Brushstoke House

The Brushstroke House was born from the idea of merging Latvian architectural tradition and contemporary design, with the intention of generating a shape that dynamically models itself towards the landscape and the lake.

The initial concept takes up the original linear shape of the two buildings, which in plan arise parallel to each other.

These buildings are changed and folded to give the short sides of the architectural block a privileged view towards the landscape and the lake.

THE TWO VOLUMES:

The complex therefore consists of two buildings:

- the one that houses the painters' workshop and the carpentry workshop, consisting of a single floor, is located closer to the lake

- the one that houses the two residences consisting of two floors, rises parallel behind the lower building.

THE ARCHITECTURAL PLAN:

The architectural plan was designed to position the spaces most experienced by the artists, adjacent to the landscape, feeding in these spaces a strong naturalistic visual component.

In fact, according to our vision, an artist does not produce works only in his painters' workshop, but it is more likely that inspiration comes in the moments lived at home, contemplating the landscape and nature.

For this reason, the living areas of the two residences, and the painters' workshop have a fully glazed view that is as open as possible to the panorama.

THE BRUSHED ROOF

To implement this design idea, a fundamental role is played by roofs that have been designed with a non-constant trend.

The non-linearity of the roof tends to lower in the lower building, to give a complete view to the windowed views of the first floor of the residences, and tends to rise in conjunction with the fully glazed living areas.

The non-linearity of the roof is also essential for the light contribution of the garden, so as to reduce the shadow areas and make it more usable as it is better heated by sunlight.

The roof becomes the design symbol and represents a fresh brushstroke of contemporaneity that blends with Latvian tradition, materials and spirit.

THE GREEN and THE LIGHT
Another fundamental role is played by the numerous external environments of the house.

Different levels of the garden have been studied.

- The Garden Terrace (serving the Flat ONE only) is a hanging garden that appears above the Carpentry Workshop and is generated by the variation of the roof of the first block, which is lowered until it flattens out and creates the terraced garden.

- The Inner Garden (serving the whole complex), it is the most protected garden from the winds and boasts a fair amount of sunlight thanks to the lowering of the roofs.

- The Main Garden the entrance garden, is the largest one and has a good sun exposure considering that it is south facing. It is sheltered from the winds that come from the lake and is outlined by the paths that lead to the entrances of the residences and the common area.

- The Lake Gardens that extend from the short sides of the buildings towards the water and the lake, creating small docks at their end for the mooring of small boats.

Below the Flat ONE there is a block suspended by wooden pillars, this area is used to house the orphaned bats of the old building.

In addition to daylight, artificial night lighting devices are also being studied in the various gardens. This type of lighting tries to be as discreet as possible and must only emphasize the green areas designed, so as to make them usable even at night.

STONE AT THE BASE

The stone base is maintained in almost all of the complex, and is reconsolidated or built new in the parts where it was not present.

The stone ensures stability and is also extended to the ground floor of the residential block.

WOOD IN ELEVATION

The use of the wooden structure (which is applied both on the painters' workshop block and on the first floor of the residential block), allows us to create the non-linearity of the roof through the correct positioning of the beams.

The wood of the structure is suitably insulated with the latest generation materials, and finally covered with boards recovered from the old building, so as to give new life to the old shell.