“Valsts nekustamie īpašumi” (VNĪ, ‘State real estate’) has announced a tender for the construction of an illuminated sign for the Latvian Occupation Museum and works to improve the condition of the facade.

According to VNĪ, degradation of facade panels were detected during a technical inspection of the building. Meanwhile, the museum’s restorer, SIA “Skonto būve”, has turned to independent experts in Poland to assess the reasons for the shortcomings in the existing facade, which only date back to 2021.

VNĪ board member Jeļena Gavrilova indicated that a decision has been made to improve the facade fastening solution of the Occupation Museum in order to ensure the building’s sustainability and safety in the long term, including during its warranty period. It is planned to dismantle the facade panels and re-fasten them with an improved fastening system. The museum will continue to operate during the work.

At the same time, in parallel with the procurement process, the construction contractor SIA “Skonto būve”, which was responsible for the reconstruction of the Occupation Museum and the construction of its extension “House of the Future”, is organizing an independent laboratory examination in Poland at its own expense to conduct an in-depth assessment of the possible causes of changes in the adhesion of materials.

Shortly after the building was put into operation, in the autumn of 2021, it was observed that during rainy and humid weather, part of the wall of the museum’s extension was wet. At the time, a construction expert stated that the walls probably had insufficient thermal insulation and that the moisture was damaging the facade. However, the VNĪ indicated that this was intended, calling it not a defect, but an effect.

However, according to the announced procurement documentation, it is clear that the detachment of granite slabs and deformation of substructures were detected specifically on the facade of the museum extension.

In addition to improving the facade, it is planned to place an illuminated museum name on the side of the building facing the adjacent Latvian Riflemen Square.

“The illuminated inscription will become a significant visual accent in the urban environment and at the same time an additional invitation to visit the museum,” said Solvita Vibā, director of the Latvian Occupation Museum. Construction work is scheduled to begin in late 2026 and last approximately six months – and hopefully will last more than 5 years before it needs to be done again.

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