Red Cross Hospital given a new lease of life
The 110-year-old hospital building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility while preserving its historical significance.
After several years of reconstruction work, Riga’s historic Red Cross Hospital reopened its doors in autumn 2024 with new inpatient facilities and a consultation department for the Medical Society “ARS”. This 110-year-old building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility while preserving its historical significance.
Designated a cultural monument
The architecturally valuable building, which has been designated a cultural monument of regional significance, has been modernised to meet European healthcare standards with cutting-edge medical technology and patient-friendly interiors. The renovation prioritised choices that will increase the well-being of patients and staff and – in a first for a medical building in Latvia – engineering solutions that comply with BREEAM Green Building standards.
Materials based on BREEAM
In recognition of the growing need for green building in the construction sector, the project architects Jaunromāns & Ābele selected building materials based on the requirements of the BREEAM certification.
One of the products that qualify for this certification is Tikkurila Argentum Plus 20 – a water-based, semi-matt finishing paint for interior walls and ceilings, specially developed for medical institutions.
Paint for medical institutions
Argentum Plus 20 contains active silver phosphate glass that protects the painted surface from the growth of certain viruses and bacteria, making it the best choice for this project. The paint is designed to protect surfaces in challenging environments while giving them an attractive finish.
Argentum Plus 20 has high wear resistance and can be cleaned with the detergents and disinfectants commonly used in hospitals. The formula has very low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, has been awarded M1 certification and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verification, and meets the VOC content requirements for both LEED v4 and BREEAM classification systems. It is important to stress that in order to qualify for BREEAM classification system projects, the permissible VOC limit for paint with a gloss level below 25 for interior walls and ceilings is 10 g/l. Tikkurila Argentum Plus 20 only contains 1 g/l, which guarantees that both VOC and other emissions are minimised.
For this project, muted off-white tones NCS S 0502-Y, NCS S 1500-N and NCS S 0500-N were used.
A modern hospital with the highest safety standards
The renovation project was developed for “ARS” by architects at Jaunromāns un Ābele. In their work they looked for solutions that allowed the building to be transformed into a modern hospital that complies with the highest requirements of safety and accessibility, with the latest medical technology. The construction work was carried out by Selva Būve and the construction supervision was provided by Forma 2. The project was nominated for the Latvian Annual Architecture Award 2024 in the Public Buildings category.
Design for better living
Green Building criteria set standards for designing and operating sustainable buildings with minimal environmental impact. Most Tikkurila interior paints carry M1 classification and EPD verification, which guarantees extremely low levels of emissions and odours. This makes them an excellent choice for buildings that are aiming for LEED or BREEAM certification.
By choosing Tikkurila paints, you contribute to cleaner air and better everyday living.
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