Friday, July 12, 2019

Art Nouveau - Riga

When I visited Riga I already knew that the city was known for its many exemples of Art Nouveau architecture, however I didn't have time to visit the downtown quarter known as the "quiet centre" - just a 10-minute stroll from Old Town, where many Art Nouveau buildings are located. 
Art Nouveau in Riga makes up 40% of downtown Riga, making Latvia's capital the city with the highest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture anywhere in the world.
Damien went on a mega road all the way from Limoges, France and one of hist stops was the beautiful Latvian capital city.

Art Nouveau, the distinct style in art of end-19th century and early-20th, was the "father" of modern architecture. Riga is a well-known Art Nouveau mecca.

Photo: Jänis Knäkis
As the population of Riga swelled, so did the demand for new apartment houses. Thus, over 100 high-rise stone and brick buildings went up, creating the city's distinct look. Eclecticism, the predominant style since end-19th century, was gone by 1904, making way for Nouveau. 
Alberta Street (where the building on the card is located) is regarded as Riga’s Art Nouveau gem, since it is full of splendid historical Art Nouveau-style buildings from one end to the other. The area was erected in a short period of time – from 1901 to 1908, each of the buildings standing alone as an inimitable 20th century architectural achievement. Eight buildings are now recognised as architectural monuments of national significance. - in: https://www.liveriga.com/en/2492-alberta-street

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