Once a Soviet-style sanatorium, soon to be apartments. As strong believers in the idea of reuse and recycling, we chose to keep what remained of the original buildings. The structures were certainly sturdy enough and suitable for reestablishing as a residential property. Rather than seeing the buildings’ past use and layout as a burden, we saw their potential to become spacious apartments and high-ceilinged lofts. One of the unique lofts is set in the bridge which connected two separate volumes of the sanatorium.

Jurmala, the location of Edinburgh Apartments & Lofts, is a historical resort town on the Baltic Sea coast. Once scattered in wooden cottages and villas, the town is now a mix of quaint summer residences, towering hotel and apartment complexes. While more populated in summer, Jurmala is far from abandoned in winter. Permanent residents choose it for the proximity of nature, the beach, Riga and its international airport.

Edinburgh Apartments & Lofts nods to the historical architecture of Jurmala. Our design concept embraces the lattice wood of the resort’s original summer residences. By adding the colourful balconies and patios we ensured that every apartment has its personal outdoor space. Residents therefore have a strong connection to their surroundings and can enjoy the fresh, pine-scented air.

In the last few years, Jurmala had acquired the reputation of being an expensive and luxurious place to live. Through a sensible choice of materials and in respect of the developers’ intentions, we ensured that Edinburgh Apartments & Lofts is an affordable, family-friendly choice. The proposal for the landscape includes garden plots, a playground and space for exercising to encourage residents to come together and build their own community.