Forest Community
Garkalne, Latvia
residential masterplan
commission: 2021-2022
status: concept
area: 48 ha
architecture and visualisations: Toms Kampars
Located within a forest beside a small river, the village is planned with minimal infrastructure to preserve as much of the existing landscape as possible. The masterplan consists of groups, or “islands,” of micro-communities that support a mix of residents, while central communal spaces create a friendly and peaceful environment.
The housing units are designed to be adapted and changed over time. With compact footprints, they rise vertically to occupy less forest ground. The structural system allows each home to be customised, creating architectural variety within a shared framework. Locally sourced cross-laminated timber supports a more resource-conscious and potentially affordable approach to construction.
Through strategic design, the proposal creates not only homes but a symbiotic relationship with nature, balancing the needs of the community with the existing landscape. This transformation unfolds gradually through a series of small, deliberate steps planned across multiple phases.
