http://www.saals.lv/#/rail-baltic-parnu/
1. Water Strider (Indrek Allmann, Jaan Jagomägi, Gunnar Kurusk, Tanno Tammesson, Holden Vides; PULSS OÜ)
2. Komeet (OÜ b210)
3. Hirv (SIA "Saals" Lätist)
4./5. Roheline värav (Aasoja Projekt OÜ) ja Vaatepunkt (Sweco Projekt AS koostöös Hispaania arhitekibürooga BAKPAK S.C.)
The 2015 edition of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture has received the nominations made by the independent experts, the member associations of the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), the other European national architects’ associations and the Advisory Committee.
http://www.a4d.lv/lv/raksti/nosaukti-pretendenti-misa-van-der-roes-balvai-2015/
http://www.miesarch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=4&lang=en
http://ltv.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/27.11.2014-diskusija.-100g-kulturas.id39650/
Lubans, Latvia
The former drainage pump station – a single storey silicate brick building reconstructed as a water tourism centre with exhibition hall, kitchen with leisure room, sportsmen locker rooms, staff room, conference room, hotel rooms and terraces with a roof view. In an independent building a sports equipment storage is placed.
The plot is located between Lubana lake and Kvapanu ponds, in a wild, scenic place, which is characterized by its vastness and a clear linear structure. This is also the fundamental conception of the architecture.
The new building is located in line with the reconstructed building, with the sideline facades facing the road. Thus the object is easily noticed by the by-passers.
A representative zoning is designed:
-the front sports ground
-building complex with terraces and parking lots
-courtyard children playground under the current metal structures, as well as open air stage.
The plot includes pedestrian paths continued by footbridge roads into Lubana lake and the ponds. The footbridge road in the lake serves as a boat dock, and at the end of the footbridge road a sauna deployment on pontoons is planned.
Photo credits to Valts Kleins
Rezekne, Latvia
"There is a legend about King’s daughter Roze who still lives underneath the Rezekne castle mound and waits for the one to bring her into the world… Meanwhile a wizard came on the other side and lifted the earth up. A free space was left there for every little kid in Rezekne to grow up tall, wise and special. And the wizard stuck the pencils into the ground. The teenagers came and climbed up there to show themselves and their great works. Let the gentlemen of Riga to admire!"
ZEIMULS was developed as a proposal for an architecture competition for a place next to the castle mound of Rezekne with the aim to create an innovative, creative environment for children and young people in Rezekne that would stimulate the young graduates to return to live and work in Rezekne town after their studies; to create a unique, new leitmotif to serve the town's development in the biginning of a new era.
The volume of the space is bent around the local dominant – the castle mound of Rezekne; it is embodied in the terrain of surroundings with open views towards the castle mound and the church.
The “pencils” stuck in the green volume serve as the foreground for the existing soviet period buildings.
"...a dramatic landscape on the edge of the town centre facing an ancient castle mound with medieval, state-preserved ruins- the main tourist attraction of the town. It was the site itself that suggested the building should settle deep into the ground and that the fifth facade - the geometrically triangulated green roof - should become the main feature of the structure. The building is a structure of exposed, monolithic concrete, plastered on the exterior. Still, most of the rooms are rectangular in plan - the dramatic ceilings of exposed concrete and variable window geometries create the amazing diversity and uniqueness of space. The shape of the roof not only creates a feeling of safety and protection for the children, but also allows for an ample and diverse flow of natural light through various openings into all the rooms, halls and corridors, while from the outside it shines mysteriously in the darkness. An intimate inner courtyard on the ground floor brings light into activity rooms located further from the surface. The landscaping around the building, in both concrete and green surfaces, continues the same geometric principles as used for the roofs with surprising sculptural feel and artistic touch in every detail. The new structure became an integral part of the existing dramatic landscape, and even a part of local legends and fairy tales, extending the popular imaginations. It is example of contemporary design emerging from physical and emotional surroundings, from local spirit and traditional archetypes, providing a warm and friendly new environment for the kids. Despite its 6000m2 area, the building feels human and homely, compatible with the small-scale historical buildings of the town’s centre."
A10, *48, Anita Antenišķe
Nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award 2015
A10 Sensitive geometry
Anothertravelguide.com
Photo credits to Valts Kleins, Ingus Bajārs, Jevgenij Nikitin, Jānis Mickēvičs
