kurgi experience center is a ring-shaped proposal for a biosphere reserve in latvia

as part of a beebreeders competition, SODO – SOPA, KOSY, and FOLD have collaborated to design a ‘looped’ visitor center for a biosphere reserve in latvia. the north vidzeme biosphere reserve is a large nature conservation area that accounts for nearly 6% of latvia’s total land area, and it’s home to an endangered species of horse, the latvian ardennes. the kurgi experience center intends to raise awareness of the ardennes while bringing people closer to nature. 

all images and diagrams courtesy of SODO – SOPA, KOSY, FOLD

the landowners operate one of the few remaining breeding programs for the latvian ardennes. the vision for the site is to integrate the experience center with a suite of complementary eco-tourism attractions in the region while meeting the owner’s primary focus of horse breeding. the team envisions the building to be a catalyst for the activation of the wider context and more importantly, a device to educate, raise awareness and showcase the endangered species.

the kurgi experience center is designed to allow visitors to be closer to nature rather than distancing from it. this is achieved by allowing the visitor to experience the context from an intimate courtyard experience at ground level, to a 360° roof path that will promise spectacular views of the surroundings. as a result, the design proposes a volumetric ring with a centralized courtyard that acts as an open horse stable, meaning visitors can not only encounter the ardennes upon approach but they can also view and experience the north latvia biosphere reserve in a completely unrestricted way.

upon entering the farm, visitors are welcomed with a looped path that ties together the various attractions that kurgi farm has to offer; such as the kurgi horse fields, observation tower, local biodiversity, social learning and gathering areas. the building is proposed to be one of many attractions that the visitor encounters along with a truly holistic experience.

with the looped structure and accompanying path, the farm can greet eco-tourists who wish to spend the day. the scheme proposes a future addition of lodging to allow for the farm to cater to guests who want to extend their visit and stay overnight in lodging treehouses, providing another vantage point of kurgi farm.

the kurgi experience center creates an essential landmark on the looped path and the building elevates at both ends to allow the visitor to either walk atop or pass underneath. in the center of the building, visitors are greeted with a centralized courtyard and horse field. this location will not only serve as an ideal central meeting point; the project envisions this space transforming into an arena with future capacity to host programmable events.

the building has two entries from the courtyard from which the visitor can access the interior program. the experience center is divided into four quadrants; the lobbies, the stepped experience platforms with views of the landscape, the main observation deck, and an interiorized exhibition hall.

the team fully believes in a sustainable approach to the build and composition of the center; aiming for an ambitious goal of a net-zero carbon in both construction and operation of the building. while the main structure is steel for longevity and structural integrity, the design proposes a thatched roofscape providing a historical value as the techniques date back to the 13th century. the thatched roofscape consists of local, easily sourced dry vegetation such as straw, water reed and branches which, when properly cut and installed, can provide roofing that is both waterproof and affordable. in addition to utilizing local materials, the team values the inclusion of local craftsmanship where the project can demonstrate that a contemporary piece of architecture can both be novel and traditional at the same time.

project info:

project name: kurgi experience center

location: latvia

competition: beebreeders

design: SODO – SOPA, KOSY, FOLD

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.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom