Kokneses muižas pils vēsturiski mākslinieciskā izpēte

• Authors: Ševkina Guna

Title variants

EN

Historical and Artistic Research of Koknese Manor House

• Languages of publication: LT

Abstracts

EN

The historical events of the 20th century have been rather merciless towards the architectural heritage and part of it has perished. Koknese Manor House is among such lost architectural monuments whose image is captured in historical pictures but only ruins of foundations and the basement level remain in situ. Koknese Manor has been owned by the family of the Barons von Löwenstern since the 1780s. Commissioned by Otto Carl Nikolai von Löwenstern, architect Carl David Neuburger (1842–1897) designed Koknese Manor House in 1894. The project reveals the idea behind the building – a rather grand longitudinal house with volumes of different height: a two-storey main block with a mansard roof, a spacious winter garden and an expressive vertical accent in the shape of a square tower topped by a spire. The arrangement of volumes and façade solutions demonstrate the principles of harmony and symmetry. Volute gables crown and accentuate the central axis of façades and their parts. A visually attractive contrast is created between red-brick masonry and abundant elements of light decorative sculpture. The layout of the building, envisioning a high level of comfort, is commensurate with the commissioner’s status and the rationalist ideas of the epoch. The architect has functionally grouped premises into representative, private and household quarters. The location of the manor house on the Daugava riverbank parallel to the river has ensured a presentable, picturesque composition harmonised with its surroundings. Manor house construction began around 1898 and the building was completed in 1901. Some works continued later too, for instance, improvements were finished in 1911 with the installation of running water and sewerage systems. The architectural and artistic solution of Koknese Manor House, including its design as well as implementation, can be seen as an outstanding example of German Neo-Renaissance style in Latvia’s history of architecture.

Keywords

EN

Koknese Manor House; architecture of Latvia; manor architecture; neo-renaissance; German architecture

• Publisher: Institute of Art History of the Latvian Academy of Art and Art History Research Support Foundation
• Journal: Makslas Vesture un Teorija
• Year: 2022
• Volume: 26
• Pages: 21-38

Contributors

author

Ševkina Guna

• Riga School of Design and Art, Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela 139, Riga LV-1013, Latvia