Bring Old Surfaces Back to Life with ROMEX®

The Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga is Latvia’s largest art museum and houses approximately 52,000 works of Latvian, Baltic, and Russian art dating from the mid-18th century to the present. The historic main building at 1 Jana Rozentāla Square was constructed between 1903 and 1905 and is one of the most significant cultural landmarks in the Latvian capital.

After 107 years without a major renovation, the building underwent extensive reconstruction and was ceremonially reopened on May 4, 2016—the anniversary of Latvia’s restoration of independence. As part of the work, the grand entrance hall with its marble staircase was also restored.

Requirements and Challenges

The museum building is of exceptional historical and architectural value. The façade consists of stucco, sandstone, and granite, among other materials, while the interior features numerous Art Nouveau elements that have been preserved. The requirements for the renovation were correspondingly high: The work had to respect the building’s historical character while simultaneously creating a durable, functional solution for the heavily used entrance area.

Special attention was paid to the main entrance staircase with its marble slabs. The joints had to be permanently sealed, durable, and visually harmonious without compromising the high-quality character of the natural stone. At the same time, reliable drainage was essential to ensure that moisture could be safely removed.

ROMEX® Solution

ROMPOX® - DRÄN in the color Basalt was used to grout the marble slabs on the main entrance staircase. The paving joint mortar, based on gray quartz sand, blends discreetly into the appearance of the marble staircase and contributes to a high-quality, uniform overall look.

ROMPOX® - DRÄN enables a permanently stable yet water-permeable joint seal. This functionally enhances the natural stone surface while preserving the historic character of the entrance area. Especially for a prestigious museum entrance, the system combines technical reliability with an understated design that is compatible with historic preservation.