OAD - Open Architecture Design

🤍 • When another circle comes to an end, we look toward 2025 with hope and trust - trust in an even stronger team, deeper partnerships, and more challenging projects in the year ahead. • But beyond that, in 2025, we wish you peace. The kind of peace that you can find within yourself and in the world around you. From that foundation, we believe it’s possible to change the world and forge even stronger connections. Happy New Year! • Foto: Alvis Rozenbergs

Elina Tetere : COO • With an open heart and deep care for the processes at OAD, Elīna keeps our ship steady and moving forward. She brings clarity and sense to every move and turn we make, anchoring us firmly when our ideas start to soar a little too high into the clouds. She’s not one for excessive detail, but she’s the first to push the team to step back, zoom out, and see the bigger picture and its true value. She’s our focus. • Elīna is the unshakable force behind the scenes, balancing ambition with practicality and turning chaos into clarity. With her steering the ship, we dream bigger, push harder, and know we’ll always land on solid ground.

UZV: ArchDaily's Best Architectural Projects of 2024 • "This year's collection of works was quite diverse, particularly in their materiality, with each region focusing on local sourcing of building materials." • We are honored to be included among such inspiring projects, and while UZV holds a special place as our favorite, it stands proudly alongside other ambitious and extraordinary works. Here are the projects from the list that we admire and want to share as sources of inspiration.

Introducing: Opiece First Creation - Bespoke Lamps • We create unique solutions in every project we undertake. Over the years, we’ve developed many custom pieces, and now, we’re bringing them to the global market under our new sub-brand, Opiece. • For us, also size matters, so together with metal artist Edgars Spridzans, we have created a contradiction in the form of lamps. Using glass, aluminum, and steel, they embody a symbiosis of contrasts—sharp edges meet wavy lines, transparent materials reflect vibrant colors, and the airy elegance of glass is grounded by the steadfastness of steel. These opposing elements emerge in seamless harmony. • While these first pieces have already found their home, we are open to future orders, as they are made on demand. • Foto: Alvis Rozenbergs

"OAD has always chosen unconventional locations for its offices - from a shop window on Antonijas Street to pioneering gentrification in VEF, rafting on a barge in Andrejosta, and overseeing the Riga skyline from the top floors of the then-uninhabited Philosophers' Residence. Shortly before the pandemic, we began designing a new office in an old leather processing factory. While Covid introduced some adjustments, it never diminished their passion for industrial architecture." • OAD has settled in another industrial quarter, one that is only now beginning to reshape itself. We’ve made it truly our own—with non-standard solutions and a bold, unapologetic attitude. Read about it in the newest DEKO issue or come for a visit.

Part of our job is walking up and down the stairs we made for JEL42. Wasn’t there a saying about carving our own steps into the future? • Foto: Alvis Rozenbergs

Spaces • When designing a space, the focus often falls on the big elements—but for us, the small details hold just as much importance. We place immense emphasis on creating intimate corners, cozy benches, hidden nooks, and lounge spaces—those special spots perfect for a morning coffee or getting lost in a book. These are the spaces where you can unwind and reconnect—a sanctuary for yourself. • At CRS79, these moments are seamlessly woven into the home’s surroundings. Each pause is an invitation to find peace for the mind and soul. • Foto: Alvis Rozenbergs

Berlin 2.0 • We currently have two ongoing projects in Berlin. One is a historic villa, where we've been working for quite some time. Our primary responsibility in such a project is to conserve and preserve the heritage that remains. This includes meticulously cleaning, restoring, and re-installing 150-year-old wooden elements and clay tiles. During the renovation, the villa is mostly wrapped, with historical details carefully protected as mindful changes progress. With great care, we are overseeing every aspect of this project—from the meticulous restoration and awe-inspiring interior possibilities to the thoughtfully designed landscape that seamlessly blends the home into the neighborhood's context. • The second project is a private cottage on the outskirts of Berlin that has developed layers over time. This restoration will involve peeling back these layers to reveal the historical treasures beneath. We’re inspired by the diverse challenges Berlin offers and are incredibly excited to see the results soon.

Site visit • We’re designing a new experience. Very soon, the first of many huts will be set up in the Daugava Valley. The natural shifts in elevation create an adventurous journey through the treetops, offering both privacy and sweeping views from each designated resting point. • Nestled among serene landscapes and natural access to water, the complex offers an ideal setting for secluded nature huts. These huts, thoughtfully scattered across varied locations, invite guests to unwind completely, enveloped by the calming beauty of their surroundings. Each hut harmonizes with its environment, allowing visitors to experience nature's tranquility from every angle - whether it’s the gentle sounds of water, the rustling of leaves, or breathtaking views at sunrise and sunset. The flexible design concept allows for gradual development, with the pace adjusting organically to demand.

Let's meet outside • In designing Grīziņdārzs, we’ve put great thought into creating inviting meeting points for people. The stage, terraces, and protruding facade with platforms blend seamlessly, forming a dynamic, multi-layered outdoor space. • Beneath the terrace lies a massive bunker—a unique experimental space that could transform into a bar, restaurant, exhibition hall, or workshop. Be bold and connect with Grizindārzs while the possibilities are still on the table! • Foto: Alvis Rozenbergs