Sudraba Arhitektura unveils hanzas perons
From 20th-century railway warehouse to trendy occasions area, Hanzas Perons sits within the coronary heart of Riga as a fusion of the Latvian capital’s industrial historical past and bustling cultural current. Leaving the vast majority of the deserted construction untouched, Sudraba Arhitektura has restored its historic patina and enveloped it in a fragile glass construction complemented by modern metal particulars. As we speak, the construction enlivens town as a multipurpose area internet hosting live shows, exhibitions, banquets and extra inside an emblem of its wealthy historical past.
Inside, the unique brickwork and picket construction has been celebrated and preserved, confronted in poetic concord by trendy supplies resembling terrazzo flooring, concrete, and metal. The refined new particulars specific modest references to the railway aesthetics, whereas preserved platforms embodied in concrete and a railway monitor runs by means of by means of the constructing to honor the reminiscence of the place.
south facade | all photos courtesy of Sudraba Arhitektura
preserving historic reminiscence with trendy building
Following the current surge of architectural initiatives in Riga which have seen the regeneration of heritage buildings into modern, trendy venues, Sudraba Arhitektura has taken on Hanzas Perons which was beforehand half of a giant freight railway station. Current day, it sits nearly untouched because the final surviving of 15 warehouses that stood by the historic tracks, boasting uncovered brick partitions, picket beams, and complicated sliding doorways and gates. With their new design, the architects mix outdated and new parts for a harmonious fusion of heritage and improvements, ‘the place respect for historical past is mirrored in elaborate trendy options, giving new life to the outdated.’
west facade
from railway warehouse to cultural occasions area
Upon starting the venture, regardless of its well-preserved situation the construction had been deemed structurally unsound by engineers. As such, Sudraba Arhitektura preserved as a lot of its unique identification as potential whereas reviving its performance to make it the biggest non-public cultural constructing in Latvia. As an alternative of implementing new pillars and supporting parts to strengthen the prevailing construction, an exterior load-bearing metal construction was constructed to encase the historic construction. Consequently, extra service areas and technical premises had been resolved in a transparent visible language and circulation.
Hanzas Perons’ largest spatial worth — a big column free corridor — sits on the centre of the warehouse measuring 15 meters large and 80 meters lengthy. It has been preserved in its entirety and repurposed to host varied live shows and exhibitions. It may be divided in three separate areas, permitting noteworthy flexibility.
north facade
The unique roof of the warehouse, forming large canopies on both aspect, initially coated the logistics platforms the place freight wagons approached on one aspect and vehicles on the opposite. Sudraba Arhitektura as an alternative embraces this function and transforms the sheltered platforms into elegant glamorous lobbies. At Hanzas Perons’ southern finish, a brand new double-height area brings the construction nearer to the road to function the principle entrance foyer.
By evening, the brand new constructing acquires a brand new look alongside the streetfront because the clear lobbies turn out to be illuminated from inside and the outdated construction turns into seen from the skin as a noteworthy silhouette.
