Full of Life

Photography by Alvis Rozenbergs

The innovative and progressive architecture bureau Open Architecture Design designed a large family apartment in Riga creating a highly personalised and comfortable home.

The clients - a family of five - allow themselves to enjoy life to the fullest, and their joy and passion both fuelled and inspired us too.

In a late 19th century eclecticism style building, one part of the apartment had acquired new layers in the Soviet years and “wild” 1990s after Latvia regained its independence. Fortunately, the other part still maintained many of its original features, such as cornices and coved ceilings. This contrast is one the designers decided to keep in place, play with and enhance in this 250 m² apartment. The tactful balance between the old and new forms the backbone of the design as we preserved what was left and injected brave new elements, upholding the distinction between the two parts of the apartment. Another guiding motive was the clients’ collection of art by Latvian painter Kristīne Luīze Avotiņa, whose expressive style resonates with their sense of taste and attitude to life. Her works markedly influenced the apartment’s colour palette and fabric selection.

In the living room the furniture is kept to a minimum to keep the focus on the authentic value of the space. The TV stand, for example, is a one-of-a-kind design to serve the particular function. Adjacent, a children’s play area has been created with a custom design that incorporates climbing infrastructure, soft play areas, reading nooks and sleeping space for friends. In this way, while the children have their own little universe to get lost in, they are also present and involved in the family’s happenings because they are not behind the closed doors of their individual bedrooms.

The play area is beside a small corner of the home, which holds special meaning for the mother of the family. Her hobby is caring for plants, particularly Ficus trees, and the orangery.

From the living room you can see the dining area where the level of detail shines through every solution from the gold leaf on the walls to the bespoke cabinetry. The sideboard hints at historical aristocracy via the colour palette, materiality, and sheen. The room called for a table of over three metres in length, but the designers found that most ready-made pieces didn’t exceed 2,80 metres. Instead of opting for compromise, they produced a table, pairing wood and stone, since no single piece of marble was large enough to shape a monolith surface.

Another example of the quality of craftsmanship in Latvia is the hallway closet, which leads into the kitchen whose units are standalone.

From the kitchen, a striking green corridor connects the two distinct parts of the apartment leading from the shared living space into each family member’s personal universe. The corridor lighting is the work of artisan Edgars Spridzāns.

On the left are the three children's rooms, while on the right are the master bedroom with ensuite and wardrobe, and children's bathroom. While at the end of the corridor is a reading nook and resting area for the family’s nanny. The master bedroom is deliberately darker, also because it faces an inner courtyard. The bed is also a bespoke design; its deep red hues go perfectly with blackout curtains in shades of blue and turquoise.

While similar in some ways, the children’s rooms reflect each son’s interests. Also, their bathroom is best characterised by the degree of personalization, which is seen in the tailor-made furniture and touches like the three sinks: one for each son, depending on their age.

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