In 2001, the Kress Foundation provided support to WMF to repair and conserve the cathedral’s portal. After the project’s completion, it was discovered that the church suffered from structural instability more generally than was thought, and in 2005 WMF dispatched a team to fully assess its condition. (...)
In 2001, the Kress Foundation provided support to WMF to repair and conserve the cathedral’s portal. After the project’s completion, it was discovered that the church suffered from structural instability more generally than was thought, and in 2005 WMF dispatched a team to fully assess its condition. They found that many of the side aisle vaults had sustained cracks and were failing to bear the necessary load. Since 2004, parts of the church had been closed to the public because of these problems. WMF increased its commitment to the Riga Cathedral, placing the site on the 2006 Watch and securing additional funding from the Kress Foundation to support a structural monitoring operation by Riga Technical University, which aimed to find a solution to the cathedral’s instability. Emergency conservation was done on particularly damaged areas and the team continued to monitor the site, ensuring its safety.
