This condominium is the last real estate project started in Soviet Union and eventually finished just right after USSR's collapse. At the moment of completion here were located the most expensive apartments in Riga outside of Old Town. Thick brick walls, panoramic views, great location, all these are the features of condo located on Anninmuizas bulvaris 28.

Labels: aerial, buildings, imanta, skyscrapers

Nameja krastmala is one of the new streets in Riga heading from still being built Z-Towers twin skyscrapers to RISEBA University.

Labels: agenskalns, buildings, future, kipsala, pardaugava, projects, roads, skyscrapers, streets, towers

According to my own tradition, every August, when Riga celebrates its birthday, I do collect stats about Riga's population to see how well the city lives.
In my understanding, the population is the main factor of economic and cultural activity of the cities.
So, please check below the statistics for the recent 3 years and the most recent change:

Region	2013	2012	2011	Diff from 12 to 13
Riga City	696,618	699,203	706,413	-0.37%
Riga Metro	1,018,295	1,081,137	1,098,523	-5.81%
Latvia	2,041,763	2,217,053	2,245,357	-7.91%

As long as I publish those stats I see decrease in Riga's population and it seems that there are no plans or support by government to inverse that trend.

Photo of Fireworks at Riga Festival in 2013 by Andris Jenerts
Check also photos of Riga 2012, Riga Festival in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Labels: birthdays, daugava, events, fire, lights, night, people, records, riga, rivers, skyscrapers

Sad news, Riga became 1 year older and since today Riga is 811 years old officially.
Although this year City Festival was celebrating 730 years since Riga joined Hanseatic League.
Why this is sad news? 1 year ago I've been forecasting that Riga's population will go under 700,000 in a few years, but it happened earlier.
Here below are statistics and changes:

Region	2012	2011	Change
Riga	699,203	706,413	-1.02%
Riga Metro	1,081,137	1,098,523	-1.58%
Latvia	2,217,053	2,245,357	-1.26%

Check also photos of Riga Festival in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Statistics of Riga in 2005.

Labels: birthdays, daugava, events, fire, lights, night, people, records, riga, rivers, skyscrapers

Recently continued building of Z-Towers Skyscraper is at full speed now.
Check photo of Z-Towers in Winter 2008

Labels: agenskalns, buildings, future, projects, skyscrapers, towers

Mazā Daugava as seen from Kayak and Canoe sport base Rīdzene towards sunset at North-West.

Labels: daugava, lucavsala, panoramas, rivers, skyscrapers, sunset, water, zakusala

The third extraordinary building design from Any Mann. (Viesnīca in Latvian means Hotel)
The Shark Hotel in the middle of Daugava River between Stone and Cable bridges.
How much would you pay for staying in Riga Hotel with such design?

Labels: animals, art, daugava, design, future, hotels, projects, rivers, skyscrapers, towers

Zaķis uz Salas (Hare on Island), is the name of the conceptual artwork of a mixed-use building on Zakusala.

Labels: animals, art, bridges, future, islands, offices, projects, rivers, skyscrapers, spring, towers, tv, zakusala

Victor Enrich is the name of modern artist from Barcelona, who is making surreal photos of different cities.
His works made my brain go crazy trying to understand how some of the pictures are composed, because of its misleading simplicity, reverted street angles and buildings.
Other his works can be found in the artist gallery.
BTW, each of the works is being sold in a very limited number of copies, usually just 1 copy.
...and I got my own ;)

Labels: art, buildings, churches, cities, future, skyscrapers, spanish, spring, streets

Piparkūkas is a traditional Latvian cookies, which are sweet and spicy at the same time.
In Gallery Riga shopping center you can find the model of Riga City made of piparkukas.

Labels: banks, bridges, food, panoramas, shopping, skyscrapers, toys

Dammes iela (formerly Sergeja Ļuļina iela) is one of the main streets in Imanta neighbourhood.
The street was open in Soviet times and initially named after Soviet hero, the aviator Sergey Lulin.

Labels: autumn, buildings, imanta, panoramas, skyscrapers, streets, tramways

Metropolia is a complex of 5 elite apartment building located in Imanta 3 across Solaris complex.
It was finished in 2007, just before crisis started and hence could be considered as successful :)

Labels: benches, elite, houses, imanta, modernism, skyscrapers, tramways

The shortest night in Riga is on 23/24 of June, which lasts about 4 hours only. And by the middle of June there is almost no darkness anymore.
These two photos were taken at yesterday evening at 22:00 and today at 5:00 in the morning on Anniņmuižas bulvāris, which is one of the most urbanized streets in Riga.

Labels: dawn, imanta, lights, morning, panoramas, roads, skyscrapers, streets, summer, sunset, tramways

Panorama Plaza I, II, not finished III and the shopping mall is an elite real estate project in Riga.
The 1st tower was built in 2006 and it is 99 meters (325 feet) tall.
The 2nd tower is 114 meters tall. It became the tallest apartment building in Latvia when it was finished in 2008.
The 3rd tower construction is on hold now because of the credit crunch. It is planned to continue erection in 2015.

Labels: buildings, elite, panoramas, pleskodale, projects, records, shopping, skyscrapers, towers

GPS Navigation systems are becoming more and more advanced.
Since recently you can travel through Riga via GPS and see many buildings in photographic 3D quality.
E.g. Academy of Sciences from Elijas iela.

Labels: buildings, center, devices, houses, maps, skyscrapers, streets

The tall building at Dzirnavu iela was the house of publishers, before all were moved to House of Press at Kipsala.
It was built in 1939 as the most tallest building in Riga, except churches and VEF Tower.

Labels: buildings, center, lights, media, night, skyscrapers, towers

Extreme Fishing in the last days of winter at Agenskalna licis

Labels: buildings, hobby, lakes, pardaugava, people, rivers, skyscrapers, winter

Narrow streets between warehouses at Central Market at night are looking very mysterious.

Labels: buildings, markets, night, skyscrapers, streets

About one and a half year ago I have already took a picture of panoramic view from VEF Tower.
In fact, there are no changes in Riga since then, I mean no new buildings were built, so the photo is almost the same, just a little bit more wider.
Horizon line from leftmost Science Academy till rightmost Rietumu Banka building is about 2.5 km (1.6 mi)

Labels: buildings, center, houses, panoramas, roofs, skyscrapers, towers, winter

A smog layer over Riga was caused by very low temperature and windless weather.
This picture has been taken yesterday from Swedbank building 23th floor.
Check also another photo of Smog over Bridge.

Labels: churches, panoramas, skyscrapers, towers, weather, winter