Latvian Academy of Sciences building

This towering Stalinist skyscraper in the Maskavas district rises above Riga with a stepped silhouette often compared to the wedding-cake towers of Moscow. Completed in the 1950s, its facade mixes Soviet monumentalism with decorative Latvian folk motifs, earning nicknames from residents. An observation deck near the top offers a wide panorama over the old town, the river and the sprawling city. The building anchors a district of markets and historic timber housing, and its unmistakable form marks the eastern edge of the central skyline.