Riga Secondary School No. 40 (Rīgas 40.vidusskola)
Author: Anothertravelguide.com0 COMMENTS
When admiring the Art Nouveau architecture for which Riga is famous, it is important to take note of National Romanticism, which is the branch of Art Nouveau that laid the groundwork for Latvian architecture. National Romanticism is not as decorative as the amazing confections on Alberta iela, but its finest examples, such as the iconic Riga Secondary School No. 40 (Rīgas 40.vidusskola), exhibit a Northern solidity in robust forms and textures. Completed in 1905, this unique edifice was formerly known as the Atis Ķeniņš Secondary School (Ata Ķeniņa ģimnāzija).
The Latvian architects Konstantīns Pēkšēns and Eižens Laube created a remarkable structure that is well integrated into the street, designing features like the unusual entranceway, expressive façade and windows that recall the ancient homesteads of the countryside. The sandstone of the façade is from the Staburags cliff, fabled in Latvian mythology but submerged when the Pļaviņas hydroelectric dam was built under Soviet rule.
The school building is a world-class work of architecture that incorporates strong references to the history of architecture in Latvia and the local ecosystem, particularly in the materials used. The largest windows are the upper ones of the school's auditorium. Its interior was unprecedented in that era, with the wooden structural elements of the roof being exposed to the public.
Tērbatas iela 15/17
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