The school building on Tērbatas iela 15/17 is designed in the manner of national romanticism is one of the architectural symbols of the early 20 th century of Riga and a unit of Latvian cultural canon. It was built by the poet, lawyer and educator Atis Ķeniņš. The building has an impressive silhouette and its architectural finish is made of various natural building materials set in different combinations. Apart from red brick, plaster of different textures and insets of green ceramic tiles, the façade finish also includes the travertine that was sourced from the vicinity of the Staburags cliff, a place located on the left riverbank of the Daugava and associated with a legend of mourning girl turned into rock.
The building has had a prolific history since being built in 1906. In parallel to the functions of the school, it has been cultural and social, with various shops and workshops on the first floor. During the Soviet occupation, property is nationalized and is currently owned by the state. Since 1953, Riga's 40 th secondary school has operated in the building.
An invaluable contribution to the process of culture of Art Nouveau done by the activities of the publishing company Zalktis what was founded by owner Atis Ķēniņš, writer Augusta Saulietis and painter Janis Rozenthal. This house realised also the functions of the art salon and held art exhibitions. For example, in 1910, for the first time in Riga, an exhibition of paintings by the Lithuanian painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Chiurlionis, organised by the Lithuanian Society for the Arts, took place.
Text material using Dr. arch. Jānis Krastiņš studies and https://enciklopedija.lv. Photo by Margarita Fedina.
Full information >>
