Thirty-seven miles north of the Latvian capital of Riga, in a coastal meadow fringed by apple trees, Laura Dislere, a production designer, and Maris Locmelis, a photographer, created a retreat for recharging after busy weeks in the city.

To minimize the hassle of on-site construction, they chose a 495-square-foot prefabricated carbon-negative home designed in Riga and constructed from locally sourced timber in Jelgava, a town less than 65 miles away from the site.

The Ray, as the line of homes is named, is made by Manta North, a Latvian manufacturer of efficient prefabs that have proven popular in Nordic nations. The company recently expanded to Switzerland and Germany, and it plans to enter the U.S. market this year. As Raimonds Gusarevs, Manta North’s CEO, puts it, “People are catching on to this idea of having a small, minimalist, and sustainable dwelling.”

Laura and Maris were drawn to the design’s natural materials, like the oak parquet flooring and the oil-treated cross-laminated timber walls, as well as its massive 8.9-by-8.9-foot, floor-to-ceiling window. “It allows you to feel connected to nature,” says Maris as he reminisces with Laura about standing barefoot on the heated floors while watching the snow fall on a freezing winter morning.

“The scent of the wood reminds me of that calming feeling you get walking in the forest on a warm autumn day.”
—Laura Dislere, resident

The front door opens to a compact kitchen and a living area the couple have outfitted with neutral textiles and locally made furnishings by the Latvian brand Mint Furniture.

For Laura—whose grandfather bought the land where the home now sits—spending summers isolated in the countryside as a child felt like an obligation, but the new home makes her see the place in a different light. “When I am here, I have two different feelings: comfort and humbleness,” says Laura. “There’s only one table and bed, but it feels luxurious.”

The home is close enough to Riga that Laura and Maris can visit weekly, and they are planning on building their own little world around it. Maris intends to construct a traditional Latvian sauna, and Laura is laying the groundwork for a garden. For now, Laura says they are taking it easy: “We’re just enjoying the view and enjoying life.”

Project Credits:

Design: Manta North / @mantanorth

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