The manor's documented heritage features are its stairs, doors, windows, some floors and a couple of walls—we cherish and restore them in our own way. We strip away layers of paint, repair and sand, oil and paint. When glazing, we use linseed-oil putty. For doors, we find period handles. For walls, we use chalk paints with natural pigments. If trim is missing, we mill new pieces, but use 100-year-old rafters.
Restoration of the granary
With LEADER support, the Abgunste Manor granary, an architectural monument of local significance, has been restored. The project has created a 280 m2 space for events, concerts and exhibitions in the manor's outbuilding. A building that could have been called a ruin less than a year ago has now been reborn. Its masonry, substantial timber structures and historic roof tiles have been repaired, and new screed floors and nostalgic bathrooms have been added.
Roof painting & chimney repairs
The nearly 100-year-old EMU sheet-metal roof has been repaired and painted with a special coating that is 200% elastic, so it can continue to serve for many years to come. All the chimney tops have been repaired and now look as good as new. Endless thanks to the National Cultural Heritage Board for this invaluable work.
Renovation of the second floor and attic
Renovation and restoration of selected second-floor rooms and the third-floor attic were carried out with support from the LEADER program, under the initiative "Support for the development of non-agricultural business, including agricultural product processing, rural tourism and crafts" as part of the Lielupe Rural Partnership's implementation of the community-led local development strategy for Jelgava and Ozolnieki municipalities for 2014–2020.
Four attractive guest apartments with bathrooms and a spacious attic space / quest room have been created on the building's third floor.
Architectural and artistic / technical research. Granary.
Research into the Abgunste Manor complex is also being carried out in 2017 with support from VKKF. This time, the AIG team of Ilmārs Dirveiks, Māris Benfelds and Anrijs Rudzis conducted an architectural and artistic survey and technical investigation of the former granary, a cultural monument of local significance. The findings will be invaluable in the granary's further restoration.
Work to save the manor. Rainwater drainage
Thank you to the State Inspection for Heritage Protection for its trust and renewed support in the work to save the manor. The Heritage Inspection has approved the proposal for emergency repairs to the roof structure, complete restoration of the roof gutters and downspouts, and installation of a rainwater drainage system.
Architectural and artistic research. Manor house.
With support from VKKF, architectural research was carried out at the manor in the summer of 2016. The Architectural Research Group (AIG) did invaluable work, mapping the manor's historical layouts, uncovering decorative wall paintings and, finally, preparing a handsome volume that now gives us a clear basis for deciding what to restore and in which colors.
Establishing open craft workshops. Abgunste Manor creative residency
On August 20, 2017, the project supported by LEADER funding and approved by the Lielupe Rural Partnership under the initiative "Preservation and Restoration of Cultural and Historical Heritage" will open. Abgunste Manor will have five permanent residency spaces for ceramicists, textile artists and woodworkers, with attractive apartments on the manor's ground floor and bright workshops in its basement.
ENTRANCE DOORS. Restoration and workshops.
Since the Abgunste Manor festival, painter Māris Upzars has been carrying out (and teaching us and others) slow restoration work himself. With support from VKKF and donations from guests at the Abgunste Manor festival, we will be able to restore both entrance doors by next summer. The manor is delighted!
RESTORATION OF ROOF GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS.
Many thanks to the State Inspection for Heritage Protection for supporting the restoration of the roof's rainwater drainage system. Before winter, we will restore the gutters and downspouts on the south and west façades, and next year we hope to tackle the entire roof. We will continue next year until we have restored the whole roof, which is more than 80 years old.
ceramics kiln. noborigama.
With financial support from the Latvian Rural Support Service and Jelgava Municipality, an impressive wood-fired kiln is being built at Abgunste Manor, both in size and technology. The kiln was designed and planned by French master Claude Ossage. This anagama-type kiln, more precisely called a noborigama kiln, is an ancient type of ceramics kiln that came to Japan from China and Korea in the 5th century CE.
Work to save the manor. Rainwater drainage
Thank you to the State Inspection for Heritage Protection for its trust and renewed support in the work to save the manor. The Heritage Inspection has approved the proposal for emergency repairs to the roof structure, complete restoration of the roof gutters and downspouts, and installation of a rainwater drainage system.