The building at 11 Skolas str was constructed in 1912 by the architect E. Von Irmer as an apartment building and was initially called v. Tideböhl house. As many other buildings in the center of Riga, it was designed in the popular Art Nouveau/Jugendstil style.
The quantity and quality of Art Nouveau architecture has earned Riga a place in the UNESCO historical heritage list.
The special urban fabric is the result of inspiration and work of various local and foreign architects, which clearly reflects the multicultural spirit of the city. Among those who contributed to creating the unique face of Riga are E. Laube, A. Vanags, M. Eisenstein and many others.
In the 1920-1930s 11 Skolas str. was home to German Classical Grammar School, the 9th German Boys’ Basic School, the Riga State School of Applied Arts, the Latvian Association of German-Baltic Teachers, the office of the magazine "Die Deutsch-Baltische Schule", the Union of German parents in Latvia as well as German-Baltic union ‘Youth Authority’ (tautas savienības "Jaunatnes iestāde"), a private clinic and a ‘Bostroem’ boarding house.
In the 1980s the building was occupied by the Student Clinic and from the 90s it has been under the management of Riga Technical University.
In 1991, the Riga Business School was founded by the Riga Technical University, the State University of New York at Buffalo, USA, and the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Now this is the place for best local and international students to be prepared for successful careers in the global corporate world through its degree and non-degree programs.
We had a great response to the competition and would like to thank all the participants.
We have received 17 entries from 12 countries. Due to the high quality of the projects it took us some time to make sure all the entries were given careful consideration by two panels of experts before the 4 short-listed ones were submitted to the vote by RBS students, alumni, faculty and staff. The result of the vote is as follows:
by S. Kungurova and E. Bondareva from Moscow Architectural University (Russia);
by O. Trebuhina and T. Kalantajevska from Riga Technical University (Latvia);
by J. Engloo and I. M. Johansen from the School of Architecture of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Denmark).
In addition, all the submitted entries participated in a separate Global vote via the project site build.rbs.lv. Each project collected votes cast by the international community, and the final result of the voting is below:
by K. Burzynska and K.Slusarczyk from Warsaw University of Technology and Warsaw University (Poland).
The final concept of the project will be developed at the Charrette on 13-17 July. We will keep you updated.
The Modern Nouveau Palette’ is a contemporary approach to complement the idea seen on the building built back in the 1912. As contemporary approach is primarily based on practicality of a public institution, the design was more focused on an open-space concept with less partition to encourage connectivity. Glass window panels allow daylight and reduce the use of energy of the building. The palette continues to appeal to young generations through its facade treatment.
Athirah Mohd Irwan Yen Nil, Malaysia
The aim of the project is to integrate contemporary architecture into an existing UNESCO building. This is achieved by preserving the parts of the existing building which are historically and architecturally interesting: the outer skin and some staircases. The other parts of the building will be stripped and replaced by new and independent structures connected to the existing parts of the building.
Wim Bruneel, Belgium
The central part of the building is at the heart of the project. This volume passing through the two courtyards contains all the areas of the students’ life. It enables to create connections between the administrative wing and the academic wing. Its extension makes it a visible from the street while integrating with the constructed heritage.
Lellouche Michael, France
The main idea is an efficient interior solution and development of the outside territory as a public area. A new functional zoning scheme includes the present mini-hotel. Subdividing of visitors by entrances and a new attic floor in the south block areplanned. The design should preserve existing historical partitions. Modern furniture and educational equipment are widely used.
Kamilla Spitsyna, Russian Federation
This building is very clean and simple inside to be in contrast with the Art Nouveau outer part. The furniture is movable. This way, the student can really make the building their own. The building is changing every day depending on the need. The building is made to help people gather around in the multiple lounges.
Ky-Anne Dalix, Marie Houdret-Lobjoit, France
The vision suggests an approach that follows the logic of the main plan. The H-shaped form holds a potential of a centralized quality. The aim of the new layer is to make university more approachable via shifting the main entrance to the courtyard. Considering the value of integrated spaces, rooms can be the destination or a part of the journey.
Helmi Marie Langepp, Kristel Alliksaar, Estonia
The main idea of our project is the division of recreation areas and training ones, each of which is in private housing. Common recreation area, located in the middle part of the building, brings together students and teachers from all faculties, promotes communication and exchange of experience. For us, the main objective was to establish contacts between students of different faculties and ages.
Julia Sokolova, Valentin Pryamichkin, Ksenia Demme, Russian Federation
The idea of the project is to absorb the unused areas in the attics of the building with an open green terrace and a sky-lounge with a wide view of the old part of the city.
Vladimir Veselinov, Bulgaria
What makes RBS so special? It's a business school. Wood is a luxurious material, associated with business, but also environment-friendly and lets the users feel warm and cosy. It's based in Riga, a place with its specific identity. Wood is traditional for Latvia, plus, adding Latvian mythology makes a fun twist for the users. Imagine an exam in Laima's zīme!
Katarzyna Burzyńska, Katarzyna Ślusarczyk, Poland
The main idea of the project is to provide the users with a well-organized environment in which they will be able to easily find their way around. We introduced colourful guidelines to lead different kinds of users through the structure. This idea combined with furniture as socializing generators shaped in forms of Latvian folklore ornaments represents the main design concept.
Jovana Jekic, Cvijan Pajkanovic, Marina Marinkov, Serbia and Montenegro
Our concept is to reflect the historical and cultural heritage on the outside while the modern business school reflects the inside. Therefore all the exciting exterior walls are maintained, while the interior is upgraded to a new spacious plan that meets the demands of a modern business school. The new staircase becomes the main focal point that connects and unites the three building volumes.
Johanna Engloo, Iselin M. Johansen, Denmark
It was decided to develop all additional areas in the project. We strove to create large and spacious rooms where it was possible. Thus, a glass courtyard was created for student leisure activities, it also provides comfortable access for the physically challenged. The other spacious area is a three-storey study room lounge with the cable glass wall. Such details help both to preserve the historical heritage building and add contemporary materials and structures.
Stanislava Kungurova, Ekaterina Bondareva, Russian Federation
In order to modernize the building, an outside courtyard and connectors were designed. This also serves as an improvement for communication in the building. The main purpose of interior design is to provide most convenient facilities for students and lecturers and to ensure smooth flow of people between them. It was a high priority to make sure that the building brings friendly relaxation and self-study areas.
Jagoda Nowakowska, Magdalena Skop, Poland
Entrance is decorated with the use of parametric carcass: its feature is that this mobile structure may easily be attached with steel rods to any part of the building, changing its appearance, without causing any damage to the structure of the old facade. The form itself is an image of the modern world - a growing tree - a force that can not be restrained even by the walls of the old building; it breaks out and gently twist around the entire facade.
Nataliia Kazodaieva, Hanna Pikovska, Polina Volkova, Ukraine
Schools, universities are temples of knowledge. We were exploring how this metaphor can perform on a physical, spatial level. The challenge of transforming a unique Art-Nouveau building led to a number of key decisions. By following the main principle of Art Nouveau – fluidity of space (or unfolding space) we created a chain of key spaces, connected through the giant light wells. Creation of modern environment where process of studying is fully enjoyed and celebrated was our main intension.
Tamara Kalantajevska, Olga Trebuhina, Latvia
Taking into account that Art Nouveau is truly a national treasure, the authors have carefully considered the possibility of adding new architectural volumes that wouldn’t damage the architecture that has been here for decades. Fragility and authenticity of the place have been the key elements for which they have looked out for the entire design process. Two roof extensions semantically repeat the forms of a double-pitched roof and are designed as a place for meditation (3rd floor) and socialising (5th floor). The covered passageway connects two blocks of the school together and therefore simplifies the process of getting from one block to another.
Maria Cipisheva, Natalia Shtokolova, Elena Shopiak, Latvia
Our concept is based on reminding users of this building how great richness is surrounding them on daily basis. Just like walnuts are not appreciated by people who can grow their own, yet they are exceptionally valuable for those without such opportunity. From our point of view Riga represents a beautiful garden of Art Nouveau that shall be treated with honor.
Mária Smetanová, Anita Andelová, Chezh Republic
Project leader
