Albert Street, Riga
Alberta Street is regarded as Riga’s Art Nouveau gem, since it is full of splendid historical Art Nouveau-style buildings from one end to the other. The area was erected in a short period of time – from 1901 to 1908, each of the buildings standing alone as an inimitable 20th century architectural achievement. Eight buildings are now recognised as architectural monuments of national significance.
According to legend, Riga was founded by Bishop Albert; therefore, one of the most beautiful Riga’s streets was named after him. Alberta Street has embodied architects’ greatest ideas. The architectural monuments are buildings at 2, 2a, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12 and 13 Alberta Street, created by M.Eisenstein (No. 2;2A;4;6;8), N.Mandelstam (No. 10) and K.Pēkšēns (No. 12).
The surrounding area also features great examples of Art Nouveau style. The buildings are decorated with sculptures, balconies, columns, and other elements characteristic to this style. Outstanding pieces of art can be also found in the interior. More information on the Art Nouveau is available at the Riga Art Nouveau Museum, which opened on Alberta Street in 2009.
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Albert Street (Latvian: Alberta iela) is a street in central Riga known for its Art Nouveau buildings. It was built in 1901 and named after Bishop Albert, who founded Riga in 1201.
Many of the apartment buildings along the street were designed by the Russian architect Mikhail Eisenstein who was particularly active in Riga at the beginning of the twentieth century, his creativity is reflected through the various atypical, decorative buildings along Albert street. The architectural style makes use of structural and decorative elements of romantic nationalism common to northern Europe at the time. Konstantīns Pēkšēns and Eižens Laube, a teacher and his pupil respectively, were prominent in building design on the street at the same time. Other authors of buildings of Alberta iela include Baltic and Baltic German architects Paul Mandelstamm, Hermann Hilbig and Heinrich Scheel.
Since April 2009 Pēkšēns' former residence at number 12 has housed the Riga Art Nouveau Museum. A number of institutions of higher education are located on the street or adjacent; the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, the Riga Graduate School of Law and the College of Business Administration (lv). The embassies of Belgium and Ireland are also located on Alberta iela.
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