House of Ruins (Drupas) / NRJA

Feb 2009

By David Basulto — Filed under: Houses , Selected , Concrete, Glass, Latvia, NRJA, Terrace

I like how this house uses an existing structure to hide, in both landscape and against the strong winds, creating a new habitable interior. This house by NRJA (this weeks AD Futures pick) won the Gran Prix for the Latvian Architecture Prize (2005), the Best Technology Award at the Interior Digest Magazine (outstanding implementation of a project using contemporary construction, constructive and electronic technologies, 2006) and was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award (2007).

Location: Saka, Latvia
Architects: NRJA (Uldis Luksevics, Martins Osans)
Client: Una and Andris Vitolins
General Constructor: RBS Skals
Object: private house
Size: 200 sqm2
Year: 2002

The House of Ruins is located in Latvia on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is a new family house built inside the19th century ruins of a traditional Latvian barn. The architects here have used the idea of contrast where wind from the sea is opposed to the warmth of the family, and perfection of glass is set against rough surface of the old stone. The house provides both, modern life comfort and quietness of the nature. Organised in one level, it also contains a small courtyard and a spacious roof terrace for watching the sea and surrounding meadows.

26 comments »

Benjamin says:

very nice.. it feels very mysterious and has lots of culture and history behind it which is nice. good to see they didn’t just take the easy option and bulldoze the ruins.

# February 17, 2009 at 00:49

pathos says:

gorgeous

# February 17, 2009 at 01:08

jarmo k says:

this is absolutely stunning!! i love how the stones and concrete meet!

# February 17, 2009 at 01:11

aikon says:

i like how they built a modern house within the ruins and a glass house to be specific. the ruins make it a private estate yet the glass house makes the whole living space an open space.

# February 17, 2009 at 02:21

roadkill says:

how about posting some drawings? would help getting a better picture of the project

# February 17, 2009 at 03:08

shav says:

… nice ladies….

# February 17, 2009 at 03:10

Contemporary Art says:

What a fantasy. I would love to see interior shots; it’s such a simple idea, but a very moving one in some way.
–
http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com

# February 17, 2009 at 08:30

dbasulto says:

Dear readers,

I forgot to post all the rest of the pictures! Now they are on the gallery.

Roadkill, you´ll find all the drawings there.

I love the work of this office.

# February 17, 2009 at 10:51

odris says:

i really love the concept of this house..

# February 17, 2009 at 11:14

temple says:

concept is great!!!respect guys

# February 17, 2009 at 11:20

thank you for uploading interior images. its more of a vacation house rather than a residential. its nice how the ruins kept it private while the glass house kept it open.

# February 17, 2009 at 11:59

Marco says:

Very nice project, in my country we have several old buildings kowing as “Haciendas”, this is a realy good way to reuse this buildings, you know, I feel very atract by the old buildings and that sound as a very ptacrical, nice and professional way to re use them. I´m a product designer, creating every day new ideas,but to live…old buildings. by the way I´m from Mexico city, now I living in Hidalgo, state of haciendas.

# February 17, 2009 at 12:27

Nicolás Verdejo says:

Amazing walls! I remember the Upper Lawn Pavilion of the Smithsons. Radical n’ pristine building, congrats!

# February 17, 2009 at 13:09

bentply says:

Great house! I also really enjoy when people are incorporated into architectural photography. I think too often spaces are illustrated as bare minimal architecture. I think more personal photography, as seen in dwell, is a growing trend.

# February 17, 2009 at 16:10

thanks dbasulto… very nice of you and IT does help understand the project a wee better

# February 17, 2009 at 17:08

zEro says:

Ruins: Some built beside, others, inside! Very interesting house!

# February 18, 2009 at 12:48

Arman says:

It’s good. Still, I believe the concrete looks ghastly grey and dead, next to the beautiful tonalities of the original stone walls, and the transitions between these look like scarred tissue right now… but I guess it will age well. Cheers.

# February 19, 2009 at 12:14

João says: