The standard building design “Family-like Environment Service for Seniors”, commissioned by the Ministry of Welfare, has won 3rd place in the “Most Sustainable Project 2026 – Public Building” category of the international competition “Sustainability in Architecture, Construction and Design 2026”. The competition is organised by the Building Design and Construction Council.
This recognition is particularly significant because developing the standard building design was not only a professional task, but also a deeply human challenge.
In this project, thinking about sustainability meant considering not only the building’s energy efficiency and materials, but first and foremost the people who will live there. It meant thinking about how to create an environment where seniors feel at home rather than in an institution – an environment that provides a sense of safety and belonging, offers opportunities to spend time with others, while also allowing residents to maintain their privacy and usual rhythm of life.
The standard building design has already been used in the construction of care homes in Bauska and Madona municipalities, as well as in projects implemented by SIA “Magnum Social & Medical Care” (“Rūre”) in Talsi, Olaine, Liepāja and Augšdaugava Municipality. It has also been used for the “Bišumuiža” care home project of the Latvian Samaritan Association and in a project implemented by the Rauna Evangelical Lutheran Congregation Diaconal Centre Foundation.
Both the standard building design and the above-mentioned care homes have been developed with financial support from the European Union Recovery Fund.
The standard building design is available free of charge to any developer:
https://bis.gov.lv/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMjMvMDMvMDIvN2UybTZid2owM19TZW5pb3J1X1RpcHZlaWRhX3Byb2pla3RhX3ByZXplbnQucGRmIl1d/Senioru_Tipveida_projekta_prezent.pdf
Competition results:
https://www.buvniekupadome.lv/konkurss/noskaidrotas-2026-gada-vertigakas-ekas-baltijas-valstis/
