New Hanza | Piuarch

Piuarch signs the project for the future development of the New Hanza quarter in Riga, capital city of Latvia, designing an office building in one of the central points of the quarter. The project is conceived as an urban landmark, an architecture that unites office functions, services, and public spaces, becoming a new hub of attraction and interaction for the community.

The new building will form a symbolic gate to the New Hanza quarter. Winner of the international competition promoted by real estate developer Pillar, it will rise in an area of strong historical and cultural significance, currently at the centre of an urban regeneration process. Our solution will complement the grandiose future new construction area, where office buildings, a cultural center and apartment construction have already been built.

Urban regeneration and identity
The project stems from a careful reading of the context and a desire to reinterpret a place full of history: once a logistical node of the city, now a centre of culture and creativity thanks to Hanzas Perons, a recent regeneration project involving a former railway warehouse. In this setting, Piuarch’s project becomes a hinge between past and future, offering a contemporary image that resonates with Riga’s historical heritage without sacrificing its own iconic nature.

Functional mix and public space
New office building, located right next to Hanzas Perons, will provide modern and adaptable workspaces on the top floors, created to house up to eight tenants and satisfy a range of requirements all at once. The fully permeable ground floor will become a food court with services, open to the city. The recessed frontage along Hanza Street creates a new urban square that welcomes the flows coming from the city centre and guides them towards Hanzas Perons. The courtyard and open spaces are designed to become community places, ready to host events and moments of social exchange.
The project is conceived as a space capable of generating a sense of belonging. The presence of mixed functions, the openness of the ground floor, and the connection with the nearby cultural centre activate an inclusive process: not just a building, but a social device capable of fostering encounters among a diverse community.

Architecture and language
The volume tapers upwards, echoing some of the characteristic profiles of the city’s historical architecture, while the façade, defined by prefabricated terrazzo modules, becomes an iconic and recognisable element. The warm, amber-toned colour reflects natural light with effects that change depending on the sun’s position, transforming the building into a living presence on the urban skyline.

Construction innovation
The choice of prefabricated modules allows not only for rapid assembly, but also for resource optimisation and the potential for future disassembly. The use of durable materials treated to withstand weathering reinforces the idea of an architecture that is long-lasting, efficient, and iconic at the same time.

Sustainability and resilience
The building integrates a series of strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact and addressing the challenges of the Baltic climate:

- Renewable energy: photovoltaic panels on the roof contribute to the building’s energy self-sufficiency.
- Circular economy: the new external paving will be created by fragmenting and reassembling the existing surface covering.
- Greenery and biodiversity: native trees and local plants that absorb CO₂, improve air quality, and strengthen the urban ecological network.
- Prefabricated and reversible façade: modular, demountable, and reusable system that reduces construction time and ensures future adaptability.
- Climate resilience: construction details designed to prevent snow and rain accumulation, with sloped and treated surfaces to improve durability.

An approach that combines technological innovation with architectural expression, offering a replicable model of responsible architecture.

A new landmark for Riga
With its strategic location, the project will become a gateway to the new urban centre. Not just an office building, but a landmark capable of directing flows, connecting different functions, and contributing to the redesign of the Latvian capital’s cultural and economic geography.

Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

Project credits
Architectural design: Piuarch

Competition: 1st prize
Type: Multi-functional building (offices, food court, public spaces)
Built area: 8200 sqm
Client: Pillar Development, Ltd
Location: Riga, Latvia
Structural design: AS Ingegneria SRL
Landscape design: SdARCH