The large housing estates represent an important part of the existing housing stock in many Eastern European cities. Their adaptation to today's needs is one of the greatest challenges facing the cities in the region. Being the leading paradigm of residential development after the WWII within next to half-century long time, the shape of large housing estates underwent a certain transformation from decade to decade differing considerably in size, number and density of population as well as in urban layout and density. This distinction continues today - the social status and level of development of different districts are different. One of the estates which, despite significant changes in the socio-political, economic and demographic aspect, is still active and demanded is large housing estate Imanta in Riga, Latvia. Imanta estate was designed in 1960ties for 60 thousand inhabitants. The structure of the district is based on a clear semicircular scheme, the core of which is the green zone. It includes centrally located 5 neighborhoods (microrajons), in which both residential and public buildings were planned. This is an example of a consistent structure of an estate: each mikrorajon comprises groups of 5–6 apartment buildings placed around an inner courtyard with a slightly different layout. Consumer services are arranged along the main streets of the crescent both in separate buildings and on the ground floors of apartment houses. Large and significant industrial areas had been developed nearby. The Imanta development, which was launched in 1970 in several stages, is also being active today. Contemporary Imanta is an active Riga’s residential area with different kind of new development: educational and residential buildings, new commercial and office centre (converted industrial area). The most challenging issue is a quality of apartment buildings. Some renovated buildings with their experience serve as study cases and an inspiration for others. The paper examines how modern processes have transformed the original structure of the large housing estate Imanta.