Sampling Architects

Interior design of the tourist information centre of Gutman's Cave in Sigulda - the most visited touristic location in Latvia outside its capital Riga.

The brightly coloured multifunctional metal shelving system allows various ways of storing and exhibiting the merchandise and information booklets.

*2017 / completed

Photos: Madara Gritāne

Narrow entrance hall and two rooms were merged into one spacious living and dining area. In order to keep the original plan perceptible, the walls were cut at 2,4m from floor and the upper parts were left "hanging". By rearranging the former service spaces a large bathroom with walk-through shower and bath, and a dressing were created. An oversized wooden panel mounted onto the wall replaced the irreparable original door to the bedroom, becoming one of the outspoken new elements in this historic context.

Refurbishment with an adaptation of the floor plan of an apartment in a historic building in the centre of Riga. Project includes interior and bespoke furniture design (such as kitchen, kitchen table, wardrobe, sofa, cupboard in the living room and bathroom, mirrors, the bench and the clothes rack).

*2015 / Completed

Published in 'Pastaiga' magazine (Latvia), November 2015

Photos: Ansis Starks

Villa in the dunes of Rigas outskirts.

*2015 / technical project

Refurbishment of an apartment in a historic building in the centre of Riga (built in 1912). The project aimed to give the existing spaces a light and contemporary look in harmony with the original Art Nouveau details on the ceilings.

Project includes interior and bespoke furniture design (such as kitchen, wardrobe, sofa, beds, table, shelves in the living room and bathroom and the bench with the clothes rack).

*2014 / Completed

Published in Deko magazine
April 2015, pages 36-41

Photos: Reinis Hofmanis

Apartment in a historical building in the center of city Riga (built in 1910 by architect Ernests Pole). Project includes adaptation of floor plan for the needs of the new inhabitants, as well as interiour and bespoke furniture design (such as kitchen, wardrobe, large sofa, bed, dining table, linen curtains).

The concept is to 'open' the space by cutting large openings between the rooms in order to create diagonal views through the apartment. Floor plan changes do not affect the configuration of main living rooms, since one of our concerns was to conserve the original ceiling decorations that define the spaces and relate to the 19th century history of the building.

*2014 / completed

Published in Deko magazine
October 2014, pages 60-65

Photos: Liene Jākobsone

The villa is situated on one of the hillsides of Tbilisi, Georgia. The extraordinary view towards the city is one of the main key features of the site. The building is oriented along this panorama and in relation to the hemisphere.

Three volumes contain their specific program. A wall cladded with the local white tuffstone divides sleeping from daily activities. Local stones - basalt, tuffstone and diabase - carved by local stoneworkers respect the high value of Georgian traditional materials. Light penetrates the building from all sides and plays with the different warm and cold surfaces - water, stone, concrete.

*2015 / technical project - construction draft

This interior features a fresh mix of furniture pieces from different historic periods placed in the spacios living area that is combined with the kitchen and the dining area. Sampling's own designs - the poufs from the Farming collection, Blue table, side table and the upholsterd chair, as well as the black kitchen - give this apartment a unique look. A lot of plants and various design lamps complement the 'collector's' concept.

*2015 / Completed

Photos: Liene Jākobsone

A family holiday house is conceived as a typical house in Latvian contryside. The basic elements of a house, like roof, windows, door are emphasised; also the window shutters are a reference to traditional architecture. Every room has one window. They have all different dimensions and different position in the wall in relation with the funcion inside and the surrounding landscape. The windows have particular frames that go through the whole section of the wall and frame the landscape. Different textures of wood - rough facade planks and sleek frames and shutters - give almost an impression of different materials.

*2008 / Completed

Published in 'Latvijas architekūra' magazine
Nr. 90, Sep-Oct 2010, pages 62-65

Photos: Liene Jākobsone

Interior and furniture design for tourist information centre of Sigulda - the most visited touristic location in Latvia outside its capital Riga.

The concept refers to the main touristic attractions of the city - sport, open-air activities and nature. Turning shelves and ropes with hooks are some of the various display options for souvenirs. They also offer a possibility to transform the space according to the occasion. 

*2012 / completed

Photos: Liene Jākobsone

The main goal for designing the interactive forest information center was to create a generic contemporary addition for the nationally famous National Park of Tervete. The project should allow the discovery of the delight of ‘life of the forest’ through an educational center, but more importantly, creating a space for exchange of know-how of forest science between professionals, students and the general public.

The design also has to be an approval of the ambitions of Latvia’s State Forests to become a socially responsible company as the urgency of preserving ecosystems of forests is becoming more and more present not only on the global agenda but also local one. In order to get the best out of the purpose and the program, the building has to become a transparent mechanism. The use of new technology and the synergy with nature is important but also convincing to explain the visitor how the energy flows in the building and how much the building consumes.

*2012/ Competition proposal

Published in Archdaily