Curved Roofs Inspired by Baltic Dunes Shape House Extension in Latvia
Curved roofs have traditionally been used to soften volumes, channel water, or respond to more demanding climates. In contemporary architecture, however, they have also become expressive tools capable of translating the movement of the landscape.
On Latvia’s western coast, a new residential extension known as Pāvilosta House takes these curved elements even further: a twisted slate roof designed to evoke the dynamism of dunes shaped by the Baltic winds.
Jānis Vēveris
A Volume Shaped by the Sea and the Wind
Designed by the local architecture studio Made, Pāvilosta House expands an existing home in this small coastal town in Latvia. Covering 300 square metres (m²), the project responds to the owner's desire for a larger social space and additional guest bedrooms, without disrupting the scale or character of the site.
The design is distinguished by its direct relationship with the sea and by a traditional urban fabric composed of simple houses, many of them featuring barn-like silhouettes. Starting from this archetypal volume, the studio takes the basic form and transforms it through a series of subtle curves and twists.
Jānis Vēveris
“We firmly believed that any new architecture should respect the scale of the existing buildings while responding to the client’s vision of incorporating the feeling of the sea, the wind, the dunes, and the waves. We wanted it to appear as though the wind and water had shaped the geometry of the house, just as they continually shape and transform the dunes of Pāvilosta,” explains the studio.
The form begins as a narrow gabled volume facing west and, as it turns the corner of the plot, widens and transforms into a larger body with a roof sloping towards the north. This transition creates a constantly changing silhouette that varies according to the viewpoint and strengthens the relationship with the coastal landscape.
Jānis Vēveris
The roof is the project’s main protagonist, entirely clad in natural slate tiles. The slight twist in the roof structure causes each tile to reflect light differently throughout the day, enhancing the dynamic character of the building.
The studio explains that there were “countless modelling iterations to capture the right movement, one that would resonate with the place, the context, and the programme. That twist constantly changes when the house is viewed from different angles and under different lighting conditions, repeatedly reminding us of how emotive such a twisted geometry can be.”
Timber Structure and Interior Contrast
The extension stands on concrete foundations, but its main structure is composed of glued laminated timber frames and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. These materials provide structural efficiency and sustainability while remaining visible inside the building to emphasise the geometry of the space.
Jānis Vēveris
At the narrower end are four guest bedrooms, while the central area—where the roof curves most dramatically—contains a spacious living room, dining area, and kitchen. This space connects to the garden that separates the extension from the original house through large glazed sliding doors.
The light, exposed timber inside contrasts with darker surfaces in the kitchen and some of the bedrooms, where black finishes and charred wood have been used. Dark stone flooring reinforces this duality, adding visual weight in contrast to the lightness of the structure.
Jānis Vēveris
On the exterior, the volume is clad in narrow timber boards that dialogue with the area’s traditional buildings, while the slate roof appears as a contemporary and almost sculptural gesture. A large circular window on the eastern façade allows the morning light to flood the interior space.