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It is of great significance that the main venue in Riga for the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU is the Castle of Light. The library is not only an essential support for Latvian national culture, but also a symbol of knowledge. At the opening event for the Latvian Presidency in Riga the Prime Minister, Laimdota Straujuma, expressed her wish to see Europe become similar to our Castle of Light – treasury of knowledge which always remind us of the path to intellectual growth.
Place for exchange of experience
The library, opened in 2014, is located on the bank of the River Daugava opposite the Old Town. It is designed by internationally acclaimed Latvian-born architect Gunārs Birkerts from the US. The building is one of the most significant 21st century projects to be undertaken in Latvia, with the venue serving as a modern and multi-functional culture, education and information centre.
"We can be grateful that architect Gunārs Birkerts has created a building that is both a significant architectural symbol and a modern, multifunctional library, that fulfils aspirations and needs of 21st century information society," says Director of the NLL, Andris Vilks.
Today, while crossing the River Daugava and seeing the statuesque building on the left bank, everyone sees it not only as a place for reading books. Library is a symbol of knowledge. It proclaims the importance of aspiring to gain even higher levels of knowledge, this knowledge being the reward for those committed to reaching the peak, despite the challenge it beholds. The Presidency is an opportunity for the library to demonstrate that it is not only a symbol of memory and knowledge of the nation, but a forum for the exchange of experience and culture.
Architect and member of the board of the NLL Foundation, Jānis Dripe, says the building is one of the most significant 21st century projects to be undertaken in Latvia with a pronounced appearance grounded in the Latvian culture. The building's exterior and form also resembles iconic Latvian folklore metaphors – 'Glass Hill' and 'Castle of Light'. Legend has it that the Castle sank during the people's oppression, only to then resurrect from the depths of darkness and free the Latvian nation. It symbolised the wisdom that had been lost in the darkness of war and invasion, but then was regained by the Latvian people.
The building's silhouette resembles the symbolic 'Glass Hill', at the top of which is a princess waiting for her saviour – the one who would be brave enough to reach the top of the hill. Although the building incorporates many elements of Latvian tales, it maintains very clear and pure architectonic conception.
Karina Pētersone, member of the Board of Trustees of the National Library Foundation, explains that building's appearance embodies symbols that encourage us to strive to the top. But the road to knowledge and development is not possible without overcoming difficulties; therefore, there is the symbol of the Glass Mountain.
"Today the library has an enormous practical significance as the centre for information, knowledge and culture. It is an impulse for development and a meeting place for cultural, science, art and political events in European dimension," says Pētersone.
Symbol of Riga and Latvia
The Presidency is an opportunity for Latvia, our nation and the National Library of Latvia to shine bright in the European and global starry sky by not only driving forward the EU Council work but also introducing with our rich culture, traditions and achievements of our people.
"Library tells us about Latvia, about our spiritual values and priority for knowledge. It is one of the smartest choices of Latvian Government to designate the Castle of Light as the main venue for the Latvian Presidency," says J.Dripe.
A.Vilks, Director of the NLL, says Latvian Presidency is a unique opportunity for the library building to gain recognition at international dimension.
The National Library of Latvia is fully equipped and tailored for the needs of the Presidency. The library has a total floor area of 42.733 square meters, that is comparable to almost six football fields and it is possible to locate approximately 7418 ultra-compact city cars throughout its area. Its total height reaches 68.3 metres which is one and a half times higher than the Freedom Monument, however almost five times smaller than the Eiffel tower in Paris. It features a modern conference centre that can accommodate up to 1000 people and a media centre.
25 years of inspiring and determined work
Creation of the library was complicated and long. In 1989, architect Gunārs Birkerts created the first sketch of the new National Library of Latvia's building. Ten years later General Assembly of UNESCO approved "Resolution for the support to the building of the NLL". Diplomat, Aina Nagobads-Ābola, who at the time was Ambassador of Latvia to UNESCO, remembers that in order to get unanimous support in the UNESCO vote there was a lot of lobbying to be done.
"It really wasn't an easy task to go from one mission to another and tell about our country and this project. Yet, I didn't find it unpleasant because I believed and still believe that this is a unique project," says A.Nagobads-Ābola.
After 25 years of creative and determined work, the symbolic Castle of Light was finished in August 2014 when the new temple of knowledge opened its doors to the public eye.
These years were filled with hard and inspiring work not only by building the actual library but also by creating our own state – new, independent and dynamic Latvia with confidence in the future.
„To this building I've worked the longest. I have devoted my heart and soul to it as it's not just a commission for me. This building is for Latvia, my motherland in which my parents have born and lived," says Gunārs Birkerts about the Castle of Light.
Gunārs Birkerts is one of the most excellent Latvian architects whose ideas have come to life in the form of significant buildings in the USA and other countries. The construction of the NLL started in 2008. At the end of summer 2014, the Castle of Light was opened for the general public while celebrating the 95th anniversary of the NLL.
