House of Ruins NRJA modern and historic

We have all walked by, driven near or flown over them: those mysterious ruins of old stone or brick buildings, possibly hundreds of years old, left to the elements. What would it be like, however, to live inside of such a structure?

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House of Ruins NRJA

This modern home was designed by NRJA to fit inside of an existing structure – in this case the remains of a simple stone barn – in Latvia on the coast of the Baltic. The existing walls provide visual privacy as well as a warm textured contrast to the modernist house set within their perimeter.

House of Ruins NRJA double wall
House of Ruins NRJA stone facade

Very little of the exterior structure required alteration as the pieces could be easily brought in via existing openings and there is little attempt to connect directly to it from the inside building. In essence, the old and new co-exist amicably – though perhaps someday this will be an even more interesting ruin-within-a-ruin.

House of Ruins NRJA interior
House of Ruins NRJA courtyard

More info via the architects:

“This house by NRJA (this weeks AD Futures pick) won the Gran Prix for the Latvian Architecture Prize (2005), the Best Technology Award at the Interior Digest Magazine (outstanding implementation of a project using contemporary construction, constructive and electronic technologies, 2006) and was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award (2007).”

House of Ruins NRJA rooftop
House of Ruins NRJA rendering

“The House of Ruins is located in Latvia on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is a new family house built inside the 19th century ruins of a traditional Latvian barn. The architects here have used the idea of contrast where wind from the sea is opposed to the warmth of the family, and perfection of glass is set against rough surface of the old stone. The house provides both, modern life comfort and quietness of the nature. Organized in one level, it also contains a small courtyard and a spacious roof terrace for watching the sea and surrounding meadows.”