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

Preses Nams (Press House) and Swedbank building are shining during recent Riga light festival.
Finally former House of Press got some use :)

Labels: buildings, events, kipsala, lights, night, skyscrapers, staro

Gaismas Virsotnes (Summits of light) is the codename of Skanstes Virsotnes during Staro Riga festival.

Labels: events, lights, night, skanste, skyscrapers, staro

Whenever I see such yellow-red trucks of Emergency Service, I always remember Russian movie Day Watch.

Labels: buildings, cars, rain, roads, skyscrapers, transport, trees

Skyline is a prestigious Riga bar on 26th floor of Hotel Latvia. Despite being located on Riga top, Skyline's prices are quite affordable even for students like I am :)
It is a good place to bring foreign guests in order to show the whole Riga city at once.
Check the panoramic view from Skyline.

Labels: bars, cafes, hotels, nightlife, people, restaurants, skyscrapers, wealth

Panoramic image looking north from observation deck on Radisson Hotel.
From left to right: Sun Stone, Cable bridge, Agriculture Ministry and AB Dam in the middle of two water bodies.

Labels: bridges, buildings, daugava, panoramas, rivers, skyscrapers, water

Franču projekts in Latvian or французский проект in Russian (literally French Project in English) is a nickname for a couple of 18-floor buildings, which were built in the middle of 1980s in Purvciems area on Madonas street.
Basically there is nothing French except formwork, which was ordered in France. Relatively new construction method of making monolith structure by pouring concrete into moulds gave such name to these apartment buildings.

Labels: buildings, french, projects, purvciems, skyscrapers

Residence building located at Dzelzavas street 70 has long and dramatic history.
Started to be built in very late 80s, then just after Soviet Union collapse, in 1993, the construction got frozen for 11 years.
In 2004 the building was finally built without planned 2 floors. Now it is quite prestigious place to live in.

Labels: blue, buildings, purvciems, skyscrapers

Pētersala (Peter's Island) is one of the neighborhoods adjoining with Riga Center, making it quite prestigious to live in.
The name is in honor of the Tsar Peter the Great, who expanded the city in 18th century including this territories.
In the past this area was full of small rivers and canals, but in the 19 century all of them were dried.
Petersala together with Andrejsala are forming one of the 59 Riga subdivisions

Guest aerophotographer: leegenda.
Take the same photos - Riga trip by airplane

Labels: aerial, bridges, buildings, daugava, harbours, neighbourhoods, panoramas, petersala, rivers, ships, skyscrapers, streets

Rietumu Banka (West Bank) was one of the first commercial banks in Latvia after regaining of independence.
It was established in 1992, right after USSR Collapse. The name depicts the orientation of the bank - the west. In fact, most of the Rietumu banka's clients are locals and from the East.
This building is central office of Rietumu bank, which in fact is in Riga highest building top.

Labels: banks, buildings, offices, skanste, skyscrapers, streets

Zemkopības ministrija (Ministry of Agriculture) building built in 1976.
The height is 92 meters, which makes it 6th tallest building in Riga.

Top Riga tallest buildings

1. Swedbank Central Office - 121m
2. Panorama Plaza - 2 buildings 114 and 99 meters
3. Academy of Science - 108m
4. Reval Hotel Latvia - 95m
5. Ministry of Agriculture - 95m
6. Latvian TV Center - 89m
7. Astra Lux - 81m
8. Solaris - 2 buildings both are 78 m
9. House of Press - 77 meters
10. Skanstes Virsotnes - 2 buildings both are 76 m
11. Rietumu Capital Centre - 70 meters

Labels: buildings, citadel, daugava, lists, offices, panoramas, rivers, roofs, ships, skyscrapers, soviet, summer

Remember those burglars which were crawling like spiders on the Press' building?
They had been putting banner of extremely right-wing party TB/LNNK with slogan Atbalsti savējos (Support yours)
[Un]fortunately huge sheet was blown to tatters, just after several hours they put it :)
I personally don't like neither extremely right nor extremely left wing political parties.
Also, check TB/LNNK quite funny provocative video (with Russian subtitles)

Labels: ads, buildings, kipsala, latvian, media, politics, skyscrapers

Recently built high rise apartment buildings in Imanta are still scarcely populated.
Because of economic crisis in Latvia only few who can afford to buy luxury apartments in Riga
Solaris with orange front sells flats for 900 EUR per square meter and higher.
A little bit further standing Metropolia complex is in two times more expensive, the prices in Metropolia start from 2000 EUR per square meter.

Labels: buildings, houses, imanta, prices, projects, skyscrapers

Don't panic! Nobody lives in this skyscraper. It is former Riga Press House.
For the last 5 years this building is in the queue for demolition, so I have no idea what these people are doing there. But for sure it is not a window cleaning team.

What they were doing in real? Check another photo of Press' building.

Labels: buildings, criminal, jobs, kipsala, people, rivers, skyscrapers, spring, sunset

Early spring panorama of Eastern part of the city.
Photo has been taken from Riga TV Tower observation deck.

Labels: buildings, panoramas, rivers, skyscrapers

Giant parabolic dish can be found behind Latvian TV center
See also Latvian TV Tower, which is just several hundred meters from TV Center.

Labels: buildings, daugava, industrial, rivers, skyscrapers, spring, tv, zakusala

Critical economical situation in Latvia makes government and private companies saving resources wherever it is possible.
For example, during the night the tallest Riga skyscrapers Swedbank and House of Press have no illumination at all.
To depict this picture, the photo has been taken with an exposure time of 15 seconds.

Labels: bridges, daugava, events, lights, night, rivers, skyscrapers

Swedbank main office building in Riga is the tallest skyscraper in Latvia.
Actually, the building name is Saules Akmens, which literally means Stone of the Sun.
Saules Akmens had been built in 2004, and at that time it was residence of Hansabanka, which had been bought to and renamed to Swedbank in the end of 2008.

Labels: banks, buildings, kipsala, modernism, nature, offices, sights, skyscrapers, snow

As today is the first day of spring, this could be the last weekend of current ice hockey season.
The games are being hold each weekend on Agenskalna licis, Pardaugava.
Check another picture of ice hockey on river and the night shot.

Labels: agenskalns, daugava, hobby, ice hockey, kliversala, lakes, nature, pardaugava, people, rivers, skyscrapers, sports, winter

Balasta Dambis (Stranded levee) is one of the most beautiful streets in Riga, because of the nice views you get when you walk through it.
Balasta Dambis originates at Raņķa dambis in Agenskalns (mainland part) and runs into Kipsala (island part) where it twists along Daugava river.
This picture has been taken at the crossroads of Ranka dambis and Balasta dambis, where this street begins.
See also Swedbank skyscaper.

Labels: agenskalns, buildings, kipsala, pardaugava, skyscrapers, snow, winter

There is an expression in Russian that Ice hockey is the game only for real men!
I guess this several guys which are always one the ice as soon as it is get frozen are the real men in some way :)
Sometimes they play Ice Hockey even in the night time.
Today is the Day of defenders of Motherland, which widely interpreted as the Day of Men.
So, my congratulations to all men of the world ;)
check another angle of this Ice hockey game.

Labels: agenskalns, hobby, holidays, ice hockey, lakes, pardaugava, people, rivers, russian, skyscrapers, sports, winter

Elizabetes iela (Elizabeth Street) former Kirova iela (Sergey Kirov Street).
On the street are located many hotels and embassies, so it is one of the most prestigious streets to live in Riga.
Hotel Latvia is shining at the background.

Guest Photographer is Elizabete :)

Labels: buildings, center, hotels, skyscrapers, streets, sunset

Ice Fishermen on Agenskalns bay, just next to Azene outfall. It looks there is a big catch!

At the background are building of Da Vinci skyscraper and Swedbank building and Vansu bridge.

Labels: bridges, buildings, daugava, hobby, pardaugava, people, rivers, skyscrapers, winter

Heavy sky covered Riga before sun went down. Iron blanket could be the name for this photo as well :)
This dramatic picture is a good antonym for clean sky photo.

Guest photo maker is Stokijs.

Labels: buildings, panoramas, roofs, skyscrapers, sunset

Real Ice Hockey on frozen Agenskalna firth's ice in front of Swedbank and Cable Bridge.
Actually I've took this picture 3 years ago, when I used to play ice hockey with my friends.
We played even during evenings, luckily there was enough of light coming from Da Vinci skyscraper building, which is stopped at the moment.
Check another Daily photo of Ice hockey.

Labels: bridges, buildings, daugava, hobby, ice hockey, nature, night, pardaugava, people, rivers, skyscrapers, sports, winter

After a little pause I continue to post pictures made during Staro Riga event last week.
Vecriga (Old Town) roofs.
Saint Peters Church and Saint John Church on the right are both major sights in Riga.

Labels: churches, events, lights, lutheran, night, roofs, sights, skyscrapers, staro, towers, vecriga

Today in Riga started a big event - Staro Rīga (Riga is shining)
I will try to cover all shining objects in Riga during next few days.
This is Vansu tilts over Daugava river. Swedbank skyscraper is on the left.

Another photos during Staro Riga Strūklaka, Bibliotēka, Vecrīga, Akmens tilts, Staro Radisson/
Updated: See also Staro Riga 2009.

Labels: bridges, culture, daugava, design, events, kipsala, lights, night, pardaugava, rivers, skyscrapers, staro

This building stands like this for at least 10 years. A great design and location, but nobody is reparing it. It could be a prestigious apartments. It is just next to Swedbank Building.

I don't know what is written on top of this going to ruin building - some1 or somer :)
But this someone did a venturesome job :)

Labels: abandoned, buildings, graffiti, jugendstil, pardaugava, poverty, skyscrapers

I nearly forgot about first anniversary of Riga Daily Photo blog :)
One year ago I revived already dead blog about Riga from scratch. And till now I am keeping it in a good order ;)
A lot of pictures were published here, and even more were taken. And it is impossible to calculate how many man-hours were spent for this brainchild :)
But only because of running this blog, I get know much better my city, have discovered hundreds of small and big facts about Riga. Finally, I've improved my English :)

This picture was taken during Riga City Festival 2008, when Riga has celebrated its 810th birthday ;)

Labels: birthdays, blog, events, holidays, kipsala, life, night, skyscrapers

Soviet Architecture style sometimes is really ugly.
High building on the left is Science Academy
See also: similar Riga panorama.

Labels: buildings, daugava, maskachka, skyscrapers, soviet

View from VEF Tower towards Riga center. Almost all tall buildings in Riga can be seen from this point.
Check also retaken and expanded this panoramic view in winter.

Labels: buildings, houses, panoramas, roofs, skyscrapers