Kipsala housing
Riga, Latvia
invited competition entry, 2016
architecture: Sarma Norde Architects, team: Visvaldis Sarma, Toms Kampars, Elvijs Sprudzāns
visuals: Toms Kampars, Ingus Štrāls
photo: Visvaldis Sarma
Riga, the capital city of Latvia, has plenty of water space. The intended waterfront development, situated on Kipsala island along the coastline of river Daugava, boasts prominent views to the opposite bank - the old town, former industrial sites and free-port of Riga.
The 2 separate rows of buildings according to their height also mark different housing typologies: (1) a group of 4 similar urban villas closer to water and (2) 4 slabs each different from another further inwards. In order to permit the views from mid-island to the water, the volumes are designed detached, yet by slightly rotating the buildings they form communal courtyards for privacy and intimacy.
Heavy materials such as brick and concrete are used to evoke similarities with the old industrial heritage while glass emphasizes reflections and offers generous views over the area.
