Dezeen Magazine

House in Marupe by Open AD

House in Marupe by Open AD

A roof terrace can be glimpsed between the metallic grey timber beams that surround a two-storey house near Riga, Latvia.

House in Marupe by Open AD

House in Marupe was designed by Latvian architects Open AD.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Doors from the two first-floor bedrooms lead directly onto the screened upper terrace, above an open-plan living area that is visible through a circular roof light.

House in Marupe by Open AD

A third bedroom, utility rooms and a spa are also provided on the ground floor.

House in Marupe by Open AD

The floor of the house is finished in black concrete, while timber boards provide an external deck behind the building.

House in Marupe by Open AD

This building is only the second in Latvia to be featured on Dezeen - see also a sports hall inspired by chunks of amber washed up on the Baltic coast.

House in Marupe by Open AD

This week on Dezeen we've also published beautiful houses in Japan, Germany and Australia - see all our stories about houses here.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Photography is by Maris Lagzdins.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Here's some more information from the architects:


The building was constructed around a growing body compositional center-
inner garden.

House in Marupe by Open AD

It was conceived Stylistics Japanese tsubo garden form of the
 Japanese garden culture generally been integrated inside the house, as a
recreational area.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Space around the garden was intended to be transparent, 
thereby fusing, at the same time separating the functions of acquiring and 
natural feeling to a room.

House in Marupe by Open AD

During project implementation, unfortunately, the
 customer refused to inner garden, adding indoor seating area.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Shape the direction of home was holding against the neighboring streets,
 parcel boundaries and corners.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Building a vertical direction followed by the 
sun span, thus the second floor of the south side places deeper,
 resulting in direct sunlight.

House in Marupe by Open AD

On the second floor bedroom has a spacious 
terrace with a planned green plants.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Building is finished with a blackish tree, creating a variety of boards in
 rhythm, but resulting in a seamless whole volume, where the main emphasis
 put on the form.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Click above for larger image

Finishing a different highlight only the entrance area, 
including the smooth metal door in the plane.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Click above for larger image

Emphasizing the building face, 
the remainder of the plot-driven corner wooden footbridge, situated in an
 outdoor fireplace.

House in Marupe by Open AD

Click above for larger image

From there, the building is perceived in its entirety.

House in Marupe by Open AD
House in Marupe by Open AD