PRIMORDIAL SILENCESILENT CABINSIn collaboration with Jimenez, Tsue and VolkovaLocation: Latvia
Nestled deep within a rustic landscape, the pavilions are homages to the Primitive Hut. A derivation from Marc-Antoine Laugier’s theory where one’s needs for shelter can be obtained from basic architectural elements. By breaking design down to the primitive (floor, roof and columns),, the built form can be readily adapted to different typological conditions while holding true to the needs of the user. In this case, the utilization of locally sourced wood to create simple structures that respect Latvia’s long tradition of conservation. The intention is to strive for an infrastructural system that can endeavor as a singular moment, as well as a network of clusters to accommodate different magnitudes of events. Inspired by the traditional Japanese chashitsu (tea rooms), the pavilions are minimalistic structures that direct one’s attention towards self and context. The roof and floor form datum lines that frame a captivating panorama of the forest. A hearth anchors them at the epicenter from which all activities flourish outwards. Scattered throughout the site, the pavilions become vectors within the natural field condition. These structures act as nodes that gather and disperse creating a “game” of hide and seek. As one meanders through the forest, the threshold of boundaries continues to shift thus mitigating the degree of isolation versus inclusion. The structures transform into fields, while individual points merge to form a greater collective. In this condition, the huts pivot within the terrain to capture and frame moments that extend far beyond the scope of one’s pilgrimage into the wild. These domains are created within worlds through the act of spatial propagation, thus allowing the users vibrant spectrum of meditative perspectives. From the singular light well to the endless field of trees, these vectors allow flexibility in terms of one’s desire of focus. Each hut comprises of a circular thatched roof with an slightly inversed slope over a wooden platform. Columns, sourced from locally felled logs, are scattered asymmetrically to support the datum in place. Their non-uniformity allows for different scales of spatial conditions to arise as well as blending in with the natural context. A central light well opens up to a hearth below as a place of making, and serves as a focal point for contemplation. Two layers of woven fabric screens made from burlap enclosures surround the openings. They offer a desire to privacy as well as protection from the weather and insects. As a temporary system, the screens can be dissembled and placed into storage planks underneath the flooring. The pavilions are minimal in nature to avoid extraneous sense of distractions, and allow the user to mediate within the allure of the Latvian forest.