House of the Flying Trees

A preserved and carefully restored historic 19th century facade with two added floors faces the street, and behind it, in the courtyard, is the rest of HOFT: a new residential building with terraces planted with evergreen bonsai conifers, mountain dwarf pines and cedars.

The trees are planted in special tanks integrated into the faсade structure at different levels. Fully automated drainage and watering systems have been developed for plant care.

Layouts and Amenities 

Two seven-storey apartment buildings, new and old, connected by an underground car park with 23 spaces. HOFT has a total of 40 flats with living areas ranging from 82 m² to 276 m². These are bright apartments with large panoramic full-wall windows and the very same tree terraces. Ceiling heights in the flats range from 2.9 to 3 metres.

The terraces are covered with composite slats and all fencing is made of laminated glass and aluminium railings, which increases the safety of the structures. 

An additional feature of the flats on the upper floors are the windows in the roof. On the ground floor, several flats have views over their Japanese garden, as well as the option to convert to two storeys for the complete feeling of living in your own mansion in the city centre.

In the lobby of the historic building, fragments of historic mouldings and details of the authentic staircase have been preserved. They are set off by modern items: this contrast of old and new helps to bring out the beauty of all the objects.

In the lobby of the new building, materials of warm colours are deliberately used: the concierge desk and the lobby walls are decorated with Carpathian elm. Here residents can hold a business meeting or have a cup of coffee. Paintings by young Latvian artists hang here. The common areas of the residential complex are specially scented and accompanied by music.

The HOFT courtyard simultaneously functions as a private garden for the residents of the house, it is a unique approach for the centre of Riga. The authors of the project call this garden a “soaring oasis”. It can be accessed from the street through the gates on both sides of the facade: they are made of etched stainless steel, and the images of pine branches made in the manner of Japanese graphics hint at what is behind them. 

The courtyard has graphic paving set off by lush greenery: these patterns echo the flooring in the entryways.

Energy Efficiency

The project belongs to the premium segment and meets all EU building regulations, but the developers do not focus on environmental aspects separately.

However, the appearance of such a dense garden in the city centre should have a positive impact on air quality and CO2 reduction.

Prices  

A flat in HOFT will cost between €3,750 and €5,750 per square metre and a parking space will cost €35,000.

Project Team

Project developer: R.evolution company.

Author of the idea: Alexey Zagrebelny, head of R.evolution company.

The chief architect of the preoctet is Dita Lapinja: KROKS, the research and design office of LDU.

The author of interiors and facade solutions for the new building is Zane Tetere-Schulze from the Open AD bureau.

Restorer of the historic building: Roberts Janson.