Riga is a beautiful city, full of beautiful buildings. Also outside the old town you can find buildings with amazing facades. Especially in the Art Nouveau district. One of the more famous one is located on Elizabetes street, and is the signature blue and white architecture of Eisenstein. Especially impressive are the faces at the top.
Eisenstein building at Elizabetes iela
Not far from there is Alberta street, which features some wonderful Art Nouveau buildings. I like the window shapes in this one, and am sometimes dreaming of living in the appartment behind these windows. Not that I know what it looks like from the inside, but it should be great.
Wonderful window shapes in Alberta iela
Unfortunately, not all buildings are well kept. The details of this one, on Vilandes, are amazing, but I’m not sure for how long they can still be seen. The building has been empty and in desperate need of repair as long as we’ve been in Riga, and recently part of it has been burnt down. So the building is badly damaged, maybe even beyond repair.
Beautiful Facade, but damaged beyond repair in Vilandes iela
It’s not only the facades that have been designed with a keen eye for detail. In some buildings, the staircases have some nice details as well, like this stained glass window. The building is not public, but it’s also in the Art Nouveau district.
Stained glass in stairwell
But, the buildings with beautiful facades are not limited to the Art Nouveau district. Scattered around the city you’ll find some great examples. The details of these balconies, on a building in the higher numbers of Elizabetes, across the street form Vermanes Garden are stunning, albeit not all in great shape. Imagine looking up to the balcony above you, and seeing dragons fly.
Dragons holding up balconies on Elizabetes iela
I’d like to finish with one of my favorites. A friend mentioned it to me, and I think it’s great. It’s a bit outside the center, but just look at the theme of the facade decorations and let your imagination run wild.
Watch out for flying...