A tasteful sideshow for tech experts in the old town
Three years ago, the technology company “Draugiem Group” announced its intention to focus on building houses in Cēsis. This year, we can already see and admire the “Spīdalas nams” on Liela Katrīnas Street and the “Žagaru māja” on the banks of the Gauja River, which have been renovated with respect for the environment and cultural and historical heritage.
Extensive restoration and construction work is underway in the future “Konrāda kvartāls” in the Old Town. In early October, the “Konrāda nams” building hosted a rafter festival, a special event, considering that at least one generation of Cēsis residents has already grown up and seen this building only as a slum wrapped in a protective net.
Company spokesperson Jānis Palkavnieks talks about “Draugiem Group's” sidestep into the real estate field with a smile on his face: “We like to focus on businesses where we understand nothing. Knowing nothing about printing and production, we created Printful, which is now an international company, and when we started the renovation of the old houses of Cēsis, we didn't know much about the nuances of construction, working in the old town.”
Several years ago, when conducting a survey, we found that almost half of the employees of “Draugiem Group” are from Cēsis. The owner of the company, Agris Tamanis, is also from Cēsis who has returned to his hometown. The city has contributed a lot to their growth, and these projects are an investment that highlights the uniqueness of Cēsis. We hope that there will be followers of our example, because renovating buildings in the old town is really cool. Yes, there are difficulties, but the cultural and historical layer, the stories that are revealed during research and construction work, are amazing. It should be noted that a design hotel in the old town is a value that attracts both Latvian and foreign guests, and the attendance at “Spīdalas nams” is very good. We have also purchased the neighboring houses, and the “Pumpura kvartāls” will be located in the place where Andrejs Pumpurs wrote his epic “Lāčplēsis”, “Spīdalas nams” will also be joined by Laimdotas and “Lāčplēša nams”.”
The renovation of “Konrāda nams” also grew from the revival of one brick house into a large and multifunctional block project with four buildings: “Konrāda nams”, “Mācītājmāja”, “Ratu māja”, and a new building. As Andis Malahovskis, the head of the group company “Mājas Cēsīs”, said, “Spīdalas nams” was a good test, valuable experience, which is now useful when working in the “Konrāda nams”. “It took almost three years to coordinate the construction projects for the “Konrāda nams”. So that the people of Cēsis would not have the impression that we were only making promises but not doing anything, we agreed to the offer to purchase and renovate the old building, the current “Spīdalas nams”. Quite by chance, it turned out to be a good warm-up before embarking on the voluminous and rather complex “Konrāda nams” and the block. The large brick building was in very poor condition, dangerous even to view. However, step by step, starting from the basement, we strengthened and rebuilt the structures and recently celebrated the rafter festival. We will be able to continue construction work in the winter, because the building will already be heated.
We will restore the house to its historical appearance, it will have office space, short-term rental apartments and apartments upstairs. The author of the renovation project of the former rectory is the architect Pēteris Blūms, an expert in wooden construction. All wooden structures and details in the building – beams, floors, ceilings, doors, windows – that could be preserved have been carefully restored and placed back in their places.
Extensive restoration and construction work is underway in the future “Konrāda kvartāls” in the Old Town. In early October, the “Konrāda nams” building hosted a rafter festival, a special event, considering that at least one generation of Cēsis residents has already grown up and seen this building only as a slum wrapped in a protective net.
Company spokesperson Jānis Palkavnieks talks about “Draugiem Group's” sidestep into the real estate field with a smile on his face: “We like to focus on businesses where we understand nothing. Knowing nothing about printing and production, we created Printful, which is now an international company, and when we started the renovation of the old houses of Cēsis, we didn't know much about the nuances of construction, working in the old town.”
Several years ago, when conducting a survey, we found that almost half of the employees of “Draugiem Group” are from Cēsis. The owner of the company, Agris Tamanis, is also from Cēsis who has returned to his hometown. The city has contributed a lot to their growth, and these projects are an investment that highlights the uniqueness of Cēsis. We hope that there will be followers of our example, because renovating buildings in the old town is really cool. Yes, there are difficulties, but the cultural and historical layer, the stories that are revealed during research and construction work, are amazing. It should be noted that a design hotel in the old town is a value that attracts both Latvian and foreign guests, and the attendance at “Spīdalas nams” is very good. We have also purchased the neighboring houses, and the “Pumpura kvartāls” will be located in the place where Andrejs Pumpurs wrote his epic “Lāčplēsis”, “Spīdalas nams” will also be joined by Laimdotas and “Lāčplēša nams”.”
The renovation of “Konrāda nams” also grew from the revival of one brick house into a large and multifunctional block project with four buildings: “Konrāda nams”, “Mācītājmāja”, “Ratu māja”, and a new building. As Andis Malahovskis, the head of the group company “Mājas Cēsīs”, said, “Spīdalas nams” was a good test, valuable experience, which is now useful when working in the “Konrāda nams”. “It took almost three years to coordinate the construction projects for the “Konrāda nams”. So that the people of Cēsis would not have the impression that we were only making promises but not doing anything, we agreed to the offer to purchase and renovate the old building, the current “Spīdalas nams”. Quite by chance, it turned out to be a good warm-up before embarking on the voluminous and rather complex “Konrāda nams” and the block. The large brick building was in very poor condition, dangerous even to view. However, step by step, starting from the basement, we strengthened and rebuilt the structures and recently celebrated the rafter festival. We will be able to continue construction work in the winter, because the building will already be heated.
We will restore the house to its historical appearance, it will have office space, short-term rental apartments and apartments upstairs. The author of the renovation project of the former rectory is the architect Pēteris Blūms, an expert in wooden construction. All wooden structures and details in the building – beams, floors, ceilings, doors, windows – that could be preserved have been carefully restored and placed back in their places.
Three men and a space of history. “Draugiem Group” spokesperson Jānis Palkavnieks (from left), architect Pēteris Blūms, and “Mājas Cēsīs” director Andis Malahovskis are creating a space in the old town where you can feel the breath of history at every step.
In parallel with the construction work, archaeological research is underway. There are many surprising finds, and by discovering the “Konrāda kvartāls”, we will be able to organize an exhibition of historical evidence. The excavations have revealed the defensive walls of a 13th-century castle, ancient burials, the foundations of a log house, and household items.
The block will consist of four buildings and an open courtyard. At the suggestion of the Cēsis residents, there will also be a democratic pub, which will occasionally feature renowned chefs from around the world.”
At the beginning of the last century, the “Konrāda nams” housed rental apartments, the first cinema in Cēsis, “Teatrs Pate Elektrokino”, operated there, and there were also workshops for a shoemaker, carpenter, tailor, and ski master.
When renovating historic buildings, there can always be surprises that adjust plans, however, Jānis and Andis are cautiously optimistic that the renovated “Konrāda kvartāls” will open in the fall of next year.
In parallel with the construction work, archaeological research is underway. There are many surprising finds, and by discovering the “Konrāda kvartāls”, we will be able to organize an exhibition of historical evidence. The excavations have revealed the defensive walls of a 13th-century castle, ancient burials, the foundations of a log house, and household items.
The block will consist of four buildings and an open courtyard. At the suggestion of the Cēsis residents, there will also be a democratic pub, which will occasionally feature renowned chefs from around the world.”
At the beginning of the last century, the “Konrāda nams” housed rental apartments, the first cinema in Cēsis, “Teatrs Pate Elektrokino”, operated there, and there were also workshops for a shoemaker, carpenter, tailor, and ski master.
When renovating historic buildings, there can always be surprises that adjust plans, however, Jānis and Andis are cautiously optimistic that the renovated “Konrāda kvartāls” will open in the fall of next year.
Published18/10/2024
Andris Vanadziņš
