“Riga City Link”, Lettland

Second place: Competition design for a modern building complex convinces with its symbolic use of form

On the outskirts of Riga’s historical city centre, the “Riga City Link” building complex is to be constructed – a modern, multifunctional hub. To facilitate design development and selection, an international architecture competition was held. The submitted architectural design shows a composition of three buildings, which are modelled on the shape of an amber gemstone. Amber is symbolically important and serves as a metaphor for the region, which is famous for its extensive amber deposits and jewellery.

The building complex design combines various functional areas such as the hotel sector, medical facilities, office space and public transport connections, and parking space for approximately 700 cars. In total, the design foresees the creation of approximately 127,000 m² of gross floor area in six- to eight-storey buildings.