ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS’ WORKSHOP “CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY” HELD

On 6 and 7 October, as part of World Architecture Days, an event focused on research, education and public engagement took place in Kuldīga—the “Cultural Heritage and Energy Efficiency” workshop. 

For two days, an educational seminar and practical work by architecture students in the urban environment took place in Kuldīga—the Architecture Students’ Workshop, which hosted 32 students in cooperation with the RISEBA University of Applied Sciences. In addition to the students, the workshop was attended by practising architects from across Latvia, building managers, owners of historic buildings, experts and specialists from the National Heritage Board of Latvia (NKMP), bringing the total number of participants to more than 80.

To date, participants in the Architecture School workshops have developed ideas for the development of various areas in Latvia. This year, during the event, students had the opportunity to seek solutions for improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings. This involved studying the compact historic centre, as well as understanding and analysing its values. In the context of the energy crisis—urban environment

as a whole, students needed to develop an understanding of energy efficiency in order to create their own proposal for improving the energy efficiency of a specific historic building, without replacing, substituting or reconstructing the building’s historic values in the exterior space (facades, windows and doors), but by adding modern solutions to the building. They then presented their proposals to the parties involved.

The following participants gave lectures at the event: Dr Arch. Jana Jākobsone, Head of the Building Authority Department of Kuldīga Municipality; E. Orna (NKMP); Mg. sc. ing. Andris Vulāns (SIA “Būvfizika”); Inese Romānova (VAFI “Altum”); Elīna Zīle, Head of the Architecture Division of the Building Authority (Kuldīga Municipality); architect Dzintars Heinsbergs (Kuldīga Municipality); and Ilze Zariņa, Head of the Restoration Department (Kuldīga Municipality).

The workshop was organised by Kuldīga Municipality in cooperation with the RISEBA University of Applied Sciences.