Riga - Art Nouveau

Riga has the highest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture in the world. Most of the Art Nouveau buildings in Riga, built during a period of rapid economic growth, date from between 1904 and 1914, with influences from what is now Austria, Finland and Germany.The establishment of an architecture faculty in Riga in 1869 contributed significantly to the city's well-trained architect base.

By the end of the 19th century, Riga was an important city in the Russian Empire. Between 1897 and 1913, the city grew by 88%, reaching a population of 530,000 in 1914.

In the mid-19th century, the city began to expand beyond medieval Riga, which was once surrounded by gates and walls. These were demolished and replaced by a belt of boulevards and gardens, and the growing city developed according to a grid that followed strict building regulations. Between 1910 and 1913, 300 to 500 new buildings were erected each year, most of them in Art Nouveau style, and most of them outside the old town.

Today, Art Nouveau architecture accounts for one third of all the buildings in the centre of Riga.