Riga-based architecture firm OAD has completed a project titled SAR, transforming four grass-covered Soviet-era military bunkers on the Latvian coast into a residential compound. Lead architect Zane Tetere-Sulce has repurposed these remnants of occupation into a “safe haven” designed for a multi-generational family.
Integrating History with Landscape
The project avoids erasing the site’s military history, instead using the bunkers as a foundation for contemporary shelter. This approach addresses a site where architecture had become nearly indistinguishable from the landscape through overgrowth and time.
Construction on the Latvian coast is increasingly difficult due to rising Baltic waters, protected biotopes, and creeping dune erosion. SAR responds to these challenges by balancing the needs of the inhabitants with the preservation of the environment.
A Study in Shelter and Security
The compound consists of one main residence and two guest houses. The guest houses feature roofs sown with living grass, allowing them to sink into the dune habitat and provide expanded habitats for local fauna.
The main residence bridges two bunker foundations and lifts its primary living floor above the sea horizon. This creates a deliberate tension between the grounded nature of the foundations and the levitation of the communal spaces on the second level.
Regarding the design philosophy, OAD explained, “Instead of focusing on the conflict aspect of a military site, the attention is redirected towards the bunker’s core purpose – to preserve its inhabitants safe from the hostile outside environment.”
Technical Innovation and Materiality
The main house utilizes fiber-cement cladding on its roof as a contemporary nod to Soviet-era materiality. To support this mass above a fully glazed facade, the studio engineered a bespoke metal frame that remains exposed as a structural expression.
Environmental mediation is achieved through carefully calibrated south-face overhangs. These upward-sloping soffits shield the interior from the peak summer sun although capturing the low-angle light of Baltic afternoons.
Inside, the aesthetic is described as almost ascetic, utilizing concrete floors and wooden surfaces. A vaulted, wood-clad ceiling increases the volume of the main living space, while expansive glass walls dissolve the boundary between the home and the outdoors.
Resilience Against the Elements
The compound is built to withstand harsh coastal conditions, including northern winds strong enough to bend century-old pines. The layout follows the daily rhythms of light, with the master bedroom oriented west to capture Baltic sunsets.
the project is designed to live lightly upon the land rather than conquer it. This shift reframes a site once defined by defense into one shaped by quiet resilience.
Given the rising Baltic waters and dune erosion mentioned in the project’s premise, the elevated design of the main residence may serve as a necessary blueprint for future coastal developments in the region. The use of living roofs could also be expanded to further protect local biotopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SAR project?
SAR is a residential compound designed by OAD for a multi-generational family, consisting of one main residence and two guest houses built upon the foundations of four Soviet-era military bunkers on the Latvian coast.
How does the architecture reference the site’s history?
The project uses the bunkers’ original purpose of safety and security as a theme. It also incorporates fiber-cement cladding and ground-floor structural supports that serve as raw references to Soviet military architecture.
What measures were taken to protect the environment?
The guest houses feature grass-covered roofs to blend into the dune habitat and support local fauna, while the main house is elevated to minimize its imposition on the land and respond to coastal erosion and rising waters.
Do you believe that repurposing military ruins for domestic use helps in healing the historical trauma of a landscape?