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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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Once a Soviet-style sanatorium, soon to be apartments. As strong believers in the idea of reuse and recycling, we chose to keep what remained of the original buildings. The structures were certainly sturdy enough and suitable for reestablishing as a residential property. Rather than seeing the buildings’ past use and layout as a burden, we saw their potential to become spacious apartments and high-ceilinged lofts. One of the unique lofts is set in the bridge which connected two separate volumes of the sanatorium.

Jurmala, the location of Edinburgh Apartments & Lofts, is a historical resort town on the Baltic Sea coast. Once scattered in wooden cottages and villas, the town is now a mix of quaint summer residences, towering hotel and apartment complexes. While more populated in summer, Jurmala is far from abandoned in winter. Permanent residents choose it for the proximity of nature, the beach, Riga and its international airport.

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Edinburgh Apartments & Lofts nods to the historical architecture of Jurmala. Our design concept embraces the lattice wood of the resort’s original summer residences. By adding the colourful balconies and patios we ensured that every apartment has its personal outdoor space. Residents therefore have a strong connection to their surroundings and can enjoy the fresh, pine-scented air.

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In the last few years, Jurmala had acquired the reputation of being an expensive and luxurious place to live. Through a sensible choice of materials and in respect of the developers’ intentions, we ensured that Edinburgh Apartments & Lofts is an affordable, family-friendly choice. The proposal for the landscape includes garden plots, a playground and space for exercising to encourage residents to come together and build their own community.

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While conjuring the concept for Snatch, we explored all sides of the Italian culture including the audacious, mischievous, even naughty slant. While classic elements like the column, atlas and marble have a key presence in the interior, we’ve interpreted them in today’s design language and mixed them together with neon, graffiti and leopard print. Is the result the epitome of taste or borderline vulgarity? Depends who you ask! We respect and admire the Italians’ daring spirit and ability to get away with what other nations would consider controversial.

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Snatch restaurant brings a new style of Italian dining experience to Riga which has its share of more traditional trattorias and pizzerias.

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A dental clinic must be fundamentally functional and sterile, but that leaves plenty of room for creativity. There’s no rule that walls must be white, floors tiled and surfaces made of stainless steel. At Riga’s new LAVA Dental studio we introduced elements like colour, lighting and texture to ease the patient experience and enhance staff wellbeing. Delivered in a relaxed environment, quality dental care should be a stress and fear-free experience. The walk from the reception area to the treatment rooms is calming and sparks curiosity rather than tension.

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We designed the reception area to encourage patients to feel more like clients at a beauty salon or spa. Inspired by the flow and movement of lava in its natural environment, our design features floaty materials, earthy tones and textures. Above the reception desk, soothing projections show scenes of transformation in nature, hinting at how a patient should feel after their visit – positively transformed.

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The House of the Flying Trees (HOFT) combines a respect for history with contemporary functionality and an understanding of the human need to feel a connection nature. We added a new residential volume to the remaining 19th century facade building.

Every apartment has a balcony overlooking a central courtyard. This secluded outdoor haven is designed to inspire residents to connect and encourage a sense of community. The ‘flying’ trees are both an homage to Art Nouveau with its nature-inspired motifs, and a way to bring nature into the city. Grown in a special nursery, the conifers and bonsai trees are particularly robust and resilient. We designed special stands and boxes for them to ‘fly’ at many levels and be constantly present.

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Since HOFT is lucky to face some of Riga’s most striking examples of Art Nouveau, we embraced the location in our design. All front-facing rooms benefit from large windows, so the opposite buildings become like a painting and an integral part of the room. Indoors, we interpreted Art Nouveau in our choice of shapes, materials and the overall flow of the space. HOFT is an apartment complex for the 21st century, proving that city centres can still be very liveable.

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The owners envisioned a home that is both discreet and bold, seamlessly blending into its natural surroundings while making a strong architectural statement. Nestled within a historic manor park, the landscape plays an integral role in the project - an element OAD saw as inseparable from the overall vision.

In collaboration with Galantus, the landscape was meticulously designed to complement and enhance the architecture. From the street, the house remains nearly invisible, tucked behind a grassy embankment, while on the canal side, expansive windows and a rustic facade create a striking contrast. The design gradually reveals itself, beginning with a wild meadow garden where narrow, trimmed paths echo the organic flow of the architecture.

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As the building extends deeper into the property, its form evolves - what starts as a grounded volume rises into a more geometric composition, with the master bedroom appearing to float above the terrain in a futuristic, hovering design.

The architecture masterfully balances contrasting materials - concrete, corten steel, glass, and wood - to create a structure that is both sustainable and timeless. Large glass panels reflect the surrounding landscape, while clean, modern lines establish a sense of order and clarity.

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Ventilation windows are seamlessly concealed behind perforated trim panels, integrating function into form. The house is oriented south and designed without extended eaves, yet the holistic approach prevents overheating in summer.

The layout ensures that the master bedroom is bathed in morning light, while the spacious west-facing terrace offers sunset views, shaded by a deep overhang that prevents excessive heat penetration. Skylights allow low winter sun to enter, optimizing natural warmth and illumination. Traditional window placement is reimagined, with unconventional openings becoming architectural focal points - treetops visually extend into corridors, and a low-set window frames water reflections, creating a calming, dynamic experience. 


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The interior continues this harmony with nature while maintaining a sense of restraint and privacy. The elevated master bedroom provides sweeping views, while natural materials echo the surrounding landscape.

The home's two levels clearly define a functional hierarchy: the living areas sit lower, while the master suite is elevated with a lower ceiling height to enhance energy efficiency.

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The minimalist approach extends to the finishes - predominantly wooden paneling, with exposed concrete surfaces left visible where they serve as structural elements.

Every detail directs focus toward the landscape, with transparency reinforcing the connection to nature and curated art pieces adding personal significance. Strategically placed openings enhance the interplay of light throughout the day, while the refined material palette ensures a serene, timeless atmosphere.

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The interior embraces minimalist detailing, where privacy and human-centered design take precedence. This philosophy is also reflected in the hidden Japanese garden and the carefully positioned low window, drawing attention to the seamless symbiosis of architecture and natural elements.

This house stands as a bold dialogue between modernism and nature, where thoughtful design and craftsmanship create a lasting connection between architecture, landscape, and the lives within.

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Every neighbourhood deserves its own landmark. So far, Riga’s Grīziņkalns is a largely residential area with patches of an industrial past and a still-functioning liquor factory lining the railway. It has no true beating heart.

Our vision for a former factory building is to transform it into a lively hub for residents, employees and visitors who arrive on foot, by train, bike or car. Clearly visible from the Zemitāni bridge, the Grīziņdārzs mixed use quarter would serve as the neighbourhood’s business card,

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As a true multi-purpose space, level one of Grīziņdārzs will feature bars and restaurants, while levels two and three will house offices and coworking areas. With rooftop terraces trending in cities from Bangkok to LA, their potential in Riga is yet to be fulfilled. At Grīziņdārzs, rooftop gardens and terraces are an intrinsic element on levels three and four, providing employees with a chance to swap the office chair for a comfortable spot outdoors. The rooftop bar on level five is another important element to encourage socialising, boost team spirit and employee wellbeing. After all, the workplace is where we spend so much of our lives.

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From 1938 to 1988 the building served as a knitwear factory. While keen to give it a new lease of life, we thought it important to respect the building’s history. Some remaining features allowed us to play around with our creativity. Thus a water reservoir beneath the courtyard will become an underground drinking hole. And pavements are designed to resemble knitting patterns.

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In the transformation of Café Osiris, the fusion of two spaces has been a subtle yet impactful change, enhancing the connection with the adjacent ‘Telpa’. This integration introduces a new dimension to the venue, marked by the ‘Eye of Hours’ centerpiece, crafted from versatile tables. Green terrazzo marble, a nod to the past, is beautifully restored and paired with new elements, maintaining the venue’s historic appearance. The use of black wood, a material that has also been used in the original interior design, has been seamlessly integrated, ensuring that the updated design still reflects the essence of Café Osiris’s rich legacy.

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In revitalizing Café Osiris, one of Riga’s oldest and most iconic restaurants, OAD embraced the challenge of modernizing this beloved venue while preserving its rich history and character. Our design approach was meticulously crafted to enhance the restaurant’s ambiance, focusing on improving functionality and guest comfort without losing the essence that made and still makes Café Osiris a legendary gathering spot for intellectuals and creatives. By balancing contemporary design elements with the venue’s traditional charm, we ensured that every corner of the restaurant continues to tell its storied past while offering a refreshed and inviting atmosphere. This project showcases OAD’s ability to weave the old with the new, ensuring that Café Osiris remains a cherished landmark in Riga’s culinary and cultural scene.

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Telpa is shaped around one central piece of furniture – a bespoke transformable table. Fully intact the table represents the Eye of Horus. Since the space is intended for hosting varied occasions, such as conferences, brunches and parties, the table can be taken apart. Each of its parts can serve as a standalone table, so the room is easy to reconfigure for smaller and larger groups.

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We gave equal attention to both form and function to unlock the space’s full potential. A combination of the original vintage tiles and epoxy, the floors alone illustrate the tactful balance between old and new. Lighting sets the scene for different times of day and occasions. Bespoke fabric curtains inject colour, but also allow transforming the room into more intimate sections. Window seats gave reason to introduce more material diversity, and allowed expanding on the number of diners able to fit in the room at any one time.

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On a regular day Telpa can serve as an extension of the main dining room. It continues the original interior story.

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Located in the evolving Grīziņdārzs district, the ‘RA Invest’ office epitomizes the seamless integration of design and functionality. As the district transitions from an industrial heritage to a modern urban hub, this workspace serves our client, the project’s developer, fostering collaboration and communication. The office showcases our belief in the power of space to shape experiences, demonstrating OAD’s  commitment to blending architectural and interior design elements cohesively.

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The office is a multifunctional space designed for diverse needs, featuring an acoustically sealed cabin for privacy and focus within the open-plan layout. The kitchen and dining area, doubling as a workspace, is flooded with natural light, promoting productivity and visual appeal.The conference room, adorned with warm wooden accents and centered around a sturdy oak table, offers a sophisticated yet functional retreat. It illustrates our approach to modern workspace design, balancing privacy and connectivity, and fostering an environment conducive to productivity, collaboration, and wellness.

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‘Grīziņdārzs’ is one of OAD’s current large-scale projects, where we are working on transforming a former industrial district into a modern destination for both business and leisure.

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