Corner House, Riga (must see)

The Corner House, located in the center of Riga, is a building with a storied past, reflecting the turbulent history of the region. Originally designed by architect Aleksandrs Vanags, construction began in 1910 and was completed in 1912. Initially, it served a variety of commercial and cultural purposes, housing apartments, shops, a music school under the Imperial Russian Society of Music, a library, a bookstore, and various other establishments.

During the Latvian War of Independence in 1919, the building was briefly used by the Latvian Revolutionary War Committee. By 1920, following Latvia's independence, the new government repurposed the building for governmental use, accommodating offices such as the Ministry of the Interior and other administrative departments. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, it was utilized by various governmental and cultural organizations including the Public Affairs Ministry, the State Statistical Bureau, the Forestry Department, and several cultural and educational directorates.

However, the onset of the Soviet occupation in 1940 marked a dark chapter in the building's history as it was transformed into the headquarters of the Soviet KGB in Latvia. It housed numerous offices and prison cells where countless atrocities were committed until 1941. During the German occupation from 1941 to 1944, the building was used by the National Watch youth group and the Latvian puppet government established by the Nazis. Following the Soviet re-occupation in 1944, the KGB reclaimed the building, continuing its operations there until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

After Latvia regained its independence, the State Police took over the building from 1990 until 2008. In a significant cultural transformation, the Corner House was opened to the public in 2014 as part of Riga's tenure as a European Capital of Culture. Since 2015, it has hosted an exposition by the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, detailing the history of the KGB's activities in the country. The building underwent a facade renovation in 2015 and was put up for auction in 2020.

Today, the Corner House stands as a poignant reminder of Latvia’s complex history, serving both as a symbol of oppression and a beacon of cultural and historical education.