Science and innovation center “Vizium“

Ventspils, Latvia

Video © Audrius Ambrasas Architects

Photo © Norbert Tukaj

Site plan

Drawing © Audrius Ambrasas Architects

Museums + Galleries

Architects: Audrius Ambrasas Architects

Location: Rupniecibas iela 2, LV-3601 Ventspils, Latvia
Year: 2022
Client: Ventspils City
Team: Audrius Ambrasas, Vilma Adomonyte, Jonas Motiejunas, Viktorija Rimkute
Local Architects: Juris Pogas birojs

Science and Innovation Centre in Ventspils was designed as a union of architecture and landscape. Instead of proposing a landmark on the bridge axis, we leave it open and inviting. The silhouettes of the building and the hill osculate here. New public spaces such as the science hill mounting up from the plain, an open-air roof terrace and an overlook spot are designed for both the locals and city guests. The building designed divides the site in two. The Western part accommodates the vehicle access and parking, while the technical transport access is separated from the arrival of visitors – it gets to the building from the South. The Eastern part of the site is shaped by the hill, which is a place for picnics and openair events, providing views on the river. The hill leads to the roof terrace with access to the public facilities (café, conference hall and the access to the main lobby) zone on the first floor. The further cognition of both the building and the city is continuing along the sloping roof towards the overlook opening panoramic views. The building is divided in two for the functional reasons – the Science centre makes the low part of the volume, whilst the Innovation centre takes the 6 floors of the rising part.