The Stone Barn Meditation Camp architecture competition sought to create a refuge for individuals amidst the pristine natural beauty of one of Latvia’s most remote regions. The focus on balance was reflected in the submitted designs, showing a true respect and regard for the environment in which the camp was to be constructed.
It was this element that made successful projects stand out in the eyes of the jury, focusing on simple and elegant designs that made full use of the layout and existing structure to create an environmentally sound retreat. Bigger is not always better, and the modest size and design of the winning projects highlighted their focus on a thoughtful, balanced relationship with nature.
The second prize winners were chosen for their clear approach, from the conceptual design level, to the general plan and architectural level. The stone barn is the focal point for this design, with new buildings planned surrounding it in order to create multiple courtyards. The different functions of the meditation camp are then served by an internal corridor.
The success of the third prize winners comes from the project’s good preservation of the original stone barn, and creative positioning of adjacent structures. The iconic looking building does well not to break visual links inwards or outward. The design integrates the landscape, in the form of roof gardens, into its insulation strategy, combining it with renewable geothermal energy to power the barn and its surrounding structures. The new design embraces the old, as it hugs the earth with sunken trapezoidal structure with a moat and platform, and retains its visual links to and from the existing structure.
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Jury feedback summary
The first prize winner is successful in its provision of the architectural solution of volumes. The shape, structure and covering of the volumes, of both existing and added buildings, is in context with the structure’s rural and natural landscape. It sees a thatched main building and side buildings dispersed along the site, giving it a prominent rural appearance. The general strategy is simple, inserting an axis made of flowers along which the functions of the meditation camp are distributed. The close relationship with nature is well-conceived, with various forms of renewable energy incorporated, including geothermal, wind renewables and rainwater collection to lessen the environmental impact. The design’s strength comes from its clear and compact design, its effective use of space, and its effective sustainable strategy.