The renovation of Relais Le Chevalier in Riga was led by artistic director and interior designer Elisabetta de Strobel. The project brought new life to a historic mid-18th-century building while keeping its original character as intact as possible.
The intervention focused on restoration and functional recovery, respecting the building’s history and strengthening the identity of the existing architecture. In the common areas, mirrors, glass, metal, and light furniture help small rooms feel brighter and more spacious.
The restoration also preserved the internal courtyard typical of historic Riga buildings. A glass roof and a six-metre mirrored wall protect the space from the weather while drawing daylight down into the Relais.
On the sixth and top floor, the breakfast room opens like a bright lookout over the city’s roofs. Its furniture takes inspiration from French elegance, echoing Riga’s familiar description as the Paris of the Baltic.
The staircase and original doors, dating back to the building’s early history, were restored as part of the same respect for the past. The Relais now has 23 compact rooms, each designed to feel as open and comfortable as possible through careful use of light.
According to de Strobel, the design seeks to combine Riga’s historic charm with a contemporary idea of hospitality, using references to the building’s past and strong visual details to shape the guest experience.
Peter Dark
Lincoln Matheson
miranda_shida
