This charcoal stained, timber clad home in the seaside town of Jurmula in Latvia, is the perfect example of a modern renovation meeting old world charm. What looks and feels like a time worn but modernised fishing shack of sorts designed by architect Andris Kronbergs for ARHIS is a classic case of old house new skin when it comes to the exterior aesthetic. The team at ARHIS explain that the chosen exterior colour is a nod to the bleached tar used on old fishing boats that were once seen everywhere in this fishing town- nor the house stands out not for its ability to meld into the landscape but because it is so different to other houses seen in Jurmula with their ornamental gables and turrets. Understated to a tee.
With the fireplace taking central stage in the home the family who live here has made the regular task of lighting the fire a much loved family ritual in which everyone plays a role. The glazed glass conservatory that extends off the living room gives away the modern renovation and adds a sense of luxe to the ‘shack’. If this is how a fisherman’s shack looks to live in, then we would trade our whitewashed inner city office for the salty seas in a heartbeat.
Architects: Andris Kronbergs
Designer: Barbara Abele
Arch. Draftsmen: Ansis Zitars
Photos: Ansis Starks
