Reinhold Georg Schmaeling, a Baltic German architect from Riga (1840–1917), left an indelible mark on the city's architecture from 1879 to 1915. His distinctive red brick style graced nearly 100 structures in Riga, including schools, hospitals, fire departments, markets, and various other buildings that significantly shaped the city's architectural landscape. Schmaeling's contributions are held in high regard within Latvian cultural heritage. Born in 1840 in Riga, Schmaeling initially studied mechanical engineering in Saint Petersburg but later pursued architecture at the Academy of Arts. He honed his skills under architect Ludwig Bohnstedt and furthered his education abroad, eventually returning to Riga in 1879 as the city's architect. Schmaeling's career spanned 36 years in Riga, collaborating with several architects and overseeing the construction of numerous buildings before retiring in 1915. He passed away in 1917 and was interred in Riga's Great Cemetery. His son, Alexander, also an architect, continued the family legacy in Riga's Art Nouveau architecture, while his grandson Anthony Zbigniew carried on the architectural tradition in Croatia's Istrian peninsula.

Reinhold Schmaeling - Wikipedia