About us
Zuzeum is a modern art centre, home of the Zuzāns collection, the largest private collection of Latvian art in the world.
Zuzeum Art Centre is a place where audiences can encounter and engage with contemporary Latvian and international art. It was founded in 2017 by the art collector and philanthropist Jānis Zuzāns.
Located in the historical center of Riga, Zuzeum is the largest private collection of Latvian art in the world, comprising almost 30,000 objects. The Zuzāns Collection initially focused on Latvian art and is the most extensive such private collection in the world. Over time, the acquisition of international contemporary art became the primary means of expanding the Collection
Zuzeum’s program is also reflected in its regional and national partnerships for sharing collections and programs and engaging new audiences.
Zuzeum Art Centre
Zuzeum is housed in a former cork factory designed and built in 1910 by architect and engineer Edmund von Trompowsky and has over 1,100 square meters of space. It is a place for cultural exchange, offering exhibitions and public events, a studio for artists, art storage, a public zone with a meeting and working space, a cafe, and a shop.
The building
On 10 September 2020, Zuzeum, a new art centre and home to the Zuzāns Collection, opened its doors in Riga.
Architectural practice Annvil designed the functions and accessibility of the centre and the landscaping. As a client, Zuzeum Art Centre wanted more flexibility and an adaptive, economical environment to carry out its activities with a quick start.
The transformation programme included renovation of the historic cork factory buildings, designed by Edmund von Trompowsky in 1910, and a new public open space. The Zuzeum is now open to the city on three sides, each with its own role to play. Annvil accentuated the new entrance with an orange terraced concrete sculpture garden and paintwork that unites the historic building and courtyard cover. The large and small exhibition halls have a total area of 1,250 square metres, and the other rooms and the public open space can be flexibly adapted for exhibitions or events.
The building also has a fifth facade, a landscaped and spacious roof terrace, which is open to the public any time of the year and can be used as a viewing platform over post-industrial Riga or as a bar and café. The wall also contains the name of the art centre, a warmly glowing light box that forms a kind of neighbourhood gateway when coming from Salu Bridge.
By transforming the site and opening up a formerly closed space to the public, a significant private investment has been made in the efficient use of the urban environment. The building's conversion into an easily accessible location in the centre of Riga meets the Davos criteria and the objectives of the European Green Deal. A restored historic building and an attractive but previously undervalued site have been brought into public use.
st. Lacplesa, 101 Riga, LV–1011