The Riga Art Nouveau Centre is the only museum in the Baltics that presents a complete picture of the historical heritage of Art Nouveau and offers an authentic environment for discovering and savouring Art Nouveau in an early 20th century apartment in Riga.
The Riga Art Nouveau Centre is one of the youngest museums in Riga. After a thorough inspection of the premises, the authentic interiors of 1903 were recreated in the apartment, so visitors could discover Art Nouveau at its fullest, from home planning to the minute details, such as door and window handles.
Open the door and imagine:
- How the former owners of the apartment hosted their guests in the drawing room, one of the central rooms of the museum decorated with flowery patterns, drinking tea, discussing recent opera shows, the latest in politics, new fashion trends from Paris, and Riga news,
- What people were dreaming of at the beginning of the 20th century as they sipped on a glass of wine while sitting at the fireplace in the lavish lounge,
- The pace of life in the kitchen, where the lady of the house or a maid spent a lot of her time to make life comfortable for the entire household,
- What manners were observed and how people behaved while sitting at the table in the most impressive room in the apartment – the dining room, decorated with furniture made by local craftsmen on par with the best period samples from Europe,
- How business talks were held in the cabinet, after which visitors could see the host’s collection of paintings and antiques.
Visitors can also see other rooms of the museum – renovated wall and ceiling paintings, stained-glass windows, tile floors in the kitchen, oaken wall panels, furniture, paintings and other artwork, clothing, and authentic period items. Besides the permanent exhibition, the museum also hosts thematic exhibitions and interactive educational events for both adults and children.
History of the apartment
The museum is located in an apartment where the outstanding Latvian architect Konstantins Peksens was living and working until 1907. The apartment building on Alberta Street was built in 1903 as Peksens’ personal residence. The building was designed by Peksens together with then-student of architecture Eizens Laube.
