Renovation and finishing in Klīversala - for historic buildings and new projects

Perimeter development as in the centre, right by the river

Klīversala is a central area on the left bank of the Daugava, between Āgenskalns and the river embankment. In Klīversala, which is part of the Āgenskalns neighbourhood, the development is perimeter development, typical of the centre of Riga: buildings stand along the edge of the street, with courtyards behind them. The development includes historic masonry and wooden buildings, offices, apartment projects and waterfront development areas.

In a historic building the renovation plan is determined by the walls, floor slabs and wires, which can be decades old. In pre-war masonry buildings the floor slabs are mostly wooden, the ceilings are high and the windows are non-standard. This means more finishing per square metre of floor, and the condition of the floor base must be known before the covering is chosen. In a new project the structure is new, and the job is to complete the apartment from the handed-over finish to a home you can live in.

On historic buildings: renovating an apartment in a pre-war building and renovating an apartment in a wooden building.

Older than 50 years: when to think about approval

In Riga, for buildings older than 50 years that are not state-protected, the City Development Department can determine the cultural and historical value and the permitted action when examining a construction proposal. This affects work that needs documents: an opening in a load-bearing wall, moving walls with a construction notice, changing the facade or the division of the windows. For painting, hanging wallpaper and replacing the floor covering, no documents are needed. Klīversala is also in the protection zone of the historic centre of Riga (part No. 9), where new buildings are allowed only with public outdoor space and a view of the Vecrīga (Old Riga) panorama, while the shore of the Daugava and the Āgenskalns Bay (part No. 11) must be kept undeveloped as public outdoor space.

If the renovation changes the outside of the building, for example the window division or the balcony enclosure, find out the requirements in this zone from the department before you order windows.

Approval of reconstruction in Klīversala is handled by the City Development Department of Riga Municipality (formerly the Riga City Building Board), with documents submitted in the Construction Information System. According to the municipality's explanation, for demolishing a non-load-bearing wall an architect prepares a plan and a notice is submitted as a simplified renovation. If the building is a cultural monument, the solution is agreed with the National Heritage Board or the municipality's heritage unit. If you need approval, write that in the request; the procedure is described on the page approval of replanning.

A new project by the Daugava: grey or white finish

In the Klīversala quarter the apartment project River Breeze Residence at Kuģu iela 26 is already complete, while Blue Marine, with 96 apartments, is planned to be completed in August 2027; in total about 670 apartments are planned in the quarter. In such an apartment, first find out what the developer handed over. If the apartment was handed over with a grey finish, the estimate can include floor levelling, skimming and painting the walls, bathroom waterproofing and tiling, interior doors and electrical points. With a white finish, part of this is already done, and the estimate is shorter. For an interior project that does not include renovation, reconstruction, restoration or demolition work, no construction documents are needed.

The order of work is important. The manufacturer states that a cement screed and plaster under tiles must be at least 28 days old, with moisture below 4%. If you want everything in one order, turnkey renovation is the right choice; before choosing, read grey or white finish and new-build apartment fit-out.

If you plan underfloor heating in the new apartment, the choice affects the documents. For electric heating, when the electrical wiring is reconstructed, residual current protection is needed. Connecting water underfloor heating to the building's heating affects common property, because the building's heating elements belong to all owners, and it needs the association's consent. On the work: underfloor heating.

Raņķa dambis and Akmens tilts: access and the request

Raņķa dambis, built in the middle of the 19th century, marks the old bank of the Daugava, and together with the Stone Bridge (Akmens tilts) and Uzvaras bulvāris it gives a direct link with the centre. The closeness of the Daugava and Āgenskalns Bay brings waterfront access constraints, so in the request describe how to drive up to the entrance and whether materials can be unloaded at the entrance or in the courtyard.

• Building: historic building or new project; year of handover.
• Floor, lift, area in m², number of rooms.
• Handed-over finish: grey, white or an already used apartment.
• Whether you will change the walls, the position of the bathroom or the windows.
• A short description of the condition of the rooms; you can send photos or a plan to the specialist when they contact you.

Offices and hospitality premises in Klīversala

In Klīversala, alongside apartments there are offices and hospitality, for example the hotel “Daugava”. If you are renovating an office or premises for a business, in the request write the area, the number of workplaces and whether the premises are only being renewed or also replanned. If you want to turn an apartment into an office, that changes the use of part of the building; simplified renovation covers only work that does not change the use, so a designer can recommend the most suitable type of document. More: office renovation and renovation for businesses.

In an apartment building the staircase and other shared areas are common property, so their renovation is decided by the apartment owners' association, not by one owner. If the request comes from the building manager or the association, write the number of floors and the condition of the staircase: staircase renovation.

Prices in Klīversala

• Turnkey renovation: from €600/m².
• Full renovation: from €280/m² of apartment area.
• Tiling: from €24/m².
• Floor levelling, pouring or screed: from €6.50/m².

Prices are for labour; materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Example for a bathroom in a new build: tiling 18 m² × €24 = from €432, waterproofing 5 m² × €6 = from €30 and installing a floor drain from €100, together from €562 (only these three jobs; the whole bathroom renovation from €3,000). An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.

Work: turnkey renovation in Klīversala, tiling in Klīversala, floor levelling in Klīversala, bathroom renovation in Klīversala, office renovation in Klīversala.