Team

Marija Katrina Dambe, born 1995, Riga, Latvia
Studied at Academy of Fine Arts Vienna from 2014 to 2017 (B.A. in Architecture) and at Norwegian University of Science and Technology from 2017 to 2019 (M.Sc. in Sustainable Architecture). PhD student in Architecture and Urban Planning at Estonian Academy of Arts since 2024.

Initiator of the Latvian Architects Declare movement.

Visiting Lecturer for “Interior Design” at Art Academy of Latvia 2022-2024.

Lecturer for “Sustainable Building Construction” at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences 2021-present.

Florian Betat, born 1994, Leipzig, Germany
Studied at Academy of Fine Arts Vienna from 2013 to 2017 (B.A. in Architecture) and at Norwegian University of Science and Technology from 2017 to 2019 (M.Sc. in Sustainable Architecture).

Visiting Lecturer for “Interior Design” at Art Academy of Latvia 2022-2024.

Participation

partner of
NonHazCity 3

The Interreg project NonHazCity 3 (NHC3) helps municipalities, entrepreneurs and individuals construct and renovate buildings with tox-free materials in order to protect health and the environment.

Implementation: January 2023 - December 2025

initiator and founding member of
Latvian Architects Declare Climate & Biodiversity Emergency

Architects Declare is an industry recognised initiative, and signatories are using the simplicity and clarity of the declaration as a catalyst to drive effective change within their organisations; they can use it as a tool to demonstrate their commitment to combatting climate change.

member of URBACT local group
URGE - Circular building cities

This Action Planning network aims to design integrated urban policies in the building sector, a major consumer of raw materials. Since there is a gap in knowledge on this topic, URGE develops an in-depth understanding of this theme and a first plan for a tailor-made methodology. This will be implemented in large construction tasks of the city partners, thus, contributing to the transition towards a circular economy.

Awards & Prizes

1st place
architecture competition for the Latvian Pavilion for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025
(project: Landscape of Defence)

1st place
architecture competion for the kindergarten at the Sitsi Manufaktuuri quarter, Tallinn, 2024
(project: Hiiepuu Lasteaed)

Special prize
”Implementation of Circular Economy Principles” in the Prefab House of the Year 2024 competition
(project: Elektrilevi)

Finalist
in the Installation competition of Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2024
(project: The Cloud)

2nd place
architecture competition for library and community center in Smiltene, Latvia, 2022
(project: Smiltene Library)

Nominated
for Latvian Architecture award 2020
(project: Go[a]t Waste?)