The program is articulated as three clearly separate buildings, each with a strong connection to Latvian architectural tradition. The buildings — an artist’s workshop in the north, a residence in the west, and a workshop and storage in the east — are brought together as a cohesive whole through an arcade structure that creates an enclosed central courtyard.

In organizing the project, careful consideration has been given to existing trees and vegetation, prevailing winds, sunlight conditions, exposure and concealment of views, the relationship to the nearby lake, as well as potential future climate-related risks.

The arcade functions spatially as both a unifier and a separator. It divides work from leisure, the private from the communal, the interior from the exterior, while also creating a clearly defined shared outdoor space and a unified architectural language. The courtyard is the first space you encounter and serves as the main gathering place where visitors can socialize when not working, sheltered from the winds coming from the lake and with sunlight for most of the day.

The project is based on well-known building techniques, reuse of existing resources, and easily accessible, local materials to ensure manageable project economics. It draws from Latvian building tradition with wooden structures covered by thatched roofs, as well as a careful inventory and deconstruction of the existing buildings to reuse as much material as possible, primarily building timber in good enough condition and stone. Materials that are in good condition but not used in the construction of the new buildings are stored in the attic of the storage building and can later be used for future construction projects or as an integrated part of the artists’ work in the studio.