- Project: Pāvilosta Residence
- Architect: OAD – Open Architecture Design
- Location: Latvia, Pāvilosta
- Year: 2023
- Area: 276 m2
- Photography: Alvis Rozenbergs
A Contemporary Tribute to the Baltic Coast
In the tranquil fishing town of Pāvilosta, Latvia, OAD has crafted a home that stands as both a contemporary retreat and a tribute to local coastal heritage. The Pāvilosta Residence reinterprets the traditional wooden architecture of the region, blending craftsmanship, simplicity, and sustainable thinking into a poetic dialogue with the sea.
More than a vacation home, this residence is an architectural reflection of place and atmosphere—where the crisp Baltic light, the rhythm of the waves, and the muted tones of the dunes inform every spatial and material decision.
“Our goal was to design a home that belongs to its landscape—not as an imposition, but as a continuation of it,” explains OAD.
Rooted in Context: Tradition Reimagined
The home draws its inspiration from Pāvilosta’s historic fishing village, where weathered wooden cottages line narrow, colorful streets. Local building regulations dictated a pitched roof and a restrained building volume, prompting OAD to design within these constraints while infusing a fresh architectural language.
Clad in marine-blue timber, the residence nods to the town’s heritage while asserting its modern identity. The hue evokes the coastal sky and sea, recalling a time when Pāvilosta’s houses were painted in vibrant tones.
Despite its size, the design maintains a sense of humility and intimacy, achieved through a careful play of proportions and human-scale detailing. The building’s linear orientation runs parallel to the Baltic shoreline, maximizing exposure to light and sea breezes while maintaining privacy through screened courtyards and adjustable shutters.
Transparency and Light: Architecture That Breathes
Transparency lies at the heart of the Pāvilosta Residence. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic sea views, allowing daylight to animate the interiors throughout the day. The architectural rhythm of the façades ensures the visual fluidity between the interior and the surrounding meadows and dunes.
Even from the central courtyard, one can glimpse the ocean—a subtle reminder of the ever-present maritime landscape. The openness of the plan fosters an immersive dialogue between inside and out, reinforcing the home’s role as both shelter and lookout.
Material Authenticity: Simplicity as Luxury
Inside, the design celebrates material honesty and craftsmanship over ornamentation. The use of plywood, natural wood planks, concrete, and brushed metal forms a palette that reflects the tactile textures of the Baltic environment.
The interiors are deliberately minimal yet warm, echoing the tones of sand, driftwood, and weathered boat hulls. Every element—from the cabinetry to the shutters—was conceived with intention and restraint, creating a calm and contemplative atmosphere.
Color is not merely decorative but experiential: it shifts with light, time, and season, constantly connecting the inhabitants to the coastal environment beyond.
Sustainable Design and Coastal Resilience
Sustainability in the Pāvilosta Residence extends beyond material choices. The home integrates several eco-conscious strategies:
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A recirculation system for gray and rainwater reuse.
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Passive heating and cooling, with optimized window orientation for thermal regulation.
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The use of durable, low-maintenance native materials, suited to harsh coastal weather.
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Efficient shutters and overhangs that protect the building during off-seasons.
These measures create a home that is as resilient as it is beautiful, responding to both environmental and human needs.
Sauna and Glass Veranda: Spaces of Reflection
The sauna, located in a separate volume, is a sanctuary of glass and heat—a meditative space where the architecture literally frames the wildness of the sea. A large glass wall transforms the ritual of bathing into an act of communion with nature, capturing the movement of wind and water as part of the experience.
A transparent glass veranda connects the sauna to the main house. This intermediate space, anchored by a dual-sided fireplace, serves as both a social zone and a contemplative refuge, glowing warmly in contrast to the raw landscape outside.
Together, these spaces embody OAD’s philosophy of balance—between openness and intimacy, modernity and tradition, permanence and change.
Architecture That Belongs
The Pāvilosta Residence stands as a manifestation of listening and respect. It does not dominate the landscape; it participates in it—absorbing its tones, reflecting its moods, and aging gracefully alongside it.
Through thoughtful craftsmanship and contextual sensitivity, OAD has created a home that breathes with its surroundings—a living homage to Latvia’s Baltic coast, where the architectural line between nature and shelter dissolves into harmony.
