Mimicry On The White Lake

2024 Author: David Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 00:54

Low-rise residential buildings are probably the most dynamically developing architectural typology in modern Latvia. Relatively short distances allow you to create the maximum, urban level of comfort in conditions of constant life in nature - in an ecologically clean area. The Pērle ("pearl") complex is located in a small village about 20 kilometers from the center of Riga, on the shore of Lake Baltezers (White Lake). Following the street on which it is located, it received another name, Čiekurkrasti - "shores of cones": there are really a lot of them, pine trees around. Even at the project stage, the complex received an award from the MIPIM exhibition, and was recently awarded the Architizer A + Awards as the best low-rise residential building.

The building is 2-4 floors high and with a total area of 11 357 m2 with a tapering wedge descending directly to the beach, so that views of the water can be seen from almost everywhere. However, it turned out to be not easy to implement such a solution. So, it was necessary to drive 721 eleven-meter piles into the base of the building in order to strengthen the coastal soil. But now the creators of the complex joke that you can fish in the lake practically from the windows, because only 4 out of 63 apartments are completely turned into a courtyard planted with pine trees. A complex stepped composition, fractional, irregular rhythm of volumes make it easier to fit a fairly large building into the natural environment. Large areas of glazing reflect the sky and water, and the vertical slats of ventilated facades made of burnt Siberian larch merge with the tree trunks and complete the process of mimicry.

All the obligatory features of modern residential complexes are present here: underground parking for 80 cars, ground guest parking, panoramic elevators, recreation areas on a stepped roof, a restaurant overlooking the lake, a gym, a SPA center with a sauna and a swimming pool, individual "storage places" in the underground part. In addition, the complex has its own marina for yachts and boats, because from the lake you can go to the Baltic Sea. Each apartment has an individual layout and is offered already fully finished: floors made of different types of wood, modern kitchen, fireplace, built-in wardrobes, all necessary equipment. The area of the apartments varies from 67 to 211 m2. Entrance areas and stairwells are designed in a more rigid style, with exposed concrete surfaces and metal structures.