The master planning and landscape design for an estate in Jurmala, on the Gulf of Riga, in Latvia, for a private client. The estate is set on dunes in pine forest, on the site of an old hospital. The design is sensitive to the ecology of the site which is locally significant. The interventions are made with a light touch, with the modern and historic sculpture from the client’s collection located within the forest that forms part of the estate.

The construction of the new house and its landscape is lavish with a formal garden, courtyard, sculptural walls and sculpture garden. The opportunity to create a new form for the classic European estate comes from a modern interpretation of traditional techniques.

The summer beach house is closely associated with its garden. Many of the themes and motifs used in the garden feature in the house; reflecting many of the client’s interests. The road leading to the house is paved with black and white setts from Prague, to a distinctive and unique pattern. A sculptural oval wall forms the entrance courtyard to the house. The wall is constructed from Ural stone and render painted to our design, which is an interpretation of local decorative traditions.

Architect: Syntax

Area: 30Ha