WOODEN BUILDING
RENOVATION CENTRE „KOKA RĪGA”
AT 12 KRASOTAJU STREET

LEARN ABOUT THE CITY AND ITS VICINITY
RIGA AUSTRUMU EXECUTIVE BOARD
WOODEN BUILDING RENOVATION CENTRE „KOKA RĪGA”
AVOTI NEIGHBOURHOOD

MMXIV

Building history of the property
at Krasotaju Street No. 12, lot No. 34/113.

Address plaque from early 20th century.
Reconstructed in 2013.

Building at Krasotaju Street No. 8.
Constructed in 1876, designed by architect H. Geigenmuller.
Year 1908.

In 1873, Gustavs Pakuls, the owner of the land plot, commissioned architect Fridrihs Jelejs to design a single-storey wooden residential building to be situated far in the backyard. The design was approved on January 19, 1873.
It was a primitive building — a prototype for all other buildings on Krasotaju Street, built in early 1870s. The flats had two rooms with a single entry through kitchen, and the two kitchen ranges were connected with heating stoves in each room. The building was demolished in 1895.
In the site plan dating from 1873, Lienes Street and Krasotaju Street both were marked as yet to be designed.
In 1876, painter (Maler) Johann Kresling commissioned architect Heinrich Geigenmuller to design a two-storey wooden residential building and a single-storey wooden shed with shop premises and a pit toilet for four persons. The design was approved on October 28, 1876. The building was constructed with an inclined facade on the corner of Lienes and Krasotaju streets. It housed eight single-room flats. One flat was specifically intended for the shop with an entrance from the corner, while other flats on the ground floor each had a separate entrance from the backyard. The gallery-type flats on the first floor had entrances through staircase annexed from the backyard.
The building is exceptional in that it is the only building from 1870s that has preserved rather well, and today it is the oldest building on Krasotaju Street.

Building at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
Constructed in 1876, designed by architect Heinrich Geigenmuller.
First-floor pilasters.
2011.

The building which was built in a simple, classic style, has preserved the wooden plank cladding of the facade, first-floor windows with profiled plank edges and profiled plank pilasters on the corners decorated with a craftsmen-made circle in the centre. The ground floor likewise has preserved the original plank cladding, profiled plank pilasters on the corners and the ends of the building, a moulded cornice between the floors, as well as friezes above doors and windows. Only the entrance side pilasters have been replaced.
The wooden plank cladding on the rear facade has preserved well, as well as a stairwey with a skylight window and flat pilasters made of wide wooden planks.
The building has deviations from the original design — instead of two windows the flats have one window.
The design by architect Otto Dietze for the construction of a bread oven on the ground floor in the backyard of the building on Krasotaju Street was approved on December 11, 1884. Part of the oven was situated in the lobby of the shop premises. Parts of the oven brick walls can be seen even nowadays.
On October 24, 1895, a two-storey wooden tenement house was built on Lienes Street (Helenenstrasse) according to the design by architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns. The building had 14 flats, a small cellar for storing firewood, a pit toilet, single-storey wooden shed with four toilet sections and a stone extension. Later a stone shed was attached to the shed built in 1876.
The building has a simple facade made in classical style with two projective entrances to the first-floor flats from the backyard. The gallery-type hallway on the first floor has common-use dry toilets. On the ground floor, there are five entrances to each flat and to the cellar from the backyard.

Building at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
Constructed in 1876, designed by architect Heinrich Geigenmuller.
The part of the building damaged by the fire was built in 1895
according to the design by architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns.
View from the backyard 2010.
2010.

Building at Krasotaju Street No. 12,
constructed in 1876, designed by architect Heinrich Geigenmuller.
The dark part of the building was built in 1895
according to the design by architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns.
Renovation project in 2009, architect Mikus Lejnieks.
View from the backyard 2013.
2013.

In 1933, the buildings underwent overhauling: pillars were renovated, the walls of the ground floor were cladded with planks and windows and doors were replaced. However, it is not known, which works were performed on which building.
In 1935, the building was installed with a new tin roof. On March 19, 1938, a sewage system design by construction engineer Aleksandrs Dabelis was approved, and the design also covered the building constructed in 1876.
The building was demolished in 2010.
Over time, also the sheds built in 1876 and 1895 were demolished. A renovation project was developed in 2009, architect Mikus Lejnieks.

Development project for the Wooden Building Renovation Centre.
Architect Mikus Lejnieks.

The creation history of the Wooden Building
Renovation Centre „KOKA RĪGA”

Foundations of the renovated building at Krasotaju Street No 12.
2011.

Ridgepole celebrations at the newly-built building
at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
2011.

The remains of the original building were to be demolished and replaced by a new two-storey wooden building with a large hall for the needs of the Centre.
The new building will be made using timber frame constructions, creating a main hall at the full height of the building.

Reconstruction of the second building at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
November 11, 2011.

The facade of the new building was constructed in full respect of the original design of 1895 by Konstantīns Pēkšēns, specifically, the facade is being duplicated thus creating a harmonious ensemble with the authentic wooden building on the corner of Krasotaju and Lienes streets, as well as with other historical buildings on Lienes Street.
The backyard facade of the new building is designed as a collage using windows characteristic to historic wooden buildings in Riga. Since it was not possible to move the original windows from 16th–18th centuries to the new building, four copies were made based on the window designs characteristic to the particular period of time.
It is expected that the remaining windows from 19th and 20th centuries will be sourced from other wooden buildings to be demolished due to various reasons. The above solution used for the backyard facade will provide a more complete impression about the diverse stylistics of Riga wooden buildings, window types and their trim, etc. If the windows would be displayed as exhibition units within the interior of the building, they would lose the connection with the wall plane.
The ridgepole celebrations of the Centre's building took place in 2011, the reconstruction works were completed in 2013 and the Centre was officially opened on May 21, 2013.
The Wooden Building Renovation Centre "Koka Riga" is the outcome of the project titled "Strenghtening the tourism potential of the cultural and historical heritage of Grizinkalns", implemented by the City Development Department of Riga City Council. The project was implemented with the financial support from the European Regional Development Fund. Riga Austrumu Executive Board in cooperation with the authorities of Riga City Council carried out the pre-project research and prepared the required information for drafting the technical design.
The construction work was undertaken by construction companies "RBSSKALS Būvvadība" SIA and "HEXO" SIA based on the design by "Lejnieku projektēšanas birojs" SIA.

The ridgepole celabrations in August 2011.
From left: Dmitrijs Pavlovs, Head of Riga Austrumu Executive Board,
Nils Ušakovs, Mayor of Riga,
Andris Ameriks, Vice-Mayor of Riga,
and architect Jānis Lejnieks.

Andris Ameriks, the Vice-Mayor of Riga,
is opening the Wooden Building Renovation Centre "Koka Riga"
on May 21, 2013 (2013).
Photo by Juris Kalniņš.

Layout of the Centre

"Live Riga" tourist information office at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
2013.

Ground-floor premises have an entrance from the street and another from the adjacent building. These premises now house the offices of "Live Riga" tourist centre and the Centre itself, as well as provide home for the restorer consultation centre.

Exhibition and conference hall at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
2013.

Two-storey hall is a space for exhibitions, seminars and conferences, showing the restored and reconstructed fragment of a historic wooden facade removed from a wooden building at Puskina Street No. 4 built circa 1830.

Exhibition and conference hall at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
Reconstructed fragment of facade from the building
at Puskina Street No. 4.
2013.

Factory foreman's flat without electricity and water supply
with a built-in wardrobe.
Circa 1908.
Photo provided by the National History Museum of Latvia.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
insight into the household of the citizens of Riga,
gallery-type hallway of factory workers' dwelling house.
2013.

Premises on the first floor are intended for the exhibition "The life of workers in Riga suburb". The gallery-type hallway or corridor has preserved its authenticity with entrances to all flats. The corridor houses food cabinets where locked up the residents stored their foodstuffs in a slightly colder environment. Also, kerosene stoves were kept here, which emitted not only the kerosene odour but also toxic fumes during their use. Kerosene lamps were characteristic not only before the electricity age but also after the introduction of electricity, and also they were the only salvation at night time during the wartime. In 1902, an order was issued that hallways and staircases must be light up during night time because of the high number of residents having broken their limbs due to falling when going to toilet in the night along the winding and steep stairs; on some occassions, residents had even ended up in a hospital.
In the kitchen of flat No. 1 an exhibition is installed showing how laundry was done, because the main household activity of married women in suburbs was doing laundry and bringing up children. The exhibition includes an old wooden barrel with a US designed mangle ”Continental” advanced at that time and a basket with linen bed sheets from the age, as well as a shoulder yoke, because following the cholera outbreaks of 1881 and 1889, the City of Riga installed a number of bore wells. One of such wells was situated on the corner of Krasotaju and Artilerijas streets. The flat does not have any electricity fittings yet, since the building was electrified only in 1913. A portable candlestick is shown in the kitchen. Such candle holders were used when going to auxiliary premises and toilet. Also weights and steelyards of that time for weighting products are exhibited for visitors.

Carpenter. Photo provided by the National History Museum of Latvia.
1934.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
collection of craftsman tools.
2014.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
laundry room.
2013.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga.
2014.

Former living room now houses the collection of carpenter tools displayed on plank wall because wallpapers were not used in 1876 when the house was built due to their high price and the walls were decorated with engravings that were often hand-painted. The tool collection contains a number of rare items: different saws, moulding planes, compasses, knurling tools and many more. The wooden hoist is an exceptional item in this exhibition since it was made at the same time the building was erected. It was the age when metal was expensive and it was increasingly replaced by timber. Another item is a samovar because workers drank mainly tea that refreshed and invigorated. Only wealthy families could afford coffee at that time. The historic photograph of the spinning-wheel craftsman is supplemented with an authentic spinning-wheel which was an additional trade of the famers from Vecpiebalga and the symbol of their wealth.
Flat No. 2 is already electrified but the wood-burning cook stove symbolises the pace of domestic life of that time. In the past, the kitchen was the warmest room in a flat and for this reason it was used as the place for family evening gatherings. The outer walls of the gallery-type flats or the so-called worker barracks were thin while the inner walls were made solid. The room was used only for sleeping due to a large number of residents. Meanwhile, the kitchen that is protected from winter winds from all sides became the pocket of peace and family union. The exhibition is based on a photograph showing an evening of a working-class family stringing onions.

Evening of a working-class family 1934.
1934.
Photo provided by the National History Museum of Latvia.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
portrait gallery of the residents of Grizinkalns.
The photogaphs have been made in the period of time
from 1905 to 1915 in the photographic studios
of M. Lapins and R. Mateus at Lauku Street No. 1 and Pernavas Street No. 14b.
2013.

Shoemakers.
1928.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
shoemaker's corner.
2014.

The room houses an exhibition of photographs dedicated to people who lived in Grizinkalns. The photographs have been made from 1905 to 1915 by local Grizinkalns photographers Martins Lapins and Roberts Mateus at their studios on Pernavas Street and Lauku Street. After the World War I, both photographers did not work in Grizinkalns anymore. Please pay attention to the wooden chair in the national romanticism style fabricated specifically for the fraternity "Lettgallia", evidenced by the colours of the fraternity on the backrest.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
layout of a flat during the WW2.
2013.

Flat No. 3 is dedicated to the domestic life during the World War II. This flat already has electricity, as well as water supply that was installed in 1938. The room is fitted with art deco furniture, VEF SUPER radio receiver on the original stand as seen in the photo. Wall clock, bookshelf, lady gloves and a clutch bag on a shelf — the lady of the house has just returned from a theatre performance. There then follows a flower stand and a typewriter with a certificate of typist training courses. The exhibition successfully reflects the era and the architecturally shared style of furniture. Based on the information provided by the former house residents, the daughters of the houseowner were teachers and lived in this exact flat.
The kitchen display is not yet complete, however, it does feature some elements of that time — the small shelf with a lace edging, various food packagings, a box of "Laima" sweets, plates and dishes, shoes by "Meteors", sack for storing winter close, towels embroidered with the monograms of family members, a wartime electricity meter with adjustable programme. The kitchen has window curtains to prevent neighbours passing along the hallway from seeing what's for dinner and other such details.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
layout of a flat during the WW2.
2013.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
layout of a flat during the Soviet times.
2013.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
layout of a flat during the Soviet times.
2013.

Flat No. 4 (1961–1991) shows the ever changing domestic life in the Soviet times with the gradually increasing influence of the Western civilization. A gas stove, a demolished wood-burning stove to free up a space for washing machine and other modern appliances.
The kitchen has a kids corner, a table set with plates and dishes from the 1960s and 1970s, a radio receiver on the sill to listen to the latest news, a shelf with items which nowadays some might find exotic, tinned meat, coffee grinder, electric coffee maker, etc. On the opposite side, a gas stove has been installed in the place of the demolished wood-burning stove, a water tap, washing machine "Riga-60", electric irons, weights and other kitchen items.
The room is fitted with furniture from the 1960s, coffee grinder by "Straume", porcelain figurines by Riga Porcelain Factory and a floor lamp of the latest design. A modern small shelf that reminds the residents about the conquering of the cosmos, popular magazines of that time, the topic of cosmos is featured both on the cover of the "Draugs" magazine, as well as on the clock face showing the space dogs Belka and Strelka, and the pride of the lady of the house — the electric sewing machine and other fancy items.
The exhibition features a number of valuable porcelain items from the 1960s, and it is our goal to reflect that age when people started to move from communal apartments to their new but small flats, and how the industry of the Soviet Latvia started to adapt to the new circumstances by launching a range of household items of a new design.
The attic has a comperatively high ceiling; it can be reached by a flight of stairs of acceptable angle; it is planned that the attic will house items not used for the exposition around the house.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
layout of a flat during the Soviet times.
2013.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
exhibition fragment showing the household of residents of Riga,
a collection of Soviet era space heaters.
2014.

In the backyard one can see an auxiliary building with gas heating premises, a room for household items and a number of reproduced shed doors: actually, the doors are hiding a large auxiliary room. The doors with the small window lead to a dry toilet with two seats. On the site of the not-yet-built restorers' workshop there is a small garden; on the firewall, one can see the lines of the former stable, forge and laundry buildings.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
auxiliary building built in 2012.
2014.

Krasotaju Street No. 12,
backyard.
2014.

Key areas of activity of the Wooden Building
Renovation Centre „KOKA RĪGA”

Owners of the land plot No. 34/113
at Krāsotaju Steet No. 12.

Riga master craftsman with family.
Grizinkalns.
1910.
Photo by Martins Lapins.

The Riga urban plan of 1866 mentions Gustavs Pakkuls as a land leaseholder who builds the first residential building in 1873. On 18 June 1875, the Riga Mortgage Society grants a loan for land purchase and construction of a residential building in the amount of 2100 Russian Empire roubles to Johann Krehsling belonging to the Riga community of professionals, who has been identified as Janis Kreslings, son of Krisjanis, in 1894. Moreover, documents dating to 1884 mention the occupation of Johann Kresling; he is a painter (maler).
From 1875 to 1940, the land remains under the ownership of Krehsling (Kreslini) family.
The land plot is registered at Riga Valmiera Land Register, III Mortgage District, section 1580.
Addresses mentioned earlier:
In 1873: Riga Moscow District II, quarter I, plot No. 5 from Artilerijas Street on the right side.
In 1874: Riga Moscow District II, quarter I, police No. 554.
In 1894: Riga Moscow District, quarter III, police No 554, address: 12, Krasotaju Street (Faerberstrasse).
An entry of November 6, 1903 in the Riga Valmiera Land Register shows that Vilhelmina Minna Kreslings, daughter of Krisjanis, born Putnin (* + December 16, 1908), member of St. Gertrude Parish, has been registered as the owner of the estate.
Entry of September 23, 1910 in the Riga Valmiera Land Register shows that the following members of Riga City petty bourgeoisie were registered as owners, based on Decision of 23 September 1909 by Civil Department III of Riga District Court:
Natalija Elizabete Kreslings, daughter of Janis, (* 1876); Marta Amalija Kreslings, daughter of Janis (*August 23, 1882; + November 28, 1943); Anna Kristina Kreslings, daughter of Janis, (*May 14, 1889); Vilhelmina Ottilija Kreslings, daughter of Janis (* July 9, 1887); Pauline Alvine Kreslings, daughter of Janis (* May 2, 1889); Berta Marija Kreslings, daughter of Janis (*July 30, 1893). The guardians of the minors Berta and Paulina Kreslings were Martins Brambergs, the houseowner at Matisa Street No. 74, and Davids Egats, the houseowner at Kurmanova Street No. 11. Their surname was later Latvianised to Kreslins; only Natalija kept the original spelling Kreslings of her surname until 1944. On January 4, 1940, the City of Riga had bought the outright ownership of the land plot for the total amount of 873.96 lats, except for the share of Natalija Kreslings in the value of 218.53 lats. It was the reason why the German administration of the city refused to reprivatise the estate in 1944.
From 1872 to 1894, Janis Kreslings (Jahn Kresling) owned the land plot No. 34/87 at Krasotaju Street No. 11, registered at Riga Moscow District II, quarter I, police No. 538.
On 24 October 1872, based on the design by architect Heinrich Geigenmuller, J. Kresling commissioned construction of a one-and-a-half-storey wooden residential house in the backyard and another one-and-a-half-storey wooden residential building on 17 August 1874, designed by architect Heinrich Geigenmuller. In 1908, the property passed into the ownership of Ivans Bobrovs, son of Nikita, the royal advisor.

Residents of the house
at Krāsotaju Steet No. 12, land plot No. 34/113.

The house register of the building at Krasotaju Street No. 12 contains entries covering the periods from 1902 to 1916 and from 1928 to 1944. Of course, the owners lived there and their detailed description is provided in the following pages, but with regard to the other residents I will mention their occupation to allow readers to understand the main profile of the residents of Krasotaju Street.

Renovated building at Krasotaju Street No. 12.
2012.

Coach builders and saddle makers.
1934.
Photo provided by the National History Museum of Latvia.

Riga cabman.
1934.
Photo provided by the National History Museum of Latvia.

In the period from 1902 to 1916, single-room flats which did not have any particular amenities were inhabited mainly by workers such as gardeners, tailors, cabmen, blacksmiths, washerwomen, tinsmiths, locksmiths, petty traders, shoemakers, turners, machinists, painters, maids, carpenters, bakers, bricklayers, chimneysweepers, typesetters, construction carpenters.
The residents came from various social groups including members of Limbazi Craftsmen's Guild, petty bourgeoisie of Ventspils, Riga and Tallinn, members of Riga community of professionals, a German national and many retired non-commissioned army officers.
From 1928 to 1944, people with the following occupations resided on Krasotaju Street: locksmiths, sewers, painters, weavers, woodworkers, tailors, carpenters, bricklayers, factory workers, public servants, shop assistants, students, unemployed persons, craftsmen, waiters, hairdressers, sailors, a photographer and a retoucher.
The Kreslini family lived in flat No. 12, and occassionally also in flat No. 11.
The following people lived here permanently:
Kreslina Berta * 1899 + 1940 - arrived from Moscow in 1922 and lived in flat No. 12; died in 1940.

Sewers.
1934.
Photo provided by the National History Museum of Latvia.

Kreslina Marta * 1876 + 1943 - arrived from Russia in 1920 and lived in flat No. 12; died in 1943. She was the actual house manager.
The following members of the Kreslins family lived in Russia:
Grislins Anna, born Kreslina, * 1874 - lived in flat No. 12. Between 1905-1916, periodically travelled to Moscow and Poltava where she settled. At that period time, the laws allowed owners to reside abroad and there are no records on whether she returned. Kreslings Natalija * 1876 –lived in flat No. 12. 1910/1915. At some point between 1910 and 1915, she left to Kazan. There are no records concerning her return. She did not change her surname. Probably, she lived in Australia.
Kreslins Vilhelmine * 1887 – Worked as a teacher; periodically stayed in Riga during annual holidays. Lived in flat No. 12. From 1906 to 1944, she worked in Kaunata rural municipality in primary schools of Marcinpole, Gajeva and Kraslava.
Kreslins Pauline * 1889 – Worked as a teacher; periodically stayed in Riga during annual holidays. Lived in flat No. 12. From 1914 to 1944, she worked in Yekaterinhof, Petrograd and in primary schools of Jekabpils, Allazi, Svente and Kraslava. Spent three months in Australia in 1928 (probably departed to Australia from Russia). Worked in Lithuania from 1929 to 1932.
In 1916, Anna Kreslins, born Kresling, daughter of Karlis, * 1852, registered professional in Riga, lived in flat No. 5. Her previous known address was on Mernieku Street. She was probably a midwife by occupation.

Power networks on Krasotaju Street

In 1908, a high voltage cable was installed on Artilerijas, Krasotaju and Lienes (Helena) streets from Artilerijas Street No. 23/31 to Jana Asara (Erglu) Street.
In 1912, a high voltage cable was installed along Krasotaju Street in the section from Artilerijas Street to Lienes Street.
In 1912, a concrete house for high voltage 6000/380/220 V transformer was built on Krasotaju Street between buildings No. 9 and 11. It is supposed that the architect was Karlis Felsko. He was the leading architect for the development project of Riga City Power Authority. The technical works were performed by company VKE (Vispareja Elektribas kompanija — Vseobscaja Kompanija Elektricestva).
In 1913, a low voltage cable was installed along Lienes Street in the section from Avotu Street to Krasotaju Street.
In 1914, a low voltage cable was installed on Krasotaju Street supplying power to buildings from No. 13 to 21.

Concrete house for high voltage 6000/380/220 V transformer
on Krasotaju Street between buildings No. 9 and 11;
built in 1912.
2012.

It seems that, theoretically, the building at Krasotaju Street No. 12 could have been electrified starting from 1913 by using the low voltage cable installed on Lienes Street that year. Due to the approaching World War I, it is possible that the building was electrified after the war.

Sources

Latvian State Historical Archives:

Periodicals: Books: Web sources:

V. EICHENBAUM’S
MMXIV – MMXV