Salaspils Culture Centre Reconstruction Wins Latvian Architecture Award's Top Prize
The reconstruction of the culture centre in Salaspils has won the Grand Prix of the Latvian Architecture Annual Award 2026. A new “Architect of the Year” recognition was awarded for the first time, going to Gatis Didrihsons.
The Latvian Association of Architects (LAS), the professional body of the country's architects, announced that the gold prize, or Grand Prix, of the Latvian Architecture Annual Award 2026 has gone to the reconstruction of the culture centre in Salaspils. The project's authors are architects Edijs Levins, Agnese Levina and Iveta Lūse. The award is the highest honour in architecture in Latvia. It is organised by LAS together with the Ministry of Culture, and 43 entries were submitted this year.
Other winners
For the first time, an "Architect of the Year" recognition was given for a significant contribution to the development of the field. It went to Gatis Didrihsons, head of the firm Didrihsons arhitekti.
Three silver awards were presented to:
- the Konrāds quarter in Cēsis (authors: Outofbox and Konvents);
- the Zuzeum multifunctional art centre (authors: Make Make with Anna Bates, and Balta istaba with Ilze Rukmane-Poča);
- the reconstruction of a vicarage and construction of a barn in Kuldīga (authors: Diānas Zalānes projektu birojs and Field Studio).
The jury's assessment
LAS states that the Salaspils project embodies a new outlook on cultural activities. According to the association, the authors achieved rational use of resources and created a balanced building whose architecture is formed by legible, exposed structures made of natural materials. The international jury was struck by the care running through the entire project. In its view, the work clearly understands its purpose: to bring people together and make culture part of everyday life.
The winners were chosen by a jury made up of Johan Tali (Estonia), Jonas Norsted (Norway) and Ute Schneider (Germany/Switzerland).
Special recognitions
The Inclusive Design recognition, which highlights architecture and design with particular attention to empathy, diversity and equality, was awarded for the second year. It went to Zuzeum and the authors of the Salaspils culture centre. The New European Bauhaus recognition, chosen by a national jury for realising the values of sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion, went to the team of the association Tandeems for a library pavilion in Bolderāja.
From 30 September to 14 October, the public could vote on the Delfi portal. The Konrāds quarter in Cēsis won the public vote.
