Home»All Photographs»Latvia, World Heritage (click to see more)»Historic Centre of Riga»Skyscraper, academy of science

The Academy of Sciences edifice was built after World War II, between 1953 and 1956, collecting the necessary financing from the newly established kolkhozes in Latvia and - as further expenses increased, collecting the finances as "voluntary donations" deducted from the salaries of Latvian rural population. Building is decorated with several hammers and sickles as well as Latvian folk ornaments and motifs. Being 108 metres (354 ft) tall, it was the first skyscraper in the republic and was the tallest building until the construction of theHansabanka Central Office (121 metres, 397 ft), and at the time, one of the highest reinforced concrete buildings in the world.The building, designed by Osvalds Tīlmanis, Vaidelotis Apsītis, Kārlis Plūksne, is a cousin to similar Stalin-era skyscrapers, which were representative of what became known asStalinist architecture (sometimes referred to as Socialist Classicism). The architecture of the skyscraper resembles many others built in the Soviet Union at the time, most notably the main building of Moscow State University. Local nicknames for this building include Stalin's birthday cake and the Kremlin.The view of Riga cityscape is open for public viewing from the 17th-floor balcony (height of 65 metres, 213 ft).