Riga's Black Cat
A closer view of one of the black cats on the roof of the Black Cat House.
The Cat House, designed by the architect Friedrich Schefel, was built in 1909. Friedrich Schefel and Heinrich Scheel are regarded as pioneers of Riga Art Nouveau architecture. The building was owned by a wealthy Latvian trader who, out of bitter resentment for not being admitted to the Great Guild, put cat figures bearing expressive postures on the roof of his building. Tails of the cat figures were turned to the Great Guild building thus expressing the owner's attitude towards the offending organization of traders. The Cat House, built in the style of a medieval castle, was completed with colours of Art Nuveau palette, bringing colourfulness and romantics to the entire city and a share of sarcasm on the turrets of the house too.
Riga's Black Cat
A closer view of one of the black cats on the roof of the Black Cat House.
The Cat House, designed by the architect Friedrich Schefel, was built in 1909. Friedrich Schefel and Heinrich Scheel are regarded as pioneers of Riga Art Nouveau architecture. The building was owned by a wealthy Latvian trader who, out of bitter resentment for not being admitted to the Great Guild, put cat figures bearing expressive postures on the roof of his building. Tails of the cat figures were turned to the Great Guild building thus expressing the owner's attitude towards the offending organization of traders. The Cat House, built in the style of a medieval castle, was completed with colours of Art Nuveau palette, bringing colourfulness and romantics to the entire city and a share of sarcasm on the turrets of the house too.