Former dairy plant site in central Riga to become mixed-use "Fabrika" quarter

In Riga's historic center, on Valmieras iela, a new mixed-use quarter called "Fabrika" is taking shape on the site once occupied by the "Rīgas piensaimnieks" dairy, later known as the "Rīgas piena kombināts" (Riga Milk Combine). The project has been delayed compared to original plans, but developers expect to complete it by early 2028.

The project is valued at €45 million and covers a 4.7-hectare site. The concept calls for preserving the most valuable historic buildings while adding new construction alongside them. The finished quarter is planned to include retail, services, sports facilities, healthcare, offices, dining and leisure spaces.

History hidden beneath the surface

Driving past Valmieras iela or the nearby railway today, it is hard to imagine how extensive the site is or what it contains. It holds buildings more than a hundred years old alongside Soviet-era additions, including sections of the Rīgas siltums heating network and a stretch of a cobbled linden-tree alley.

The quarter is being developed by SIA "VPH Latvija". According to the company's project manager, Jānis Lūsis, work is currently underway to demolish low-value Soviet-era structures and relatively newer warehouse buildings on the site.

Preserving industrial character

Four historic buildings — a former cold-storage facility, a production building, and a long structure running along Valmieras iela — will be restored, retaining their industrial character, which the developers consider one of the project's key assets. At the same time, entirely new buildings will rise alongside the historic structures, forming a unified, modern urban space on the site of the former industrial plant.