On 13 August, with the support of Skonto Būve, the second science, music, poetry and visual art event Nature Concert Hall took place in Mērsrags, which this summer is devoted to Fucus vesiculosus.

The Nature Concert Hall event has taken place for the sixth consecutive year. Latvian scientists and musicians talked about Latvian nature, displayed it and sang about it in a popular manner, this time especially emphasising the Baltic Sea and the Fucus vesiculosus inhabiting it, which is a brown perennial seaweed widespread in the sea.

The entertaining and educational event at the Nature Concert Hall took place in three stages. The first stage included creative and informational workshops. One of them was devoted to the most poisonous places in Latvia – the goudron ponds, the treatment of which will be implemented by Skonto Būve. Visitors of the Nature Concert Hall had the opportunity to find out what the goudron ponds are, how they form, why they are dangerous and how their treatment will take place.

At the second part of the event stories were told and poetry read about the Baltic Sea and the Fucus vesiculosus. But the third part was the musical part of the event, in which such popular Latvian musicians as Ingus Ulmanis, Kaspars Tobis, Andris Sējāns, Aigars Voitišķis, Anrijs Grīnbergs, Rūta Muktupāvela and Valdis Muktupāvels participated.

The largest complex of residential houses built after the renewal of Latvia’s independence was put into operation with a festive handover of the new apartments keys.

The client who ordered the construction of residential houses was Rīgas Pilsētbūvnieks Riga Municipal Limited Liability Company, the work was performed by Skonto Būve, while the project was funded by Nordea Banka.

Two houses with 326 furnished apartments were handed over to the new residents with the participation of Nils Ušakovs, Riga City Council Chairman, Andris Ameriks, Riga City Council Deputy Chairman, Ivars Millers, Skonto Būve Vice President, and Valdis Siksnis, the head of Nordea Bank Finland Plc. Latvia Branch. There are 120 single-room apartments, 96 two-room apartments, 48 three-room apartments and 48 four-room apartments among the commissioned residential properties. Furthermore, 14 service apartments that are especially equipped for people with special needs have been built. Several large families were among the first to receive keys to their apartments during the ceremony from those who implemented the project.

Nils Ušakovs, Riga City Council Chairman: "The development of the complex of residential houses in Ulbrokas iela became possible thanks to the bank and the builders. The success of this project is confirmed by the fact that three residential buildings are already inhabited, now supplemented by another two complex buildings."

Ivars Millers, Skonto Būve Vice President:"A year and a half ago where we today see the new municipal complex of residential houses was only a desolated wasteland, but now there are not only five newly built houses and a car park, but a well-equipped area with a playground for children".

The highest point of the Northern façade of the National Library of Latvia – the building spire has been glazed. 

At the building spire on the 10^th, the 11^th, and the 12^th floors are premises for small seminars, exhibitions and book launching events are planned, but on a daily basis this place will be a freely accessible viewing area, from which the view to Old Riga and Pārdaugava will be open.

The spire height of the Castle of Light has reached 68.3 metres. The enclosing glass is formed of glass packets, which consist of external and internal glass. The external glass is tempered glass with a special coating that allows for natural light to enter the premises. In hot weather it prevents heat from entering the building, but in cold weather prevents heat from leaving the building.

Currently, roof insulation laying works and the construction of roof gutters are also being executed at the new building of the National Library of Latvia, as well as works of engineering network constructions are continued. The building façade and roof hydraulic insulation works at the National Library of Latvia building will be completed in autumn of this year, in order to be able to begin the interior finishing works. In total, approximately half of the construction works of the Castle of Light have been completed.

State Prime Minister V. Dombrovskis: “The building of the National Library of Latvia is a national symbol of the successful future of Latvia. It proves the economical toughness of our nation and the formation of national self-confidence.” 

Up to now 5103 tons of reinforcement, 36 486 cubic metres of concrete, 4393 square meters of glass, 42 147 kilograms of metal, 38 714 meters of power cables, 10 953 metres of low current cables and 1065 cubic metres of flooring fibre-reinforced concrete have been used in the construction of the National Library of Latvia.

The National Library of Latvia is being built by the Union of National Construction Companies uniting three of the strongest and most experienced construction companies in Latvia: Skonto Būve Ltd., RE&RE Ltd. and JSC RBSSKALS.

Next to Small Baltezers Lake, on the evening of 18 July, the team from the Nature Concert Hall, together with the largest event supporter this year in the form of the chairman of the board of “Skonto Būve”, Guntis Rāvis, and the Minister of the Environment, Raimonds Vējonis, gathered together so that they might acquaint themselves with the music and scientific workshops that are devoted to this year’s hero of the Nature Concert Hall – bladder wrack.

The godmother and godfather of bladder wrack this year, biologists Solvita Strāķe andAndris Andrušaitis, spoke about the role of bladder wrack in the Baltic Sea, which serves as a shelter for many of the sea’s inhabitants. Similarly, the sponsor of the concert this year is “Skonto Būve” Ltd, which creates shelters for the residents of Latvia on dry land.

Also representative of the European Parliament Roberts Zīle took part in the presentation, as well as musicians Ingus Ulmanis, Kaspars Tobis, Aigars Voitišķis, Anrijs Grinbergs, Valdis Muktupāvels and Rūta Muktupāvela and Andris Sējāns.

This week Skonto Būve will begin the construction of the Sakta Flower Market, in order to provide a new and comfortable trade location for the flower sellers till the celebration of proclamation of the independence of Latvia on 18 November. On the first day of disassembling the current flower booths, Sakta Flower Market was visited by the Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council Andris Ameriks.

Andris Ameriks , Deputy Chairman of Riga City Council: “The issue regarding the Sakta Flower Market dates back 14 years. This flower market is special and unique not only in Riga, but also in all of Latvia. This really is the place, which citizens of Riga know as the most reliable location, to buy flowers.”

The design of the Sakta flower pavilion includes the construction of two buildings with 16 and 14 trade locations accordingly. The new pavilions will be designed mainly with glass, thus allowing viewing of the magnificent flowers from distance. In comparison to the old, outdated booths, the new flower trade locations will be equipped with a water supply and sewerage system, heating and air conditioners. Also climate control will be provided. The market will be equipped with a fire detection system.