Competition
The AMBER ROAD TREKKING CABINS architecture competition, in partnership with the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency, is calling for designs for a series of trekking cabins to be situated along the immense and beautiful Amber Road trekking path. The path will span the full length of Latvia, running along the Baltic Sea beaches which are an undiscovered gem of Northern Europe's pristine natural beauty.
The Amber Road trekking path is planned to allow long-distance hikers to traverse the country, reaching from the Latvia-Lithuania border to the Latvia-Estonia border. Receiving its name from the shiny specimens that wash up on the beaches to this day, the total length of the trekking path would be 530 km, and it would be included as part of one of the European long-distance paths, a network of 12 paths designated by the European Ramblers Association. Path E9 is a hiking trail that follows the coastline, branching out from the Baltics to include countries like Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, and Spain to name a few.
For the Amber Road Trekking Cabins architecture competition, participants are tasked with producing unique and creative designs for a series of cabins that could be placed along this long and arduous route. The designs should be suitable for the various different terrains that will be encompassed along this hiking trail, taking special consideration to be constructed in preserved environments.
The Trekking Cabins should be in keeping with Latvia’s heritage, and their design should comfortably adapt to suit various environments, with the potential of becoming an iconic part of the landscape themselves. Working within a modest budget, the trekking cabins must provide guests with safe and comfortable lodgings, allowing both hikers and their guides the facilities to rest and enjoy the natural scenery.
Winning designs for the AMBER ROAD TREKKING CABINS will be considered for construction by the Latvia Nature Conservation Agency as a way to help boost Latvia's trekking tourism.
Download full competition brief for more information!
Baltic Sea is famous for its amber fragments that are often washed up on beaches, appearing in a variety of shades which characterise Latvia
Latvia features over 500 km of beaches along the Baltic Sea coastline
The Amber Road trekking path is planned to allow long-distance hikers to traverse the country, reaching from the Latvia-Lithuania border to the Latvia-Estonia border
left: Seashore at Ķurmrags, Latvia; right: For centuries, Latvian villagers constructed their homes from timber that could be collected from nearby forests, and covered with thatch roofing
ELIGIBILITY:
Competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum).
LANGUAGE:
- Correspondence with organizers must be conducted in English.
- All information submitted by participants must be in English.
