At Alberta iela 12 in Rīga, the Riga Art Nouveau Center takes you inside the 1903 home of architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns. The restored apartment shows how the style shaped everyday spaces, from parquet floors and stained glass to hand-painted tiles and carefully preserved furnishings. Look up on the spiral staircase, then explore the digital exhibition for more context on the movement and the city. It’s a compact indoor stop that pairs naturally with a walk along Alberta Street and the surrounding Art Nouveau district.
An apartment designed by its architect
The museum occupies the former home of Konstantīns Pēkšēns, the Latvian architect who designed the building. Constructed in 1903, the house stands on Alberta iela, one of the streets associated with Rīga’s Art Nouveau architecture. Pēkšēns lived in the residence until 1907.
The apartment gives you a view of the style at domestic scale. Instead of seeing ornament only from the pavement, you can look at how it runs through rooms and everyday objects. The façade’s reliefs draw on local plants and animals, while the interior displays the craftsmanship of the period.
Details to look for inside
Take your time with the preserved finishes and furnishings. Parquet floors, stained glass, hand-painted tiles, woodwork and decorative details show how Art Nouveau reached beyond a building’s exterior. The rooms include period furniture and household objects, giving the apartment the character of a lived-in home rather than a gallery of isolated designs.
The spiral staircase is a highlight in its own right. Look up as you climb to see its ornamental design and painted ceiling. Inside the apartment, notice the patterns and materials from room to room, including painted surfaces and the details around windows and doors.
Art Nouveau in Rīga
Rīga’s building boom around the turn of the 20th century coincided with the popularity of Art Nouveau. Local architects adapted the style with flowing lines, asymmetrical forms and decorative motifs drawn from nature, including Baltic and Scandinavian influences. The city has hundreds of Art Nouveau buildings, with many examples in the central district.
The museum’s digital exhibition adds context to the apartment, connecting architectural features with the city’s development and the people who shaped it. A guided tour can provide further explanation; tours are offered in multiple languages. The museum also includes interactive activities, and visitors can try on period hats.
Make it part of an architecture walk
After the indoor visit, continue along Alberta Street and explore nearby streets in the Art Nouveau district. Elizabetes and Antonijas streets also have examples of the style. Looking closely at the façades helps put the apartment’s decorative details in a wider setting: carved reliefs, sculptural figures and plant-inspired ornament appear across the neighbourhood.
The museum is at Alberta iela 12. Take care when locating the entrance, as another museum in the same building can cause confusion. The site is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FAQ
Where is the Riga Art Nouveau Center?
It is at Alberta iela 12 in Rīga, in the former residence of architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns.
What can you see inside the museum?
The museum displays a restored early-20th-century apartment with period furnishings and details such as parquet floors, stained glass and hand-painted tiles. There is also a digital exhibition and interactive activities.
When is the museum open?
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
Are guided tours available?
Yes. Guided tours are offered in multiple languages.
