An ancient building was discovered in Ventspils during the national holidays, which until now stood as a slum in the very center of the city. Ventspils native Rauls Vēliņš, while renovating the building, wanted to present something lasting to his hometown, as well as to find any historical evidence of one of the most beautiful villas in Ventspils. After ten years of restoration work, which the Ventspil resident paid for from his own funds, it has been possible to open the doors to the house of Lutheran Church Archbishop Teodoras Grīnberg and Danish Ambassador to Latvia Landberg. During these days, the descendants of the Danish diplomat were invited to visit Latvia.
Benta Beismita, the great-granddaughter of the builders of “Villa Langberg”, is in Latvia for the first time. One day, Raul and Signe Vēliņi came to visit her place of residence, near Copenhagen in Denmark. They told an incredible story about how they bought the building blown up by bandits in Ventspils in the 90s, which they plan to restore, and are looking for any photos and evidence of the history of the beautiful house.
It was only known that Archbishop Teodors Grīnbergs lived in the house and before that, the family of the Danish consul Langbergs. The owner of “Villas Langberg” Rauls Vēliņš: “In general, it is interesting that Ventspils is characterized by “bergs”. Greenberg. Langberg. And I wanted to show respect and honor to them, because quite a few people talked and knew about Langberg in Ventspils. And I think we managed to show the Landberg family that Latvians are a nation that respects what others have created, and they had tears in their eyes when we drove by yesterday.”
Benta’s great-grandmother had written a lot about the house in Windaw at that time in her notes, but a nuance prevented the family from checking the historical events in Latvia: Ventspils was called Windaw at that time. It sounds different. Both Benta and her daughter Anna Marija perceived the invitation to celebrate Latvia’s Independence Day by spending the night in their grandparents’ apartment as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Benta: “It’s a miracle and an adventure. At first I didn’t want to go, but Raul said I absolutely had to see it! And all my friends said: it happens once in a lifetime. Go!”
Anna Sofia, the great-great-granddaughter of the builders of “Villa Langberg” from Denmark: “I really didn’t know that he built it. I only knew that they had lived here. It is unbelievable!”
The late family, Consul Landberg and the later owner of the house, Archbishop Teodor Greenberg, have dedicated ten years of their lives to the house. The house will house a hotel, but its added value is a collection of paintings by Latvian artists, furniture by Jūlij Madernieks in the office, all possible photographs collected to preserve the history of the house. Rauls Vēliņš: “Michels Langbergs – just like Grīnbergs – are both two-time knights of the Order of the Three Stars. Both Greenberg and Langberg. Langbergs, whose family built this house, he was one of the first diplomats when independence was established in Latvia, who was appointed by Denmark to work as a diplomatic mission in Riga.”
Signe Vēliņa, owner of “Villas Langberg”: “We think that this is very important for Latvia. Raul’s idea to dedicate something to Ventspils is largely related to the benefits for Latvia.”
Benta and Anna Marija promise to return to Latvia one more time. They have no questions about why both Latvian and Ukrainian flags are flying in “Villa Langberg”. Already in the first year of operation, the beautiful building, which is located in the very center of the city – in front of the Ventspils concert hall “Latvija”– has received the highest assessment of the municipality in the competition for the best realized works in architecture of the past year.
Tags: Presenting renovated Villa Langberg hometown
-
