OAD Designs Thatched Summer Residence in Riga with Traditional Latvian Influences

Architecture studio OAD has completed BPROM, a 641-square-meter summer home in Riga, Latvia. The residence, located in the city's suburbs along a river, features a barn-like form with a bowed thatched roof and a façade of charred timber. Designed by founder and lead architect Zane Tetere-Sulce, the project integrates traditional Latvian architectural elements with contemporary design. The exterior's dark, weathered appearance contrasts with an interior palette of blues and purples, inspired by dragonflies found in the nearby river. The layout includes a two-bedroom main dwelling and a separate annexe containing a sauna, guest suite, and cold plunge pool. Both structures are arranged on a slightly angled axis to shelter a south-facing garden from northern winds. Interior spaces feature colored finishes, furniture, and glass screens that mimic the iridescent quality of insect wings. The ground floor contains an open living, dining, and kitchen area with a curved gabled ceiling finished in dark blue, while upper levels house a study and bedrooms with lilac and purple accents. The design uses three primary materials: reed thatch, timber, and metal, with the thatched roof noted as a sustainable choice rooted in local craft traditions. The project aims to reinterpret Latvian ethnography and architectural heritage for modern contexts.