East Capital Unveils Plans for Galleria Riga Rooftop Square
East Capital Real Estate Plans Galleria Riga Rooftop Reconstruction to Create Riga’s Highest Public Square
Following reconstruction, Galleria Riga will feature the highest public square in Riga, offering panoramic views, restaurants, green spaces, and year-round public access above the rooftops of the UNESCO-listed city centre.
In September 2025, East Capital Real Estate received a building permit for the reconstruction of the Galleria Riga rooftop, and the technical design phase for the future terrace is now underway. The planned 3,200 m² rooftop terrace will become the highest public square in Riga, where residents and visitors alike can enjoy unique panoramic views of the city’s historic centre. The space will feature restaurants, cafés, event areas, green oases, relaxation zones, and a jogging track encircling a central glass atrium. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
Located within Riga’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the new rooftop terrace will highlight one of the city’s most significant cultural assets – its historic roofscape. The design is being developed to preserve the city’s unique skyline by keeping new structures invisible from street level, while making this world-class heritage panorama more accessible to the public.
To ensure a high-quality urban and architectural solution, an open architectural competition was held in 2024. The winning proposal was submitted by a consortium of architects: Studio SIJA, Alsins Architecture Latvia, and 8x8. Together with Galleria Riga and architect Niklāvs Paegle, the team is continuing work on the technical project and detailed design.
The rooftop terrace is conceived as a new type of public urban square above the rooftops - an open, inclusive, and fully accessible public space. It has been designed for year-round use, with open-air areas for warmer months and covered pavilions for colder or rainy weather. A central open pavilion will serve as a flexible event space, welcoming local residents, visitors, and artists for cultural, social, and community activities.
“This project is part of our long-term investment strategy in the Baltics. We have great confidence in Riga’s potential as a dynamic and growing city, and this rooftop terrace will demonstrate how the historic urban fabric can be enhanced through modern, sustainable public space,” said Māris Smiltenieks, Country Manager at East Capital Real Estate Latvia.
The design places emphasis on both economic and environmental sustainability. Inspired by Riga’s historic rooftop landscape, the architecture of the pavilions blends cultural heritage with contemporary design. Landscaping will feature native plant species that bloom across the seasons, helping to create a welcoming environment while contributing to urban biodiversity.
“The demand for diverse and modern urban spaces continues to grow, and the Galleria Riga rooftop terrace is our response to that need. By combining panoramic rooftop views with contemporary architecture, it will provide a new setting for culture, events, and social gatherings – and become one of the most attractive meeting places in Riga,” added Zane Šulca, Director of Galleria Riga.
Since acquiring Galleria Riga in 2018, East Capital Real Estate has invested more than €8 million into transforming the shopping centre, upgrading facilities to meet tenant and customer needs, and attracting new international brands. This rooftop project forms part of the company’s broader Baltic strategy, under which total real estate investments have approached €1 billion in recent years.
Over the past two years, the shopping centre has undergone major transformations. Workland, Riga’s largest coworking centre (3,200 m² with more than 350 workspaces), has opened on site. At the same time, MyFitness is expanding to become the largest gym in Riga (3,500 m²), with its opening scheduled for early November. New brands such as Lindex, Douglas, and Rocket Bean have joined the tenant mix, while existing brands – including Este, Watch Wear, Lage Gastronomija, Lido, and the Globuss bookshop – have renovated their premises. Meanwhile, to promote sustainable mobility, a new, secure, and convenient bicycle parking facility with 36 spaces has been installed at the Blaumaņa Street entrance.
