open AD designs three corten steel and glass cabins for a wellness resort in latvia
with cozy interiors and a fully glazed front, the three cabins are designed so that guests can switch off their minds and relax.
at the ziedlejas wellness resort in rural latvia stand three compact cabins realized by open AD. with cozy interiors and a fully glazed front, the cabins are designed so that guests can switch off and immerse themselves in the stunning natural surroundings.
three corten steel and glass cabins overlook the natural landscape
images by alvis rozenbergs
the overnight cabins opened in the summer of 2020. they are embedded into the hillside and orientated to look out over the landscape with ‘full screen’ views to encourage mindfulness and establish a strong connection to nature. a small deck surrounds the corten steel and glass structures, allowing guests to sit out and relax in the sunshine. the landscape around the cabins is not only aesthetic but also practical. here, staff grow the herbs needed for tea, sauna rituals, and decorations.
the cabins sit among old trees
inspired by the tiny living movement and japanese design, the cabins are compact yet plentiful. inherently adaptable, by day they provide space to enjoy herbal tea while at night they offer comfortable sleeping accommodation. open AD designed bespoke furniture – a table that ‘pops up’ from the floor, a foldaway double bed and mezzanine level sleeping space. each cabin also has its own private bathroom, which is tucked inside the secluded corten steel section.
the cabins are compact yet plentiful
open AD’s choice of materials – wood, linen, metal – was guided by the fundamental concept of the resort: to keep latvian traditions alive yet translate them for the 21st century. before the opening of the cabins, guests came to the resort purely to indulge in latvian sauna rituals. with the new opportunity to stay overnight, guests can extend their relaxing and rejuvenating experience. staff are trained to explain local latvian heritage such as the properties of each herb in bespoke tea blends.
nature in full screen mode – best enjoyed from the custom-built foldaway bed
by day, guests can enjoy hot herbal tea at the pop-up table built into the floor of the cabin
each cabin has its own bathroom and facilities for making hot drinks
below the cabins, the sauna building is built into the hillside to avoid interfering with the view
the sauna is pleasantly tiring, therefore the journey from sauna to overnight cabins is short
beside the cabins, herbs grow in the terraced garden – they’re used for tea and sauna rituals
project info:
project name: ziedlejas
location: ziedlejas, latvia
architecture firm: open AD
design team: zane tetere – sulce (lead architect), dace bula, zane legzdina, beatrise dzerve, alvis petrovskis, eva heidingere – jukama
landscape: girts runis
photography: alvis rozenbergs
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
