Green-roofed Zeimuls Center blends perfectly into the Latvian landscape

The Zeimuls Center of Creative Services of Eastern Latvia was designed as a proposal for a<a href="http://inhabitat.com/designcompetitions/" target="_blank"> competition</a> to design an innovative and creative environment that would encourage young graduates to come back and live in Rezekne town after their studies. Latvian design studio, <a href="http://www.saals.lv/" target="_blank">SAALS Architecture,</a> embedded the center into the terrain of the surrounding landscape and created open views towards a nearby castle mound and church.

The building is located on the edge of the town center facing an ancient castle mound with<a href="http://inhabitat.com/pombal-castles-magnificent-visitor-center-is-a-limestone-monolith-in-a-medieval-fortress/" target="_blank"> medieval</a>, state-preserved ruins, which is the main tourist attraction of the town.

The geometrically triangulated green roof became the main feature of the structure.

Designers were inspired by the existing topography, electing to settle the building deep into the ground.

Because of the building's position, the geometrically triangulated green roof becomes the main feature of the structure.

The building is a structure of exposed, monolithic concrete, plastered on the exterior.

Most of the rooms are rectangular in plan and the dramatic ceilings of exposed concrete and variable window geometries create a sense of diversity and uniqueness of space.

The new structure is an integral part of the existing dramatic landscape.

The building is located on the edge of the town center facing an ancient castle mound.

The new structure is an integral part of the existing dramatic landscape.

Students crossing paths surrounding the center.

The bucolic landscape of Zeimuls provides quite the view from every angle.

Original drawings for the Zeimuls Center.

A model of the center, before its construction.

An up-close view of SAALS Architects' plans for Zeimuls.

Rainbows will often arc over the surrounding landscape.

Most of the rooms are rectangular in plan and the dramatic ceilings of exposed concrete and variable window geometries create a sense of diversity and uniqueness of space.

The ancient preserved ruins in the town of Rezekne.

A view of the Zeimuls welcome center.

A sleek, yet natural exterior facade.

A close-up view of the green roof and angular architecture.