On Monday in Zolitūde at Priedaines Street 20A, the Atceres dārzs opened to commemorate the victims of the November 21, 2013, tragedy, according to local reports. The new memorial site spans approximately 0.8 hectares and provides a quiet space where those affected, relatives of the deceased, and visitors can quietly remember the event.
Opening Ceremony and Memorial Features
Approximately 100 people gathered at the opening ceremony, with several attendees bringing flowers and candles. Dignitaries and officials present included Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs (P), State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) Chief General Mārtiņš Baltmanis, Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) Imanta Brigade Support Center Head Sarmīte Leitāne, “Zolitūde 21.11.” association representative Regīna Ločmele, and memorial authors Indra Ozola, Ingūna Ellere, and Igors Gubenko. The “Rātspuni” choir also performed during the event.
The memorial space features 54 freely arranged, polished stainless steel mirror-surface spheres of varying sizes, where each sphere symbolically commemorates one person who died in the disaster. Perimeter plantings surround the entire area, alongside an adjoining linear park that connects the memorial to the surrounding urban environment and creates a transition between the quiet garden and everyday city life. According to municipal records, the initial project funding reached nearly two million euros from the Riga municipal budget, with an additional 11,131 euros allocated later.
Background of the 2013 Zolitūde Disaster
On November 21, 2013, 54 people lost their lives and dozens more sustained severe injuries when a Maxima supermarket collapsed in Zolitūde. Construction experts concluded that incorrectly calculated roof structure loads caused the structural failure of the building. Nearly 13 years after the tragedy, community members continue to share vivid memories of that evening on social media platforms like Threads, reflecting on the profound impact of what became one of the worst disasters in modern Latvian history.
Did You Know? The Atceres dārzs features 54 polished stainless steel mirror-surface spheres, with each individual sphere symbolically dedicated to one of the 54 victims who died during the 2013 supermarket collapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Atceres dārzs located?
The memorial is located in Zolitūde at Priedaines Street 20A.
What is the significance of the 54 spheres in the garden?
The 54 polished stainless steel mirror-surface spheres symbolically represent each of the 54 people who died in the 2013 Maxima supermarket tragedy.
How was the project funded?
The project received funding from the Riga municipal budget, totaling nearly two million euros initially, with an additional 11,131 euros added later.
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