Reflecting a change in habits
Photo: Publicity Materials
Many formerly closed industrial sites in the Baltics now are being given a new lease of life as business, residential or leisure spaces, while entrepreneurs see this as a new trend.
In recent years, several such projects have been developed in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In Riga, a museum and a bar have been set up on the site of an old brewery, and a new shopping centre has been built where the Kuznetsov porcelain factory used to be. In Tallinn, a modern and publicly accessible urban space has been established in the historic port area, while in Vilnius, the accelerator Tesonet is creating a Cyber City for its employees on old textile factory territory.
Practical aspect
The development of new projects on historic sites reflects a change in habits, according to Toms Kursitis, Communications Manager at the beer and soft drinks producer Aldaris. “It all starts with the details – sorting waste and following the basic principles of sustainable development, and then continues with the renovation of old buildings and their use for other purposes. There is also a rational and practical aspect. In general, we are trying to live more efficiently and think about new ways to use our living space and resources more intelligently. Following this principle, industrial locations are also being renovated. It is a pleasure to see that in many local governments there is already good partnership with the private sector in the renovation of industrial buildings, which provides greater benefits to both parties”, says Kursitis.