A striking new home addition in Latvia features a dramatically twisted slate roof designed to evoke the natural sand dunes of the country's western coastline. The Pāvilosta House, a 3,200-square-foot annexe created by local architecture studio Made, serves as an expanded gathering space and guest accommodation for the owner of an adjacent residence in the coastal town of Pāvilosta.
The project represents a thoughtful response to both the client's needs and the unique character of Latvia's western coast. The homeowner specifically requested additional space for entertaining guests and extra bedrooms, while also wanting the new structure to capture the essence of its seaside location. Made's design solution took inspiration from the area's traditional barn-like residential architecture while introducing subtle curves and twists that mirror the wind-sculpted sand dunes characteristic of this coastal region.
"Pāvilosta, a coastal town in Latvia, is a unique place where the wild sea meets the historic town structure and its long-established traditions," explained Linda Krūmiņa, partner at Made architecture studio. "We felt strongly that any new architecture should respect the scale of the existing buildings, while at the same time responding to the client's vision to incorporate the feeling of the sea, wind, dunes, and waves."
The building's distinctive form begins as a narrower, traditional gabled volume on the western side, then curves gracefully around the corner of the property to create a wider, curved mono-pitched structure facing north. This flowing geometry creates the impression that natural forces have shaped the building itself. "It would seem that wind and water have shaped the geometry of the house, just as they eternally shape and transform the Pāvilosta dunes," Krūmiņa noted.
Constructed on concrete foundations, the annexe features a sophisticated structural system combining glue-laminated timber (glulam) framing with cross-laminated timber (CLT) infill panels. The timber framework remains exposed throughout the interior, serving both as a defining aesthetic element and a way to emphasize the building's dynamic, changing geometry as visitors move through the space.
The interior layout strategically divides the annexe into distinct functional zones. Four guest bedrooms occupy the narrower western end of the building, while the heart of the structure houses a spacious combined living, dining, and kitchen area within the curved central section. Full-height sliding glass doors in this main living space open directly onto a carefully designed garden that creates separation between the new annexe and the original family home.
Interior finishes create a sophisticated contrast between light and dark elements. The pale, exposed timber structure provides a warm, natural backdrop throughout the space, while charred and black-stained timber surfaces in the kitchen and bedroom areas add dramatic contrast. Dark stone flooring grounds the design and complements the varied timber tones.
The exterior cladding system reinforces the building's connection to local architectural traditions while showcasing its innovative form. Narrow timber planks cover the walls, while the distinctive curved roof features natural slate shingles that were specifically chosen for their light-reflecting properties. As the roof's geometry "twists," the slate shingles create an ever-changing play of light and shadow that enhances the building's dynamic appearance.
Developing the precise geometry required extensive design development and refinement. "There were countless modeling iterations to capture the right movement - one that resonated with the site, context, and program," Krūmiņa revealed. "This twist constantly changes when viewed from different angles and in different light, continuously reminding us how emotionally rich such a twisted geometry can be."
Circular openings serve as a recurring design motif throughout The Pāvilosta House, beginning with a large porthole window on the eastern facade that floods the main living space with morning light. This circular theme continues in other openings throughout the home, including a distinctive window in the westernmost bedroom, creating visual continuity while adding an unexpected nautical reference appropriate to the coastal setting.
The project joins other recent innovative residential work in Latvia, including Comet House in Riga by local studio Gaiss, which similarly drew inspiration from traditional barn forms while incorporating contemporary materials like red-painted timber cladding and corrugated white metal roofing. Photography of The Pāvilosta House was captured by Jānis Vēveris, documenting how the structure's curved form and natural materials integrate seamlessly with the surrounding coastal landscape.
