Sense the daily rhythm of the intelligentsia from the 1930s and a festive mood in the home of poet Jānis Akuraters. He was the first recipient of the Fatherland Award.
The house was built in 1933 in the style of functionalism, and it was designed by architect Verners Vitands. Visitors can look at the poet’s office, family bedrooms, dining room, kitchen and fireplace hall. The rooms are authentically furnished, with paintings by famous Latvian artists on the walls. The order of the desk of the poet creates the impression that the visitor has arrived in the 1930s. Visitors can also think that the owner will come home very soon.
The house combines a functionalist style in terms of interior design and mid-19th century Biedermeier furniture. These are compatible with authentic style items that were reproduced in the 1920s and 1930s. Alongside are paintings of Latvian and foreign landscapes by Latvian artists, along with portraits of the poet and his family. The house and its atmosphere bring visitors into the daily rhythm of the intelligentsia of the 1930s, with a festive mood and a reflection of that which is pragmatic and noble. Today the building is a cultural centre in Pārdaugava, bringing together writers, artists, musicians and actors just as was the case when Akuraters was alive.
In 2016, the museum was restored with financing from the European Economic Area programme Conservation and Revitalisation of Cultural And Natural Heritage. The restoration was done by the State Joint-Stock Company State Real Estates, in partnership with the Association of Memorial Museums. The association ensured the cultural management of the process, while the company handled administrative, financial and construction procedures.
