Žanis Lipke Memorial, 8 Mazā Balasta iela, Riga, Development of the Building Structures Section of the Construction Project

Žanis Lipke Memorial project Building structures section was developed based on SIA “Zaigas Gailes birojs”the architectural solutions of Zaiga Gaile.

The concept was initiated by the founders of the AssociationŽanis Lipke Memorialentrepreneur Māris Gailis, honorary director of the International Film Forum “Arsenāls” Augusts Sukuts, and Žanis Lipke's daughter-in-law Ārija Lipke.

The memorial was built next to Žaņa Lipkes house, where during the Second World War he set up a shelter for Jews rescued from the ghetto.

According to Zaiga Gaile's concept, the visual image of the building is borrowed from the boathouses of Ķīpsala fishermen and sailors, built from barge timbers with their characteristic colour and smell. The museum's form conceptually and visually resonates with Noah's Ark, also an overturned boat, which can be considered a refuge for life. The building is constructed mainly from timber frame with a cladding of rough-sawn boards.

Project implementation and construction took place from 2010 to 2013.