Riga Central Market

[2][3][4] It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia[5] and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998.

[10] The main structures of the market are five pavilions constructed by reusing old German Zeppelin hangars[10] and incorporating Neoclassicism and Art Deco styles.

[2] The joint stock company Rīgas Centrāltirgus is currently owned by the Riga municipality and the chairman of the board since 2010 is Anatolijs Abramovs.

[19] There are also future plans to join nearby train and bus station into a single complex as well as increase selling of national produce.

[1] On December 18, 1922, Riga City Council decided to move the crowded and highly unsanitary Daugavmala Market to a new enclosed location in conformity with hygienic and economic requirements.

One of the highest prizes was received by Riga's architect Pāvils Dreijmanis and engineer S. Žitkovs collaborative proposal to reuse metal frameworks from World War I German Zeppelin hangars Walhalla and Walther used in Vaiņode Air Base.

Five pavilions were envisioned with the largest 5,000 square metres (54,000 sq ft) hangar for wholesale and meat processing and smaller ones for retail.

This was solved by making an open-air 1,370 square metres (14,700 sq ft) roofed porch, with a 170 horse team capacity.

[10] Juris Dambis, head of the State Inspection for Heritage Protection, says "When Riga Central Market was first opened on November 2, 1930, it was the largest and the most progressive marketplace on earth.

The large number of tourists furthered the Central Markets reputation as one of the more grandiose buildings in Europe.

Farmers were not allowed to freely sell their produce and were forced to supply the German Army and the market sold only limited amounts.

The two pavilions closest to the Daugava were converted into housing the German 726th supply unit's vehicle engine repair shop.

[10] In 1983 the fruit and vegetable pavilion caught fire, which spread to peat insulation and lasted for tens of hours.

[10] On October 18, 1983, the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic's Council of Ministers announced the market as a cultural heritage site.

On January 3, 1995, the city council established stock company Riga Central Market (Latvian: a/s Rīgas Centrāltirgus).