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Konstantns Pkns is one of the most prominent Latvian architects of all times. After Jnis Baumanis he is the epitome of the second generation of Latvian architects. Many Latvian cities and towns take pride in buildings designed by Pkns, but Riga alone can boast more than 250 multistorey brick buildings and a great number of wooden houses erected following his designs.
Pkns was born in the Nui estate near Mazsalaca but in 1896 his family moved to Riga. 1875, Pkns began studies at Riga Polytechnical Institute at first in the Engineering Department, but from 1880 in the Department of Architecture. He took an active part in social life of students, was founding member of Selonija, a fraternity of Latvian students, participated much in sports. He graduated from the institute in 1885 and spent some time working for the construction office of Jnis Baumanis, in 1886 Pkns opened his own practice. In 1889 he was among those who reestablished Riga Architects Society that had disintegrated earlier. Pkns also sat in the councils of a number of credit institutions and banks, and acted as a spokesman for the Riga Latvian Society. Since 1909 he was a member of the Riga City Council, but after World War I was actively involved in several technical commissions under the Riga City Executive Board. Pkns also participated in the publishing of several Latvian newspapers
Source: Wikipedia