“Grīziņdārzs” continues to strengthen its presence in Riga’s business environment, adding a new and prominent visual element to the cityscape – a large-scale display of the creative city’s name. Installing the sign on the roof of the K1A building marks an important step in developing the area’s identity. The placement of the sign helps define “Grīziņdārzs” as a modern, creative, and multifunctional office and retail complex, making the area more visible to city residents, partners, and their clients. The name is clearly visible from key vantage points, including Zemitāna Bridge, thereby increasing the recognition of the creative district within the everyday flow of the city.

The sign installation process was carefully planned, with each technical detail considered. It was essential to ensure that the structure met all quality standards and that the name harmoniously fit into the building’s architecture.

As part of strengthening the area’s unified identity, the creative city name will soon also be displayed on the roof of the K3 building, creating a consistent visual identity across the entire “Grīziņdārzs” territory. Ongoing efforts continue to enhance both the individual buildings and the overall image of the creative city. In the near future, tenant logos will also be installed at the main entrance of “Grīziņdārzs,” increasing visibility and recognition for the companies that have chosen to establish and grow their presence here.

Our growth is driven by the ambition to create a truly high-quality business environment and long-term value for every tenant. We strive to build a space where existing tenants feel confident in their choice, while potential tenants clearly see “Grīziņdārzs” as a dynamic and professional location for developing their business.

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2025 marked a significant stage of development for the creative city “Grīziņdārzs”. Substantial funding, major infrastructure improvements, the attraction of globally operating companies, and the hosting of internationally recognized art festivals have created a solid foundation for future growth, strengthening the role of “Grīziņdārzs” within Riga’s creative and business environment.

Major Achievements of the Year

A new and inspiring company has joined the creative city “Grīziņdārzs”  tenant community – Better Bread, the only 100% gluten-free bakery in Latvia. The company has opened production facilities and a café covering 125 m², offering a place where quality, craftsmanship, and flavor meet. The layout and interior design were developed in collaboration with Kopen Bureau, combining contemporary aesthetics with a functional working environment.

For five years now, the company has been perfecting the art of gluten-free baking. Every morning at 4:30 a.m., the Better Bread team begins work to prepare more than a thousand product units – from pastries and cookies to breads and confectionery. Their products are available in four Better Bread cafés in Riga and Jurmala, as well as in partner stores Stockmann, Bioss, and Būņas.

The company takes pride in using high-quality ingredients and a careful approach to every process, becoming a trusted choice for those seeking healthy and delicious gluten-free products. The Better Bread philosophy is simple – healthy food can be just as enjoyable as traditional food.

When choosing their new location, Sergejs Stepanovs, founder of Better Bread, considered both the practical and creative aspects of “Grīziņdārzs”:

“The main factor when choosing a location was the surrounding environment – and in our case, the past meets the future. The renovation at “Grīziņdārzs” has been carried out in the best possible way. It’s a beautiful, creative quarter where both our guests and, most importantly, our employees can truly enjoy the atmosphere. The location in Grīziņkalns is also very important to us, as it ensures convenient access for our team, suppliers, and visitors. We’re also impressed by how well the air conditioning and ventilation systems have been designed – it’s rare in Riga to find something so thoughtfully executed.”

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This autumn, the creative city “Grīziņdārzs” hosted one of the most significant contemporary art events in the Baltics – the “Survival Kit 16” festival, organized by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA). Over the course of a month, the international festival attracted more than 10,000 visitors, reaffirming the importance of both the event and Grīziņdārzs in Latvia’s cultural landscape. The festival transformed the venue into a space for dialogue, shared experiences, and artistic discovery.

This year’s concept was developed by the artist collective Slavs and Tatars, in collaboration with curator Michał Grzegorzek, drawing inspiration from the mythical bird Simurgh found in Eurasian mythology. The exhibition, titled “The House of Simurgh,” explored themes of identity and belonging, examining cultural intersections and shared ritual traditions. Featuring works by more than 23 artists from various countries, the festival offered a multifaceted reflection on the transformations shaping contemporary society.

In addition to the exhibition, visitors enjoyed a rich program of events – performances by internationally recognized artists, a symposium, a voguing show, a mask-making workshop, and the cultural forum “White Night.” These activities made the festival accessible and engaging for a wider audience.

The spaces of “Grīziņdārzs”, which regularly bring together innovative and creative companies, became a meeting ground for art and ideas. The strong public interest and participation in the festival highlight Grīziņdārzs’s unique ability to inspire, connect, and create — fostering an environment where art is present in everyday life, and where creativity drives both community and urban development.

The annual international art festival Survival Kit 16 – The House of Simurgh, organized by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art. Photo: Kaspars Teilāns.

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Molberts has officially opened a new combined production and retail space in the creative city “Grīziņdārzs”. The 138 m² location features high ceilings of 5.5 meters and a thoughtfully designed layout by Gateris Works, providing both a functional workspace for ice cream production and a welcoming environment for customers.

Regarding the company’s decision to move to “Grīziņdārzs,” the brand’s founder, Edijs Masaļskis, notes: “We had been searching for larger, more suitable premises for our ice cream production for some time, as our previous space had become too small. When we explored “Grīziņdārzs”, we were immediately impressed by how tastefully the area has been revitalized. The surroundings felt right for Molberts – not just the space itself, but the whole neighborhood. Our staff also appreciate that the location is easily accessible by public transport.” 

Molberts offers a carefully curated selection of 16 ice cream flavors available at any given time. Customers can choose from timeless classics such as rum & raisin, Madagascar vanilla, and cherry with chocolate chips, or explore more distinctive creations, including canilla with chocolate brownies and salted caramel, black sesame & sea buckthorn, and blueberry & elderflower. Their most popular flavor – vanilla with chocolate brownies and salted caramel – has become a true favorite, made even more special by the fact that both the brownies and the salted caramel are prepared in-house before being blended into the ice cream.

Fun fact: during the summer season, Molberts’ production capacity reaches up to 500 kilograms of ice cream per day, ensuring that their growing community of fans can always enjoy a scoop of delicious ice cream!

Having Molberts as part of “Grīziņdārzs” is truly exciting – their passion for creativity and quality perfectly complements the vibrant, collaborative environment we cultivate for our tenants. We look forward to seeing their business flourish here and to building a successful partnership together in this thriving neighborhood.

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  Photo: Madara Kupla