activities about the importance of bees—all contribute to a positive atmosphere and promote a conscious attitude towards the environment.

With this initiative, the “Grīziņdārzs” team also encourages other companies and residents to consider getting involved in similar projects to promote biodiversity conservation and improve the urban environment.

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