A beautiful pink building with incredible white accents and strong square white columns, I so wish I could name the shape of the windows. I love the combination of curves and straight lines.
This overly ornate building displays a consistent contrast of this city to say most modern cities. Rather than austere gray granite buildings decorated with equally ornate flourish, this one boasts vibrance, in blue brick.
And a close up in of the detail:
This building is just plain confused and yet surprisingly attractive. A bright dirty yellow, it could be in Santa Fe. The color is unexpectedly similar to the natural color of the stone in Athens, hence the relief seems fitting; it relief could easily be 2200 years old and in Athens. Yet the relief on the rounded structure is so contrary to the straight lines of Athens. The square flat windows and cheap black railing, kill an otherwise interesting fusion of designs. The flat roof is also an odd choice.
And another blue brick building, the color quite similar to the color found on Catherine’s Palace in St. Petersburg. In black and white, one would quickly assume was in New York. Imagine if it had a personality, it energetically rebelling against the austere nature of such conformity. This building too has the ridiculously elaborate facade.
The same building, close up. Notice the fantastic combination of a round window so seamlessly within straight lines. The curved balcony is such an easily over looked feature which is critical, or it would simply be too much. Just the window and balcony alone could be in any modern building, but found in such a crazy traditional building, and to be so well infused, it is just amazing.
Again, ornate beyond belief, with large faces and for a change wicked spires, the color seems contrary to what looks like a bit of a scary building. This building displays the city’s theme of animated color on a traditionally styled building, ornate facade, curved windows and straight lines.
The same building, the roof line up close. She looked like Lady Liberty. I can’t help but notice that all these building, unlike again New York, have perfectly maintained façades which are sparkling white!
Any guess of what city this is? What is most remarkable about the above buildings, is most are on the same block. The architecture is consistent throughout the city.
This next picture is taken of a stairwell looking up. Notice the asymmetry of the shape. If not for the beautiful paintings on the ceiling, I am not sure the asymmetry would be so beautiful. The stairs were a hard stone, contrary to the soft color of the ceiling. The brown is the banister and the gray design is actually the railing. I believe this was in the Rozental Architecture Museum.
I just plain liked the dragons standing guard of this entry way. It is such an unnecessary detail which adds such a rich flavor.
So what age do you think the city is?
I will change you beliefs now with this modern building standing like a sail beside a modern bridge. The bridge and modern building are walking distance from all the buildings shown above.
Think it is a modern city?
And I will shatter those beliefs with a 500 year old church, unusual for its open cupola.
This city has a benefit that most European city’s cannot boast. It was nearly untouched by either World War. This all the buildings above, late nineteen century early twentieth stood, unlike many of their likes built throughout Europe.
The city is Riga in Latvia. Latvia is again a country I never expected to see and I am glad I have. It has a surprising art community. Riga has a charming small canal lined by a part on either side running through the center of town. It is gorgeous. The buildings are surprisingly eclectic which I imagine in the ten below winters are the only warmth that can be found outside.
Latvia is a transition spot between Russia and Europe, and a member of the European Union. They note of their ancient to pre-soviet seafaring trading relations with all nations in the Baltic.
The country boasts its quiet peaceful transition from the Soviet era to current freedom. Perhaps its colors are a rebellion to Soviet discipline, perhaps it is a strive for the warmth of the Mediterranean, perhaps it is an aim to emulate the colors of Russian nobility.
It uses the Latin font as opposed to the Cyrillic found in Russia. The language is Latvian which does not resemble the Russian language. The two million inhabitants all learn English as part of their education. (I am so appreciative of the English Empire, the winning of the Second World War, and the invasion of Hollywood for getting the rest of the world to speak English so I can be a lazy and learn nothing.)
Its president is Canadian! How strange is that! But of course, she is of Latvia decent. Her parents were refuges and they were very involved in that ‘famous’ Canadian Latvia community.
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