1875 Folz was only 24 years old, he had just graduated from the Berlin Academy of Arts. The case brought him together with the famous architect Ende, and he offered him a joint work. Ende was engaged in construction, and Foltz - the design of buildings.
Riga at that time was rapidly growing and expanding. The fortifications were demolished. The city began to be built on the other side of the canal. Instead of the usual small narrow streets were laid wide straight boulevards. On their sides, the prosperous Germans built houses, competing with each other in luxury and wealth. Architects, sculptors, artists were drawn out mainly from Germany.
Volz, as a young talented sculptor, on the advice of the same Ende, was invited to Riga - the German merchant Pfab wished to decorate his house with sculptures and ornaments.
Pfab House was the first work Foltz in Riga. This building opposite the Vermansky park is familiar to every Rigan, it has long been one of the visiting cards of Riga.
It is not surprising that after the first success orders fell down one after the other. Foltz was incredibly in demand. A year later, in 1876, he opened his workshop on Nikolayevskaya Street (Kr. Valdemar), 31.
It created statues and sculptural elements, ornaments to decorate the facades, grand staircase, interior decoration of the halls. In this workshop, the fountain “Nymph”, which stands opposite the Opera Theater, and the famous butler figure created for the trading house “Louis Ludman & Co” on Mathis 21, and the external decor of the VEF factory, and the statue of Roland , and the lions of the Vermansky Garden ... About a hundred works came out of the Volz workshop, organically merged with the image of Riga and became its integral part.
Foltz's tremendous talent, his professionalism, sense of style and incredible capacity for work have done an incredible - they changed the face of the city! No matter how boldly it sounds, but this is how it turns out - thanks to Foltz, Riga has rapidly emerged from the dark medieval ages!
It is difficult to name another Master who has done so much for his city. At the end of his life, Foltz left a will, according to which his second workshop, at 9 Gauyas Street, was given to Riga sculptors. He also bequeathed his house to Riga.
“Thank you for being in our city, for what you are doing for him, for your talent and big heart,” wrote the Russian Word magazine in 1926, on behalf of all residents of Riga, congratulating August Volz on 50 anniversary of his work.
