The memorial object has been created with the support of the Rietumu Charity Fund.
The object is an original style park bench, the forms of which refer to the historical art nouveau style (
Jugendlstil). It is installed near a large-leaved lime tree planted by Georg Kuphaldt on the bank of the city canal next to the building of the University of Latvia on Rainis Boulevard.
The author of the artistic solution of the memorial is sculptor Girts Burvis, who has over 50 different large-scale works in different parts of Latvia. The architect is Ilmars Briedis.
The memorial bench has decorated the central park of Riga due to the efforts of the municipal company “Rigas Mezi” (
Riga Forests), with the participation of the non-governmental organisation “Riga, I Love You” and the Rietumu Bank Charity Fund.
“It is a very important event for Riga, which is evidence of the fact that we study our history and remember the people who formed the appearance of our city many years ago. I think that we can all be proud of the fact that we have such a memorial place. I invite everybody to take a seat on this remarkable bench this summer,” said Vice Mayor of Riga Andris Ameriks at the opening ceremony.
“Many years ago Georg Kuphaldt and Andrejs Zeidaks
created wonderful parks in Riga which we are not only proud of but can also enjoy daily. They have become a part of the lives of every resident of Riga and largely determine the outer appearance of our city. The originality of this beautiful memorial is that it will not become just another city monument, but will enter into the lives of Riga residents as a touching and even romantic object. It is easy to imagine a meeting of two lovebirds on this bench, a mother with a pram or a grandmother with grandchildren. It would be difficult to find a better monument to commemorate the people who have done so many good and beautiful things for Riga and its residents,” emphasised the Chairperson of the Board of the Rietumu Bank Charity Fund Inga Sina at the memorial opening ceremony.
“This is the first memorial plate in Latvia in honour of landscape gardeners and architects. This is our gesture of gratitude to those who started creating the green heritage of Riga 135 years ago and who continue to develop it today,” emphasised the Member of the Board of “Rigas Mezi” Uldis Zommers.
The Directorate of Gardens and Parks in Riga was established in 1879. Its first Director was Georg Kuphaldt, who was born in Plön, Germany. Apart from his works in Riga, he is known as a creator of parks in Saint Petersburg (the Alexander’s Garden section), Jurmala, Liepaja, Parnu, private estates in the territory of the Russian Empire, as well as Germany and France. In 1915 Kuphaldt was replaced by his student Andrejs Zeidaks in the position of chief Riga gardener, who then performed this function for almost 30 years. Eleonora Gailisha Mass Media and Public Relations
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