Get inspired!

17,249 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Charred Wooden Shingles Elevate Secluded Timber Retreats in Latvian Landscape

Author:
jan habraken
Charred Wooden Shingles Elevate Secluded Timber Retreats in Latvian Landscape

Project in-detail

Utilizing charred wooden shingles and a staggered layout, this retreat harmonizes with the Latvian landscape, providing a serene environment for relaxation and connection with nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and weather resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to optimize structural integrity and sustainability.
03
Features a staggered layout that provides panoramic views while ensuring privacy.
04
Adopts a bent A-frame design for improved wind resistance and aesthetic cohesion.
05
Designed to blend seamlessly with the Latvian landscape, promoting environmental harmony.
The Amber Road Track Cabins, located in Riga, Latvia, serve as modern architectural retreats harmonized with the natural landscape. These cabins are designed for functionality, offering a serene environment for users to connect with nature while providing essential amenities. The project reflects a contemporary approach to traditional Latvian architectural forms, prioritizing sustainability, comfort, and user-centered design.

Unique Design Approaches

The cabins utilize a staggered arrangement, optimizing individual privacy while enhancing communal engagement. This layout allows each cabin to maintain panoramic views of the surroundings, promoting an immersive experience of the natural setting. The exterior is clad in blackened timber, a choice that not only offers durability but also resonates with the darker hues of the landscape. This material choice aligns with environmental considerations, minimizing the need for ongoing maintenance.

The architectural design incorporates large glass panels that facilitate ample natural light and blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Internally, lighter wooden finishes create a warm and inviting atmosphere, contrasting with the exterior. The architecture emphasizes functionality through an open layout that encourages flexibility in use while providing intimate spaces for solitude.

Materials and Technical Details

Key materials used in the construction of the Amber Road Track Cabins include blackened timber for exterior cladding and plywood for interior finishes. The careful selection of these materials supports the overall environmental strategy, contributing to the project's longevity. Structural elements are designed to withstand local weather conditions, ensuring durability and reducing ecological impact.

The cabins embody a simplified geometric form, incorporating gable roofs that are both functional and stylistically aligned with traditional architecture. The design is structured to provide efficient space use while maintaining aesthetic coherence throughout.

For a comprehensive understanding of the Amber Road Track Cabins, readers are encouraged to explore the architectural plans, architectural sections, architectural designs, and architectural ideas underlying this project. These details will provide further insights into the thoughtful decisions that shape the design and functionality of this retreat.
Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #2
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

Microhome

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € PRIZE FUND / KINGPSAN EDITION #10 IDEAS COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,249 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy