Renovating an apartment in a historic Riga building
Riga's historic centre has been on the UNESCO list since 1997 and has about 4,000 buildings, so renovating a flat in an old or Art Nouveau building is about more than design. In an ordinary flat, simple finishing (painting, wallpaper, flooring) needs no building documents; whether this applies to your building in the historic centre, check with the construction board. In state-listed monuments works must be agreed with the National Heritage Board (NKMP), and alterations go through BIS. The best results come from keeping the timber windows, cornices and parquet while making the kitchen and bathroom modern.
Author: Valerija Gelfere, interior designer · Updated
What it means to own a flat in Riga's historic centre
The historic centre of Riga has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and contains about 4,000 buildings. Its protection is set by the Law on the Preservation and Protection of the Historic Centre of Riga.
The law forbids rebuilding historic residential buildings in a way that makes them unfit to live in, and building and reconstruction projects are assessed by a council. For a flat owner this means cosmetic work is usually straightforward, but anything touching the facade, windows, structure or layout should be checked before work starts.
No specific NKMP requirements for a flat in a building without monument status were found in the sources. So check your case with the Riga City Construction Board (Rīgas pilsētas būvvalde) or a certified specialist who files documents in BIS.
When renovation needs the National Heritage Board's approval
The table sums up what LV portāls and the legislation say. Sources differ in places and the rules can change, so use it to prepare your questions, not as a substitute for an answer from the construction board or the NKMP.
| Situation | What the sources say | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| State-listed monument, works alter the monument | Works are agreed with the NKMP. | NKMP |
| Monument, ordinary repair with the same materials | If the monument is not altered, a notification is enough. | NKMP |
| Timber windows in a monument | Restoration is usually cheaper than a replica. For state-protected monuments, Riga co-funds up to 50% of window restoration costs, subject to programme terms (LV portāls, 2026). | NKMP, Riga City Council |
| Building in the centre without monument status | No specific NKMP requirements for a flat were found. | Riga City Construction Board |
| Partitions, openings, moving wet rooms | Partitions and openings go through BIS with a certified specialist; an opening in a load-bearing wall needs a design and the other owners' consent. No specific rule for moving wet rooms was found in the sources; each case is assessed separately. | Construction board, certified structural engineer |
What to keep when renovating an old or Art Nouveau flat
In a historic building the windows, ceilings and floor set the character of the interior. What is already there is usually worth more than any new finish, and the 2026 trends agree: designers interviewed by Dezeen talk about patina as a virtue, mixing old and new, and respecting existing structures.
- Timber windows: in monuments restoration is usually cheaper than a replica, and for state-protected monuments Riga co-funds up to 50% of the cost, depending on programme terms (ask Riga municipality).
- Ceiling cornices and roses: build them into the design from the start so light fittings and suspended elements do not hide them.
- Parquet: old parquet can often be restored, and new parquet should suit the windows and doors.
- Wall mouldings: they give a room rhythm and can be continued onto new partitions.
- Tiled stoves: if the flat has one, decide about it at the layout stage, because it fixes the furniture plan, and protect it during the works.
- Doors and ironmongery: restored old doors are often better than new ones.
Valerija Gelfere's historic project: before and now
Valerija Gelfere is currently designing a flat in a historic building in Riga city centre. Before the work the main room was empty, with three windows. Now it has walnut parquet, a crystal chandelier and the original timber windows.
The white ceiling cornices stay in place, and in one room they stand out even more against a dark accent wall with wall lights. During the works framing for new partitions went up, the kitchen carcasses were assembled, and a white floor-to-ceiling kitchen is being installed. The new finishes add to what the building already has rather than replacing it.
A modern kitchen in an old flat
A modern kitchen does not clash with a historic building as long as it stays calm. A white floor-to-ceiling kitchen uses the room's height for storage; one is currently being installed in Valerija's project. Integrated appliances and a hidden extractor help it read as furniture.
Houzz lists traditional kitchen details among the 2026 trends: inset fronts, painted wood and arched hoods. In an old building they feel especially at home. If you want to move the kitchen, remember that no specific rule was found in the sources: each case is assessed on its own, the neighbours' consent may be needed because of risers, and the owner is liable for any damage.
The bathroom in a historic building
In an old building a bathroom renovation starts with what you cannot see: the ceiling, floor structure, pipes and ventilation. In Valerija's project the old bathroom had a damaged ceiling, so before finishing you need to know what is happening above and below the room. Waterproofing matters even more in an old building, because a leak can ruin the neighbours' ceilings.
The flat now has two different rooms with a basin. One has botanical wallpaper, a round mirror and a timber vanity shelf; the other is a spacious bathroom with large-format tiles and a preserved historic timber window. A window in the bathroom brings daylight but needs good ventilation so moisture does not damage the wood.
How Valerija Gelfere helps with a flat in a historic building
Valerija Gelfere has more than 10 design projects behind her and is currently designing a flat in a historic building in central Riga. The 3D of each room, from all angles, shows before the work how a new kitchen and bathroom will sit with the windows and cornices. A material collage helps match the finishes to what you decide to keep.
A project for a flat in an old building costs from 5 €/m². She does not carry out renovations, but she recommends tradespeople she has worked with.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to renovate a flat in Riga's historic centre?
In an ordinary flat, simple finishing (painting, wallpaper, flooring) needs no building documents; whether this applies to your building in the historic centre, check with the Riga City Construction Board. Alterations, partitions and openings are handled through BIS with a certified specialist, and in state-listed monuments the works are agreed with the NKMP. Check your case with the Riga City Construction Board.
When do I need to contact the National Heritage Board (NKMP)?
If the building is a state-listed cultural monument, works that alter it are agreed with the NKMP. For ordinary repairs with the same materials that do not alter the monument, a notification is enough. No requirements for flats in buildings without monument status were found, so ask the construction board.
Should I restore or replace timber windows in a historic building?
According to LV portāls, restoration is usually cheaper than a replica, and for state-protected monuments Riga co-funds up to 50% of window restoration costs, depending on programme terms; ask Riga municipality for details. In Valerija Gelfere's project in Riga centre the timber windows are kept, including in the bathroom.
Can I add new partitions in an old building?
In Valerija's project the new partitions are built on a frame. Whether and where you can add them depends on the building, and the documents go through BIS with a certified specialist. It is discussed at the very start of planning.
How do I fit a modern kitchen into a historic interior?
Keep the kitchen calm: plain fronts, integrated appliances, cabinets to the ceiling. In Valerija's historic project a white floor-to-ceiling kitchen is currently being installed.
What parquet suits a flat in a historic building?
The parquet should match the windows, doors and character of the building. In Valerija Gelfere's project in central Riga, walnut parquet adds warmth next to the original timber windows.
How much does interior design cost for a flat in a historic building?
An interior design project by Valerija Gelfere costs 5, 10 or 20 €/m² depending on the package, with 3D included in each. For a 50 m² flat that is 250, 500 or 1000 €.
Want these ideas in your apartment? Write to Valerija.