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Curvilinear Wellness Retreat Featuring Local Timber and Green Roofing Solutions

Authors:
Sean Abar, Shamim Khosravi-vamakani
Curvilinear Wellness Retreat Featuring Local Timber and Green Roofing Solutions
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Constructed with locally sourced timber and equipped with green roofing, the retreat seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings while serving as a dedicated wellness sanctuary.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with locally sourced cross-laminated timber panels.
02
Features charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal.
03
Includes a distinctive bent A-frame design to optimize natural light.
04
Incorporates a greywater recycling system for sustainable water management.
05
Surrounded by extensive green roofing to promote biodiversity and insulation.

## Overview
The Blue Clay Country Spa is situated in Kūrmenis, a rural area of Western Latvia, and is designed to integrate effectively with the surrounding natural landscape while serving as a spa and residential facility for visitors. This project aims to balance aesthetic appeal with functional and sustainable design principles, establishing it as a noteworthy example in the field of contemporary architecture.

## Spatial Configuration
The layout emphasizes a series of interconnected structures that cater to various functions. The ground floor plan features distinct zones for spa treatments alongside communal areas, fostering both private retreats and opportunities for social interaction. Each space is uniquely articulated with varying materiality, ceiling heights, and window placements to promote a dynamic interplay of light and views. The strategic positioning of buildings enhances privacy and accessibility, while the overall massing reflects the natural contours of the site and the surrounding dense forestry.

## Material Selection
The construction employs a selection of sustainable materials, carefully chosen to harmonize with the environment. Locally sourced timber forms the primary structural elements, complemented by expansive glass panels that maximize natural light and outdoor views. Stone accents, including marble, add tactile luxury to interiors, while steel components ensure structural integrity. Green roofing systems are integrated throughout, enhancing biodiversity and thermal performance, further rooting the buildings within their natural context. Innovative features such as greywater recycling systems and solar panels underscore a commitment to ecological principles, aligning the project's intent with contemporary sustainability practices.

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Pavilion Atlas 2026: Rethinking Nations Through Architectural Storytelling

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Competition organisers

Buildner launches Pavilion Atlas 2026, a global architecture competition inviting designers to create conceptual pavilions that tell the story of a country. Participants are challenged to express cultural, social, environmental, or political identity through spatial storytelling, focusing on ideas rather than symbols or technical constraints. The competition offers a total prize fund of €20,000, with final registration open until September 16, 2026, and winners to be announced on December 8, 2026. All submissions will become part of a global design archive.

Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
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Final registration deadline 16 September 2026

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