Art Nouveau in Riga Part I

Riga is well known for its Art Nouveau architecture. Its Old Town has around 800  Modernism buildings, and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architecture, much of which dates back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.

By the end of the nineteenth century, Riga had become an industrial center in the Russian Empire. It was one of the most industrially advanced and prosperous cities and had more than half of all industrial workers of the Baltic region working in Riga. By the 1900, Riga reached the title of third largest city in the Russian Empire after Moscow and St. Petersburg, in the number of industrial workers. This made Riga an economically wealthy city and therefore,  urban restructuring works were started to keep up with the general growth.

The Art Nouveau (1885-1920) style is exprimental, a mix of Baroque, Classicism, Orientalism (think arabesques), and Japanese art elements. The lines are never straight, but rather wavy, as if  a whiplash in movement. Floral motifs were at their height of popularity, especially lillies, irises, palms and papyrus, inspired by the Egyptomania. Another common feature is animalistic designs including  insects, birds, lions and elephants,among the most popular. Women figures were as well rather common, usually a symbol of a siren or goddess Flora.

One-third of the buildings in the city center of Riga were built and are in the of Modernism a.k.a. the  Art Nouveau. This means there are around 800 buildings in the Romantic Art Nouveau style in Riga. It makes Riga the capital of Art Nouveau in Europe. Next after Riga comes Vienna with 15% of its buildings being erected and decorated in the Sezessionsstil (Art Nouvea's name  in Austria).

The Art Nouveau edifices were erected in between 1900 and the First World War, and most were created by 10 most famous Latvian architects of that period. To name but a few - M.Eizenšteins (he is best known for his buildings on Alberta st.), Konstantīns Pēkšēns (designed more than 250 buildings), Eižens Laube. Art Nouveau buildings in Riga comprised appartment, administrational, educational and others. These magnificient buildings are mostly located in the Alberta Street ot the Quiet Center-famous for being the embassy district.

 

Rigas Jūgendstila centrs Museum

The 1903 building now housing Riga's Art Nouveau Museum (Alberta iela 12) was built as a private home of the architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns in collaboration with Eižens Laube. The building's trademark is its magnificient spiral staircase and one of the most popular Art Nouveau pictures of Riga.

References and photo credit:
http://www.jugendstils.riga.lv/eng/turisms
http://www.jugendstils.riga.lv/eng/muzejs
http://www.inyourpocket.com/riga/Art-Nouveau-in-Riga_71844f
http://www.latvia.travel
http://artnouveauriga.lv
http://www.liveriga.com
http://whc.unesco.org
http://www.citariga.lv/lat/rigas-apskates-vietas/jugendstils-riga/