2024
Alvis Rozenbergs
Private Residence
Saraiki
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Constructed on historic foundations of Soviet-era military units to safeguard the Baltic coastal area as one of the world’s most vulnerable marine regions, the project introduces an alternative path of sustainable architecture. Designed as the holiday retreat for a family of three generations, the minimalistic and raw structures seamlessly blend with the untamed wilderness, revealing a modern interpretation of the intricate local history. From afar the property reveals its unique character – the main residence seemingly hovers above the horizon, with the empty space beneath framing a view of the Baltic Sea. Contrastingly, the guest houses appear rooted in the landscape, with their deep-set windows and grass-covered roofs resembling the original bunkers.
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The project explores the role of a shelter within the domestic environment - situated at the doorstep of the ever-approaching sea, the bold constructs lay grounded against the harsh northern winds. The site was discovered with grass-covered and timeworn military bunkers, now transformed into one residential building and two guest houses, preserving the original form while reimagining the function.
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2015
Maris Lapins
SPA
R.evolution
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The ground floor of Villa Hepburn will host a corner for relaxation and health. Training in the gym equipped with a cardio trainer or in the yoga hall is a great way to recharge yourself with life’s energy. The spa complex will be open at any time of the year to help to regain your inner balance and relax. The large swimming pool, steam room, sauna, hot tub and a relaxation room will be accessible only to the residents of LEGEND. and their guests. In two massage rooms you will be able to get a full range of anti-aging and wellness treatments for your face and body, provided by leading Latvian spa specialists.
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2018
Alvis Rozenbergs, Maris Lapins
Private Residence
Andrejs
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Vecāķi is one of Riga’s coastal neighbourhoods once popular as a summer destination but now in demand for year-round living. Nevertheless, 1960s and 70s Soviet-style summer houses or dachas still dot the area. Respect for the surroundings and existing architecture guided our choice of shape for this family home with its single pitch roof and exaggerated eaves. As per the client’s wishes we observed the principles of Vedic architecture in the design and build of the home. This is unusual for a northern climate but can be implemented.
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In-keeping with the Vastu Shastra philosophy, the living quarters face north and the home is entered from one side. Inside are both common areas and separate quarters for the adults and younger generation. They are positioned around a central atrium or metaphorical emptiness. The main entrance and central atrium fit together like a hand in glove. Each continues the other’s story. The external light, for example, reflects off the window to create the illusion that it shines both inside and outside.
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A wooden walkway surrounds the house to ensure uninterrupted access to the garden and encourage spending time outdoors. Historically, people maintained gardens, vegetable plots and small orchards at their dachas in Vecāķi, therefore the landscape architecture nods to the area’s past and complements the house.
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The home in Vecāķi is a partial prefab with a timber and metal structure. Its facade combines wood and Cembrit panels.
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2018
Apartment Building
Lebensbau Development
Sergejs Zarovnijs
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This residential building is located in a historically rich district of Riga. Designed with families in mind, the complex includes a shared playground and offers a thoughtful, community-oriented living environment.
Inspired by the surrounding industrial brick architecture, the new building’s façade is clad in clinker brick tiles - a material that ties the structure back to the area's heritage. Subtle brick patterns run across the elevations: vertical tile bands between floors and around the windows break up the massing and introduce fine detailing.
Where the building meets its neighbour on Sparģeļu Street, a decorative cornice line continues the rhythm of the adjacent structure, blending historic context with a contemporary architectural language.
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2011
Maris Lagzdins, Didzis Grodzs
Office
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The interior story complements those of the McCann and Inspired offices which are all located in the same building. The functional planning is based on the idea of a building with a central courtyard. The “courtyard” contains the workplaces and is separated with walls and windows, behind which are the meetings rooms and studio for media training. Overhead lighting follows this same pattern, marking the borders between the “courtyard” and deeper internal areas.
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We used simple materials like boards, lacquered MDF and straw-coloured carpets. Artificial grass marks the area of a stylised green patch.
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Urban planning was our inspiration for the functional planning of the McCann Riga offices. We designed stylised “streets” with “houses”, podiums, and floor level flowerbeds.
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Considering the limited budget, we made use of simple materials like lacquered MDF, white paint and planks to create pieces of furniture and finishings. We were early adopters of the upcycling idea. See, for example, the counter made of household junk. Every employee contributed an item from their home that they no longer used, so everyone felt like a part of the creative process. The lamps are made of cardboard tubes which were once fabric rolls. Proving that one man’s trash is another man’s gold. The McCann Riga offices won ‘Best foreign interior’ at the Moscow-based Best Office Awards 2011.
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2009
Maris Lapins
Shop & Cafe
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This project marked a cultural turning point in Riga. Long before Miera iela became what it is today, this spot - once home to Piens and then Pērle - helped shape the city’s alternative identity. Led by Žanete and Edijs, it wasn’t about designing an interior, but about creating a place.
The goal? Spend nothing, waste nothing, and keep everything in motion. Furniture was second-hand, constantly changeable, even for sale. A clothing rack was hoisted up in the evenings to reveal the bar. A lightbox without electricity relied on mirrors to glow.
A space in constant transformation. Upcycled. Dynamic. Circular. A place that made culture happen, not by following the rules, but by rewriting them. All for under 2000 lats and a trip to Berlin.
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2011
Maris Lagzdins
Restaurant
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The interior concept for Cydonia gastropub is focused around the planned functionality of the space. The existing advantages of the space, namely brick walls and concrete floors are embraced. A slightly ethnic feel permeates.
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An arched wall serves as the compositional centre and is clad in timber planks. A free-standing bar “grows” from the wall in both directions and is finished in the same timber material. Both bar and table surfaces are made of a wet-proof veneer. In the back of the space a floor-to-ceiling bottle rack is both practical and a striking visual element.
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We painted the ceiling a dark grey-blue, which is fully matte, so it looks velvety deep. The brick walls are painted in a light colour which resembles the natural colour of yellow bricks.
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The furniture is bespoke. The lamps are handmade from wholesale sugar sacks. The wall tapestries are a stylised element of Latvian ethnography.A timeless interior.
2012
Restaurant
Aivars Tauberts
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Concept proposal for a restaurant space defined by warmth, natural textures, and soft curvature. The palette is light and sunny, leaning into gentle, almost nostalgic tones.
Circular forms guide the spatial language, from curved furniture lines to rounded architectural gestures, creating a sense of fluidity and comfort. Trees planted indoors blur the line between outside and in, enhancing the calming, grounded atmosphere. What came first: Minhauzens or the idea of Minhauzens?
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2008
Maris Lapins
Restaurant
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The clients – three doctors – had long dreamt of opening their own restaurant. Its concept was based on a hospital with very obvious references throughout. Every visitor felt a strong reaction – some were instant fans while others had to overcome the initial shock.
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Walls were painted in a clinical white shade with a thin red line as an accent. Glossy white tiles added to the sterile hospital feel. We were able to source genuine, Soviet-era medical furniture and equipment which we combined with metal, MDF and tiles to create unique design pieces.
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We divided the space into zones. The bar area was themed around a pharmacy. The large dining table was inspired by operating tables, made of steel and lit from above by a real old operating theatre lamp. Other areas included a sanatorium, dental studio, gynaecologist’s office complete with chair, an academic library and even a morgue. One of the washrooms was decorated from top to bottom in mirrors, creating quite the optical effect.
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Hospitalis restaurant gained major publicity in local and international media winning attention for Open AD and our daring creative spirit.
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Location:
Riga, Latvia
Year and status:
2021
Team:
Zane Tetere-Sulce
Beatrise Dzerve
Kristaps Sulcs
Elina Tetere
Eva Heidingere-Jukama
Developer:
The Latvian National Opera and Ballet
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Landscape:
Photo:
Alvis Rozenbergs
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The Latvian National Opera turned to OAD to design a seasonal open-air pop up venue when pandemic restrictions pulled the breaks on indoor events. The space had to cater for events such as live performances and film screenings, as well as function during the day to attract potential new audiences to the opera. We visited the opera’s storage facility and spotted intriguing bits of scaffolding and leftovers from previous stage designs. This inspired our idea to bring the backstage into the limelight, which became an exercise in upcycling. We combined the selected parts with bespoke metal details and custom-designed furniture for functionality.
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Construction was an on-site affair involving the opera’s own technical team under the guidance of the architects. The result is a multipurpose space and neutral backdrop, which comes to life through expressions of culture in its many forms.
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WHITE SQUARE facilitates moments of work and rest, networking and conversations. Along with attending events, visitors can fill their water bottle, charge their phone and laptop. It’s a meeting point where paths cross and worlds collide. Philosophically, it questions the imaginary borders we all construct. Between actors and their audience. Social groups. The public and the government. By blurring the lines between the backstage, stage and audience, it makes one wonder why we fear the unknown? It also addresses sustainability and challenges conventional understandings of beauty, by giving new life to forgotten resources.
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